Conference Program

8:30 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast

9 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Reflection
Margaret John Kelly, D.C., Ph.D., Executive Director, Vincentian Center for Church and Society

9:15 a.m.
“The Just and Moral Society”
An examination of the philosophical, theological, ethical and legal concepts that frame the foundations as well as the need for reflection on a Just and Moral Society. Father Coughlin will also suggest some basic criteria for evaluating a Just and Moral Society within our global society.
John J. Coughlin, O.F.M., J.D., J.C.D., Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame Law School
Sponsor: Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Burke

10:15 a.m.
Current efforts toward building a just society and identification of forces which advance and inhibit just structures and systems for the vulnerable.

Panelists:
Hon. Oscar de Rojas, Director, UN Financing for Development, “Achieving the Millennium Development Goals”

Margaret Hanson, LCSW, BCD, AIC/International Association of Charities, Ladies of Charity USA, “Against Poverty Acting Together: Vincentian Work for Systemic Change”

Ellen P. Finn O.P., LCSW, Associate Executive Director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Brooklyn, “CCUSA Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America”

Veronica M. White, J.D., Executive Director, New York City Center for Economic Opportunity, “Reducing Poverty in New York City”

Moderator: Michael A. Simons, J.D., Professor of Law, St. John’s University School of Law

Discussion with Fr. Coughlin, Panelists and Conference Participants

11:45 a.m.
Lunch, Networking and Exhibits

1 – 1:50 p.m.
Concurrent Workshops: Constructive, Developmental Responses to Local and Global Issues – Highlighting Practices that Relate Systemic Change and Transformative Service

2 – 2:50 p.m.
Workshops repeated

3 p.m.
“From 21st Century Slavery to Freedom: Call to Global Solidarity”
Creating the Just and Moral Society will require that each of us share the responsibility and participate actively as global citizens. Practicing the virtue of solidarity will unite hearts, minds and hands to build a world where human dignity, truth and freedom, justice and peace will prevail.
Simon Aban Deng, Refugee, former child slave, founder of the “Sudan Freedom Walk” and consultant to the United Nations Human
Rights Council

Moderator: Charles M.A. Clark, Ph.D., Associate Dean and Professor of Economics, The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, St. John’s University

Sponsor: The Northeast Province of the Daughters of Charity, Albany, NY

3:55 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Mary Ann Dantuono, J.D., Associate Director, Vincentian Center for Church and Society, St. John’s University

4:15 p.m.
Eucharistic Liturgy
Homilist: Rev. Thomas F. McKenna, C.M., Provincial Superior, Congregation of the Mission, Eastern Province, Philadelphia, PA