2024 Franciscan Justice Leadership Conference: Acting for Peace, People, Planet!
Dates: Saturday, October 12 – Tuesday, October 15 2024
(Note: Monday, October 14, 2024 is Indigenous People’s Day)
Where: Washington Retreat House, Washington, DC
Live Stream Program: Sunday, October 13 (12:30pm – 5:00pm EDT / 9:30am – 2:00pm PDT)
We welcome you to join Franciscan-inspired seekers of peace and justice from across the country in our nation’s capital just a few weeks before national elections, where we will learn, grow, connect with others, and be empowered as advocates for creation, peace, and justice in our home communities.
Franciscan Action Network (FAN) is pleased to join with the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities (AFCU) in organizing this conference, where we will strengthen our ability to bring our authentic voices to bear on issues facing our communities, nation, and world.
Registration for Live Stream Participation is now open! Click here to register.
All slots available for in-person attendance have been filled. Please see the registration section below to be added to our waitlist.
Watch our video reactions from 2023 Franciscan Justice Leadership Conference participants.
Conference goals include:
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- Inspire participants to connect Franciscan spirituality with service and action for creation, peace, and justice in their communities
- Empower participants to practice effective civic participation through skills training
- Build relationships with the wider Franciscan family – students from other colleges, members of the religious communities, lay Franciscan-hearted people, FAN staff
- Increase awareness among participants of their valued membership in the Franciscan movement
Conference Speakers and Presenters
(Please check back often for updates on speakers and presenters.)
Sr. Julia Walsh, FSPA - "Community Building as a Franciscan Pathway to Peace"
Julia Walsh is a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration who serves as a spiritual director and vocation minister plus hosts the Messy Jesus Business podcast. She is a widely published spiritual writer and author of For Love of the Broken Body.
Fr. Michael Lasky, OFM Conv. - "Franciscan DNA - Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation"
Friar Mike is a Franciscan Friar Conventual currently based in Rome, Italy, where he serves his order as the General Delegate for Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation. He currently serves as a member of FAN’s board of directors and his past ministries include Franciscans International at the United Nations, parish work, teaching high school, and campus ministry.
Michael Poffenberger - Panelist
Michael Poffenberger is the Executive Director of the Center for Action and Contemplation and guides the organization in supporting inner work for those seeking to build a more just and humane world. He believes that transforming consciousness can solve many of today’s challenges and lives this mission by supporting movements for peace and collective liberation.
Carolyn Townes, OFS - Panelist
Carolyn D. Townes, OFS is a spiritual life and leadership coach and a loss to life mindset strategist. Carolyn has served in several leadership roles on the local, regional, national and international levels of the Secular Franciscan Order, is a former board member of FAN, and leads the Franciscan Justice Circle that meets virtually for those with limited accessibility.
George Weigel - Panelist
George Weigel, Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, is a Catholic theologian and one of America’s leading public intellectuals. Mr. Weigel is the author or editor of more than thirty books, perhaps best known for his widely translated and internationally acclaimed two-volume biography of Pope St. John Paul II.
Merwyn DeMello
Merwyn is Kenyan-born of Indian ancestry and works with FAN as an advocacy associate. He is a peacebuilder and community organizer with several years of international experience accompanying communities experiencing violence and supporting community-driven peacebuilding.
Eli McCarthy, PhD
Eli has worked on direct advocacy, mobilization, and strategic campaign leadership experience influencing U.S. policy as the Federal Policy Senior Advisor for the Catholic Labor Network and Director of Justice and Peace for the leadership conference of the U.S. Catholic men’s religious orders. He is a professor at Georgetown U. in Theology as well as Justice and Peace Studies and works with FAN as a Just Peace Fellow.
