A History of Achievement

The National Office continued supporting regional groups which grew out of the national conference. Those with strong regional groups include: the Florida Catholic AIDS Network (FCAN), Washington, DC Catholic AIDS Network (DCCAN), and the Western States Catholic AIDS Committee (WSCAC). A new regional group, the Texas Catholic AIDS Network (TCAN) was formed that year.

Hosted the 15th National Catholic HIV/AIDS Ministry Conference, "Come Away and Rest Awhile," held in July 2002.

Many Threads, One Weave: Training weekends were held in the archdioceses of Baltimore and Newark and in the dioceses of Springfield, MA, Worcester, MA and Santa Rosa, CA.

Nearly 100 pages of revisions and additions to the resource manual have been prepared and released in print and on the Network website.

The Network received a partnership grant to help support the translation of the parish manual into Spanish and for the development of pamphlet resources for Latino and African-American parishes.

Youth Initiative: The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) analyzed all data from these sessions and a report was presented at the July, 2002 AIDS Ministry Conference.

Over 800 referral, technical support and networking inquiries were received at our Network office.

The Newsletter, Connections, published quarterly, continues to provide Network news, information and resources to its members and friends.

The National Catholic AIDS Network website: www.ncan.org underwent significant updating, revision and expansion of features including online ministry conference registration and excerpts from the Connections newsletter. A webmaster and web editor were contracted to oversee the continued development of the website.

Hosting biannual roundtable discussions at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Publication of AIDS in the Catholic Workplace, in collaboration with the National Association of Church Personnel Administrators.

Annual convening of the leadership roundtable of representatives of national Catholic organizations to address the issues and needs faced by religious and clergy living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Ongoing efforts to encourage and establish joint membership with other national Catholic organizations.

Participation in the working group convened by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Health Care Workers, Vatican City.

The Development Advisory Committee and the development consultant completed a "Case Statement" for the Network that would enable it to present development needs to potential donors.

The Development Committee and consultant designed "The Commitment Fund" for the Network. Its goal was to raise an additional $100,000 in order to assure the Network's ability to proceed with its long-range plans and to meet day-to-day operation costs.

With the help of the Development Consultant and Executive Director, the Board of Directors launched the Commitment Fund to assure the future of the Network.

Continued strategic planning sessions were conducted at the Board of Directors' meeting in February 2002.

The Network was present at the following conferences, speaking engagements and informational exhibits: National Federation of Priests' Councils Convention; Catholic Health Association Convention; Center for Disease Control National HIV Prevention Conference; Catholic Charities USA Conference; National Organization for the Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy Conference; AIDS Compassion Sunday in the Archdiocese of Newark; Catholic Medical Mission Board ( a co-sponsor of the Global Program at the National Catholic HIV/AIDS Ministry Conference); National Association of Church Personnel Administrators; Chicago Catechetical Conference; National Catholic Youth Conference; Archdiocese of Los Angeles Religious Education Congress; and Christian Service Charities Conference.