For nearly 50 years, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development’s Social Ministry Convocation has been a staple for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, enabling it to inspire, educate and support the mission to fight systemic poverty.
Recognizing that all good things eventually run their course, Baltimore’s Social Ministry Convocation organizers will hit the pause button this year with hopes of breathing new life into the event and perhaps attracting a younger audience.
Baltimore’s CCHD committee will host a Social Ministry Planning Conference March 8, 9 a.m.-noon, at Calvert Hall College High School (8102 LaSalle Road, Towson).
Instead of the typical conference it held 45 times since 1979, the committee is inviting individuals and groups who engage in social justice and outreach to come and share their thoughts in a group discussion to plan for the future of archdiocesan-wide social justice gatherings.
Waning attendance in recent years and a reduced budget for hosting the conference were two of the reasons cited for trying a new approach.
“We recognize that the convocation has kind of run its course,” said Fred Trenkle, CCHD chairperson of event planning. “Everything is on the table as we try to come up with something that invigorates people.”
Previous iterations of the conference included keynote speakers and workshops. Many of those speakers and workshop presenters represented social ministry groups that are now hosting events of their own such as Catholic Charities of Baltimore and St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore.
CCHD’s future events might be geared more toward town hall virtual events that could attract a younger audience, Trenkle said.
He said Baltimore committee chairman Monsignor Richard Bozzelli is also considering more-targeted events and workshops in underserved regions such as Western Maryland.
“We hope to get as many people as possible to bring in all those different ideas,” Trenkle said.
The March 8 event will include a facilitator to guide the planning. It also will include breakout sessions with small-group discussions.
Trenkle said CCHD is hoping to have at least 100 people attend and already has 25 people registered as of Feb. 21.
“We want the Holy Spirit to guide things,” he said. “There’s a crying need for coordination of social ministry within the archdiocese and we are hoping to facilitate that through synodality.”
Visit cchdbaltimore.org for registration and additional information. Other questions can be forwarded by email to arch.balt.smc@gmail.com.
Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@CatholicReview.org
Read More Local News
Copyright © 2025 Catholic Review Media
