Faithful Citizenship Workshop – April 3, 2008

You are most cordially invited…

To all parish staff, parish social justice liaisons, community leaders and friends, lay ministers, ILM students, and ALL justice advocates – everyone:

I would like to call your attention to a workshop that is timely and important.

During this election year, the Council of Priests, the office for Evangelization, Justice and Peace of the Office for Pastoral Ministry and the Vicar for Clergy office are co-sponsoring workshops for clergy and laity on the document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States”, issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. It is a timely document that calls every Catholic to prepare for the upcoming presidential election by reflecting on forming consciences for faithful citizenship. It poses challenging questions and offers a framework for responding to the political questions of our day.

This day will be presented by Dr. Stephen Colecchi, director of the Office of International Justice and Peace of the USCCB, where he coordinates USCCB policy on international issues. Dr. Colecchi holds a doctorate in ministry from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore. A prolific author in the area of Catholic social teachings, social justice and political responsibility and the infusion of Catholic social teaching into Christian education programs, he is the author of A Leader’s Guide to Sharing Catholic Social Teaching and In the Footsteps of Jesus, a Parish Resource Manual.

The workshop will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2008, at Our Lady of Peace Family Learning Center, Santa Clara.

Dr. Colecchi has made himself available to us for the following sessions:

• 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Presentation on the Middle East situation and the War in Iraq
• 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Faithful Citizenship Workshop

He will also be doing a morning presentation for the priests, deacons, and seminarians of the diocese. The bishop has urged their attendance.

Click here for a printable flyer.

For more information, see http://www.faithfulcitizenship.org/.

Thank you.

Linda Batton