Over 70 FADICA members and guests gathered earlier this month for FADICA’s thirty-seventh annual membership meeting and symposium, Nurturing our Tradition and Engaging our Future: New Leadership, New Collaboration. The symposium showcased new and innovative leaders from a number of Catholic charitable organizations, including Caritas Internationalis and Jesuit Commons.
Symposium dialogue and panel presentations focused on creating innovative models of collaboration, youth engagement, and the need to harness new technology and social media to achieve greater mission impact. Panels covered both domestic and international sectors of Catholic nonprofit and charitable efforts, and guest speakers included Michel Roy, General Secretary of Caritas Internationalis (Rome), and Christine Healey, Executive Director of the Catholic School Development Program (NJ).
At the annual meeting, FADICA’s Board of Directors elected new officers of the organization. Sr. Sally Duffy, SC, President of the SC Ministry Foundation was elected Chair. Forrest N. Jenkins, Director and Immediate Past Chair of the Assisi Foundation of Memphis, was elected Vice Chair; John C. Vatterott, Trustee of the Joan and John Vatterott Foundation, was elected Treasurer; and Deborah A. Estes, President of the Specialty Family Foundation, was elected Secretary.
“FADICA members, as Catholic philanthropists, bring Jesus’ ministry and Catholic social teaching to life in their own communities and around the world. I look forward to working with all of our members and partners to support our Church and the people of God as they serve the common good and the most vulnerable,” said FADICA’s newly elected Chair, Sr. Sally Duffy, SC.
Members also launched several new “affinity” working groups on topics important to Catholic funders, including Catholic schools and international philanthropy, to support ongoing member communication and collaboration on shared topical interests. Participants also engaged in strategic planning sessions to guide the organization over the next three years.
