Missouri Catholic Conference Annual Assembly to be held on October 4, 2008

July 2, 2006, JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Catholic citizens from around the state will attend the Missouri Catholic Conference’s Annual Assembly on Saturday, October 4, 2008 at the State Capitol in Jefferson City, Missouri. Hundreds of committed Catholics will spend the day “celebrating faith and freedom” by participating in workshops and listening to knowledgeable speakers on a variety of social justice issues.

Special guest and keynote speaker will be Archbishop Jose` H. Gomez, Archbishop of the Diocese of San Antonio.  He will discuss the role of the Church regarding immigration.  Archbishop Gomez, a native of Mexico, earned his accounting degree in 1975 as well as a B.A. in Philosophy.  In 1978, the year he was ordained a priest, Archbishop Gomez received his B.A. in Theology at the University of Navarre, Rome Campus, and received a doctorate in theology at the University of Navarre, Main Campus in Pamplona, Spain in 1980.

The Annual Assembly offers Catholics an opportunity to learn how they personally can make a difference in their parishes and communities through workshops that deal with public policy issues, social concerns and local parish involvement based on faith values.

The workshop presenters are professional leaders in their area of interest and this year’s line up looks to be one of the best the Annual Assembly has ever had. Attendees can choose from eighteen workshops topics including: the home lending crisis, new developments in stem cell research, the social ills of gambling, the politics of racism and poverty, Internet pornography and several workshops dealing with immigration issues. Catholic citizens from each of the four dioceses will receive the MCC Citizen Recognition Awards for working to put their faith and values into practical action in their communities.

The day begins with an opening general session at 10:00 am, a free lunch is provided, and closes with the Mass concelebrated by the Missouri bishops at St. Peter Church, across from the Capitol building.