Florida Catholic | Annual Social Justice Event Draws Hundreds

Annual social justice event draws hundreds

Immigration, housing, water and health care are discussed.

BOB REDDY | FLORIDA CATHOLIC VENICE BUREAU EDITOR

Published: 03.28.08

PORT CHARLOTTE | People came from as far away as Naples, Immokolee and Sebring to participate in the Leaven XIV Conference March 15 at San Antonio Parish.

Neil Michaud, director of the Diocese of Venice Peace and Justice Office, said this event was the largest yet, with more than 400 people participating in a daylong set of workshops aimed at educating people on key issues facing the world today.

While the draw of keynote speaker Sister Helen Prejean, author of “Dead Man Walking,” may have accounted for some of the increase, Michaud said he believes more and more people want to participate and make a difference.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane told those who attended that what they are doing “is a good thing.” But he challenged them to take the messages they learned and to multiply it out into society.

“That is our job,” Bishop Dewane said. “We have to be doers of justice.”

Topics such as immigration, water and health care drew large groups of people to individual workshops.

Several of the workshop topics were conducted in English and Spanish to make sure everyone was able to participate.

Michaud said he was pleased with the turnout and hopes to have the event grow next year.

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Annual social justice event draws hundreds

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