Catholic Charities USA's 2012 Annual Gathering Kicks Off in St. Louis

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Sep 30, 2012, 01:42 ET

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), among the nation's leading organizations in poverty reduction and disaster response, kicked off its annual gathering in St. Louis today with keynote speeches from Rev. Larry Snyder, President of Catholic Charities USA and John Allen, the Vatican correspondent for National Catholic Reporter.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081008/CCUSALOGO )

"We gather every year in the spirit of a common mission to improve the lives of every one of the millions of Americans that we serve," said Fr. Larry Snyder, President of CCUSA, in his address before nearly six hundred volunteers, partners, and service providers across the Catholic Charities network. "At this gathering we unite as a community and find strength and inspiration in our shared dedication to eradicating the challenges facing those we serve."

The three-day event will feature additional keynote speeches from His Eminence Robert Cardinal Sarah who, on his first trip to the United States, will bring messages from the Vatican, and National Journal correspondent Major Garrett who will close this year's gathering on Tuesday, October 2 with a speech on the intersection between the Church and policy.

For live Twitter updates throughout the event, please follow @CCharitiesUSA and @CCUSA2EP or track the hashtag #CCUSA2012. Additional information about CCUSA's 2012 Annual Gathering can be found by visiting www.CatholicCharitiesUSA.org/Gathering.

Additional materials available upon request.

About Catholic Charities USA
Catholic Charities USA is the national office for Catholic Charities agencies nationwide. Catholic Charities USA's members provide help and create hope for more than 10 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For almost 300 years, Catholic Charities agencies have worked to reduce poverty by providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from health care and job training to food and housing.

SOURCE Catholic Charities USA