2009

Extreme Wealth and Poverty and the Virtue of "Enough"

In anticipation of the 2010 world-wide celebration of the 350th anniversary of the deaths of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, the 6th Biennial Poverty Conference of the Vincentian Chair of Social Justice examines the global financial crisis from an ethical and economic perspective. The Chair takes this opportunity to address the “scandal of glaring inequalities” and accept the challenge of Pope Benedict in “Caritas in Veritate” to shape ”a new vision“ for the future. We propose that living with “enough” will be possible and necessary for a “new” globalization. Continuing the mission of Saints Vincent and Louise, the workshops showcase efforts to address systemic poverty and models of social transformation and integral development through the paradigm of Catholic Social Thought.

Program Highlights:

Saturday, October 17, 2009

9 a.m. - Globalization, Development and Poverty: The Crisis of Ethics and Economics

• Rev. Drew Christiansen, S.J., Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief, America Magazine
  "The cultural forces that have brought us to this current ethical crisis and the challenge of the Christian virtue of 'enough'"
   
• H.E. Mr. Oscar de Rojas, Director, United Nations Financing for Development
  "Poverty and wealth and the hope of integral development: The Millennium Development Goals"

10:15 a.m. - International Panel: Global Awareness, The Financial Crisis, MDGs and People Who Are Poor

• H.E. Mr. Hilario G. Davide, Jr., Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Philippines to the United Nations

• H.E. Mrs. Carmen María Gallardo Hernández, Ambassador of El Salvador to the United Nations

• H.E. Mr. Paul Badji, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Senegal to the United Nations

• H.E. Ms. Sanja Štiglic, Ambassador of Slovenia to the United Nations

1 p.m. - Workshops: (Participants attend two)

A.    Environment: Sustaining Life and Health
B.    Credit, Usury and Home Ownership
C.    Mental Health in Stressful Times
D.    Just Migration
E.    Basic Literacies: Tools for Development
F.    Redefining Poverty and Measuring Progress


3 p.m. - Social Justice Concert: Engage the Imagination
Music and lyrics that draw us into the lives of persons diminished by injustice and draw hearts and minds to the common good

• Elizabeth and Joseph Mahowald, Stars of Broadway, Off-Broadway, recording, film, television and regional theatre

4:30 p.m. - Liturgy
Presider and Homilist: Rev. Patrick Griffin, C.M., Executive Vice President for Mission and Branch Campuses, St. John's University


For More Information and Registration, Contact:
Vincentian Center for Church and Society
St. John's University
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY 11439
http://vincenter.org
Tel (718) 990-1612
Fax (718) 990-1901
vccs@stjohns.edu

Time
8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Location
Bent Hall, Queens campus

Space is Limited. Register Early!