Registration Information
Registration via Live Stream:
Hybrid Program: Register to participate virtually in a half-day hybrid interactive program on Sunday, October 13 from 12:30pm – 5:00pm EDT (9:30am – 2:00pm PDT). With multiple breaks, you will take part in these sessions:
- Justice, peace, and creation is in the DNA of Franciscans (Recorded)
- Community Building as a Franciscan Pathway to Peace
- Polarization and Nonviolence Panel
- Intro. to Nonviolent Communication (NVC) as a tool for change
Register as an individual: The suggested price of $50 is set to cover our technical costs associated with putting on the live stream. We want everyone to be able to attend. If the price is prohibitive, please contribute what you are able. If you can contribute more, we sincerely appreciate your generosity. Register HERE.
Register your group for a watch party: Are you a member of an FJC? Do you have some friends who are also interested? Host a watch party and get a discount! For $75, send the Zoom link to 5 email addresses. For $100, send the link to 10 email addresses. Register your group HERE.
If you have any questions, please contact us at info@franciscanaction.org
In-Person Registration Options
All registration rates for in-person attendance are subsidized in order to make this conference accessible. As of September 1, 2024 we have filled all available slots for in-person attendance. Please fill out the form below to be added to our waitlist.
In-person participants are asked to cover their transportation to and from the retreat center in Washington DC. See our transportation guide to assist in your travel planning.
Full conference with lodging: Registration will be $275 per person for adults 18-30 and $325 per person for adults over 30. Rate includes conference participation, 3 nights accommodations, and meals.
Full conference *without* lodging: Registration includes conference participation, facility fees and most meals. Rate is $200 per person for everyone.
Weekend Only *without* lodging: For local participants or those who can only be present Sat. and Sun. Registration is $100 and includes weekend conference participation, facility fees and most meals.
Please submit the form below to be added to our waitlist.
Tentative agenda:
Saturday, October 12:
3:00 PM Check-In begins at the Washington Retreat House
5:00 PM Opening session, followed by dinner, prayer, social/cultural activities
Sunday, October 13:
8:30 AM Catholic mass for those who wish to participate
9:30 AM Session 1: Justice, peace, and creation is in the DNA of Franciscans, Friar Michael Lasky, OFM Conv.
11:00 AM Session 2: Franciscan Justice Circles
12:00 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Hybrid Program
- Session 3: Community Building as a Franciscan Pathway to Peace, Sr. Julia Walsh, FSPA
- Session 4: Polarization and Nonviolence Panel, Michael Poffenberger and Carolyn Townes, OFS
- Session 5: Intro. to Nonviolent Communication (NVC) as tool for change, Merwyn DeMello and Eli McCarthy
5:00 PM Dinner
6:00 PM Dessert and Tabling (pictured below)
8:00 PM Prayer
8:30 PM College Student Gathering
*Note* The Hybrid Program will be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person.
Monday, October 14:
8:00 AM Free time to see Washington DC
1:00 PM Lunch
2:00 PM Session 6: Advocacy training and preparation for U.S. Congressional visits
5:30 PM Dinner
8:00 PM Prayer
Tuesday, October 15:
9:00 AM Advocacy visits on Capitol Hill to advocate bipartisan approaches to key issues in meetings organized by FAN
12:00 PM Lunch and conclusion
1:00 PM Depart
Would your institution or organization like to be a FJLC Sponsor?
Sponsors will have:
- A table at designated tabling and dessert time (2 hours) on evening of Sun. Oct. 13
- Option to display literature on shared side table of main conference room from start to finish
- Your logo advertised on the FJLC webpage
Please contact FAN staff Nora Pfeiffer for more information.
Consider sponsoring an attendee
Pope Francis said in Laudato Si’ “for we know that things can change.” To do this, we need everyone. FAN will gather people from all over the country in our nation’s capital to strengthen our ability to bring our authentic voices to bear on issues facing our communities, nation and world.
In 2023, due to the generosity of several sponsors, we were able to offer the subsidized registration fees to young people and the general public of $250 and $300 respectively. Registration covers lodging (single rooms, shared bathrooms), meals, materials, and local ground transportation. We hope to accomplish this goal again this year.
The actual cost of these services is more than $575 per person. Consider sponsoring one or more attendees.
Thank you to our conference partners:
Thank you to our FJLC Sponsors:
