Catholic Charities USA's 2012 Annual Gathering To Focus On "Gateway To Opportunities And Justice"

Hundreds to gather in St. Louis to discuss critical human services topics

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Catholic Charities USA, among the nation's leading organizations in poverty reduction and disaster response will be in St. Louis this year for its 2012 Annual Gathering. The three-day event is the pre-eminent conference for Catholic Charities professionals, volunteers, and partners and provides an opportunity to engage with the most important issues facing our country and Catholic Charities. 

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The event will cover a wide range of critical human services subjects including Immigration and Housing, as well as the need to reform our service-delivery approach to reducing poverty in America. 

WHO:

Rev. Larry Snyder, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA
Rev. Snyder will kick-off this year's event with a message of hope and opportunity that highlights not just where we've been and the amazing work we are seeing from our local agencies on the ground, but also the innovative approaches we will be spearheading in the future.

John L. Allen, Jr., Vatican correspondent for National Catholic Reporter
John Allen will lead a discussion on the role of the Catholic Church and Catholic Charities in today's society.  He will highlight core trends and these trends mean to the Catholic Charities network.

His Eminence Robert Cardinal Sarah, President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum
Cardinal Sarah will be presenting on Monday, October 1, bringing greetings from the Vatican and speaking about the work of "caritas" (charity) worldwide.

Major Garrett, White House Correspondent and Columnist, National Journal
Major Garrett will close this year's gathering with a speech about how we bring back civility and compromise for the better of the nation – beyond the election.

WHEN:     Sunday, September 30, 2012 to Tuesday, October 2, 2012

WHERE:    Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch
                 315 Chestnut Street, St. Louis, MO  63102

For additional information please visit www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/annualgathering

Catholic Charities USA's members provide help and create hope for more than 10 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For almost 300 years, Catholic Charities agencies have worked to reduce poverty by providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from health care and job training to food and housing. In 2010, Catholic Charities USA celebrated its centennial anniversary.

SOURCE Catholic Charities USA