“We need to participate for the common good. Sometimes we hear: a good Catholic is not interested in politics. This is not true: good Catholics immerse themselves in politics by offering the best of themselves so that the leader can govern.”
-Pope Francis
During an election season, there is an overwhelming array of issues, opinions and statements to sift through when deciding which candidates should get our vote.
As Catholics and Americans, we are blessed to be able to participate in our nation’s political and public life. Our freedoms respect the dignity of individuals and their consciences and allow us to come together for the common good. We are called to witness to Faithful Citizenship as we participate in the public square through political engagement and civil dialogue
For people of faith, Faithful Citizenship is more than voting. It is a practice and an exercise that is unique to each individual. Only you can decide how to be authentic in exercising your rights and duties as a responsible participant in our democracy.
MODERATOR:
Cynthia N. Colbert, MSW
President/CEO, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
PANELISTS:
Sr. Maureen O’Connell, O.P.
Secretariat, Social Concerns, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ
President Catholic Charities, Diocese of Brownsville
Cynthia N. Colbert, MSW
An expert on poverty and ways to address it, Cynthia N. Colbert, MSW, took the helm of Catholic Charities in 2012 and since then created new partnerships across the region to help impoverished individuals build better lives. She is an experienced leader with more than 25 years in nonprofit management. Cynthia currently serves as chair pro tem on the board of directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas’s Houston Branch. Under Colbert’s leadership, Catholic Charities was recognized for its outstanding record of trustworthy administration of public human services funds by both Harris County and the City of Houston, which chose the agency to distribute more than $250 million federal funds to 125,000 families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
Sr. Maureen O’Connell, OP
Sr. Maureen O’Connell, OP, founded Angela House in 2001 to serve justice involved women and assist in their reentry here in Houston. Her wide range of experiences prepared her to create this successful ministry: 13 years as a Chicago police officer and police chaplain; 16 years as a clinical social worker serving children and families who had experienced physical and sexual abuse in Houston and as Victim’s Assistance Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
Sister Maureen has served as Director of the Secretariat for Social Concerns in the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston since January 2020. She is a Dominican Sister of Adrian, Michigan, a Catholic religious community known for its commitment to social justice.
Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ
As Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, Sr. Normal Pimental, MJ, oversees the charitable branch of the Diocese of Brownsville, the second largest Catholic Diocese in the United States. Sister Pimentel has over twenty years of experience in providing oversight to a diverse set of ministries and social services in the Rio Grande Valley such as homeless prevention, disaster relief, clinical counseling, pregnancy care, food assistance, and humanitarian relief to immigrants.
In 2014, during the influx of immigrants entering the United States through the Southern Border, Sister Pimentel with the support of the local community established the Humanitarian Respite Center, providing a safe space for immigrants to rest before continuing their journey to other parts of the United States.
For more information, please contact Rhonda Sepulveda at RSepulveda@CatholicCharities.org or 713.874.6672.
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