SINGAPORE – Archbishop Nicholas Chia has said that the social mission and teachings of the Catholic Church has been “a well-kept secret across the world for a long time”. He made this point at the Catholic Social and Community Councilʼs (CSCCʼs) first anniversary celebration in November 2007.
Since CSCCʼs formation more than a year ago, it had been actively communicating the churchʼs social teachings. And come July, CSCC is organizing the first-ever conference for all Catholics interested and active in the churchʼs social mission. The event is simply titled, “The Social Mission Conference”.
In line with the conference theme which is “Social Realities, Catholic Response”, two external speakers – the President of the National Council of Social Services and the CEO of the National Volunteer & Philanthropy
Centre – will paint the social issues from a national perspective.
Then several Catholics will share their views on how Catholics and the church have been and should be responding to these social realities.
Captains of the churchʼs charities such as Michael Thio (Catholic Welfare Services and Society of St. Vincent de Paul), Matthew Tay (Roman Catholic Prison Ministry), George Lim (Jesuit Refugee Service, CSCC), Vivienne Lim (Catholic Business Network, Archdiocesan Crisis Coordination Team) and Dr John Hui (Catholic Medical Guild) will share their volunteer and organizationʼs experience.
Well-known Catholic and charity leader Gerard Ee and several other leading speakers including Laurence Lien, Braema Mathi, Alan John, Diana Quek and Lai Ah Eng will contribute to the richness of the event.
Theological reflections and spiritual insights will be provided by church leaders such as Monsignor Eugene Vaz (Vicar General), Father Patrick Goh (Chancellor), Sister Maria Lau (Provincial, IJ Sisters), Brother Colin Wee (St. Patrickʼs School) and Arthur Goh (Singapore Pastoral Institute).
Archbishop Nicholas Chia will provide the keynote address and celebrate the sunset Mass.
The Social Mission Conference 2008 will be held at the RELC Hotel on Saturday Jul 26, 2008. It starts at 8.30am and will end with sunset Mass at 5.00pm.
More than 300 persons have registered for the conference. You may want to sign up at www.cscc-singapore.org/tsm.html while there are still seats. The registration fee of $60 is all inclusive. Group discounts are available.
For enquiries, can contact Elijah at 6337-3711 or email: elijah@cscc-singapore.org.
