Catholic social justice activist is event speaker

Staff report

VILLA MARIA, Pa.

Sister Simone Campbell will present “Signs of the Times: A Challenge to Engage” on March 11 and “Vows: The Prophetic Challenges” on March 12 at Villa Maria Community Center.

The conference is open to all who share the commitment to meet the needs of those who are poor and to do justice.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 11, Sister Simone will explore the issues and realities of our nation and our world.

She has extensive experience in public policy and advocacy.

She will address how people can respond in light of Catholic social principles.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 12, Sister Simone will explore what is happening in religious life today. This conference is open to vowed religious only.

Sister Simone is executive director of NETWORK, a national Catholic social justice lobby. She is a religious leader, attorney and poet with extensive experience in public policy and advocacy for systemic change. In Washington, she lobbies on issues of peace building and economic justice. Around the country, she is a noted speaker and educator on these public-policy issues.

Previously, she was the executive director of JERICHO, the California interfaith public-policy organization that works like NETWORK to protect the interests of people who are poor.

Simone also participated in a delegation of religious leaders to Iraq in December 2002. Since returning, she has spoken and written extensively on her experience.

Before JERICHO, she served as the general director of her religious community, the Sisters of Social Service. She was the leader of her sisters in the United States, Mexico, Taiwan and the Philippines. In this capacity, she negotiated with government and religious leaders in each of these countries.

In 1978, Simone founded and served for 18 years as the lead attorney for the Community Law Center in Oakland, Calif. She served the family law and probate needs of the working poor of her county.

Registration fee is $20 for an individual; a group of three or more is $15 each. Nonvowed religious should register for March 11 and vowed religious for March 12. Registration fee includes lunch. Advanced registration is required by Feb. 18.

For information, call 724-964-8920, ext. 3274, or visit www.humilityofmary.org.