Announcing ‘A Time for Renewal’
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens 125th Anniversary Webinar Series
(Brooklyn, NY) In celebration of its 125th Anniversary, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens has partnered with St. John’s University Vincentian Center for Church and Society to present a webinar series titled “A Time for Renewal.” This series aims to examine the foundational principles of Catholic Social Teaching and particularly addresses racial inequities and advancing social justice in our communities. Kicking off on April 5th, the first session titled “Vision of Catholic Social Teaching” was presented by Meghan Clark, Associate Professor of moral theology at St. John’s University.
Tailored for Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens staff, board members, and volunteers, each presentation features expert speakers and panel discussions fostering dialogue, understanding, and actionable steps toward positive change. Below are the upcoming sessions:
- Friday, May 3, 9:30 AM, Building Community: Envisioning an Inclusive Economy through Social Teaching. Presented by: Charles Clark, Professor of Economics
- Friday, June 7, 9:30 AM, Changing Lives: Mercy and Dignity in Care of the Sick, Isolated, and Aging, Presented by: John Conry, Clinical Professor of Clinical Health
- Friday, September 6, 9:30 AM, Changing Lives: Welcoming the Stranger and the Common Good Aging, Presented by: C. Mario Russell, Executive Director, The Center for Migration Studies of New York
To close the series of events, as well as a culmination of the agency’s 125th Anniversary celebrations, a final symposium will be held in conjunction with St. John’s Poverty Conference to close the webinar series on Saturday, November 16. Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens staff members who participate and attend all four sessions will receive a Certificate of Completion which will be issued and included in their employee personnel files.
“At Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, we are deeply rooted in the 15 principles of Catholic Social Teaching and integrate them into our work to address racial inequities and promote social justice in our communities,” states Monsignor Alfred P. LoPinto, President and Chief Executive Officer, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens and Affiliated Agencies. “We organized this webinar series to remind staff, board members, and volunteers of the organization’s mission and encourage continued collaboration towards creating a just and compassionate world for all.”
The principles applied in the work at Catholic Charities promote human dignity, the common good, the preferential option for the poor and vulnerable, and solidarity. For example, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens offers various services, such as food pantries, housing assistance, and legal aid through our affiliate agency, Catholic Migration Services, to help those most in need in our communities.
“We don’t just acknowledge the existence of racial inequities; the agency actively works to address them,” said Richard Slizeski, Senior Vice President for the Office of Mission, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens. “We recognize that systemic racism has created disparities and injustices in our society, and we are committed to working towards racial justice and reconciliation. Our efforts extend beyond our services as we engage in community outreach, education, and advocacy to create a more inclusive and equitable society.”
Ultimately, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens believes that by following the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and actively working to address racial inequities and promote social justice, we can help create a more just and compassionate world for all people.
To learn more about the special webinar series, visit www.ccbq.org/webinar-series/
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About Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens: For 125 years, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens has been providing social services to those in need. Catholic Charities offers 160+ programs for children, families, older adults, and those with mental illness. Since 1975, Catholic Charities has built over 4,567 affordable housing units. Last year, we provided $6.5 million in food assistance at 60 parish-based food pantries, pop-up events, older adult centers, and home-delivered meals for the homebound elderly. We serve more than 500,000 individuals with emergency assistance, older adult services, mental health counseling, affordable housing, family services, and early childhood programs.