Looking Back and Forward

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The National Catholic AIDS Network and the Church’s Response to AIDS

In July 2007, the National Catholic AIDS Network marks the 20th time there has been a national gathering of Catholic HIV/AIDS ministers. The first conference was held in 1988 at Notre Dame University. A group who attended that first conference wanted to find ways of fostering communication and support HIV/AIDS ministries throughout the year. In 1989, the National Catholic AIDS Network was incorporated. The history of the first decade was documented by Rev. Ed Kilianski, CSJ (a digital copy of this book is available on the included DVD). This commemorative book will focus on the last decade from 1997 – 2007.

I was introduced to the National Catholic AIDS Network in 1996 when I was working for AIDS Pastoral Care Network in Chicago. I presented a workshop at the conference in 1996. My involvement in the Network increased in 1998, when Rev. Rodney DeMartini asked me to be on the conference planning team. From 1999-2003, I was on the conference staff. In 2000, I also became the web editor for www.ncan.org. In 2003, I was invited by the board to serve as interim executive director and in 2004 was chosen as the executive director. This year I change roles to serve as the transition coordinator to assist the board in the task necessary to transition the Network to closure.

Over the past decade, the National Catholic AIDS Network built upon the foundations established by Rev. Rodney DeMartini who was the founding executive director and served in that capacity until 2003. The Network also transitioned its offices from northern California to Chicago. Chicago was a natural choice because of the excellent relationship with Loyola University and with the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Despite the financial challenges for most of the last decade, the National Catholic AIDS Network has been able to make a significant contribution to the response of the Catholic Church in the United States to the HIV/AIDS crisis. Many individuals, organizations, foundations, dioceses and parishes made this possible though sharing their time, talent and donations. Some of the many accomplishments of the National Catholic AIDS Network in the last decade include:

• Developing and implementing Many Threads, One Weave parish training manual with Catholic Charities USA.
  
  
• Developing and implementing AIDS Compassion Sunday based on a successful program developed by the Archdiocese of Newark.
  
  
• Producing resources for the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA Notes) in partnership with the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
  
  
• Developing the College Leaders Program, in partnership with Catholic Relief Services.
  
  
• Developing World AIDS Day resources, in conjunction with Oregon Catholic Press, the Secretariats of Hispanic Affairs and African American Catholics, and The Leadership Campaign on AIDS.
  
  
• Developing and successfully implementing an initiative to increase the level of involvement of people of color.
  
  
• Providing an opportunity for renewal and reflection at the annual conferences.
  
  
• Partnering with Latino individuals and organizations to support the Latino Caucus and the Hispanic AIDS Task Force.
  
  
• Convening the AIDS Educators Roundtable to promote HIV/AIDS education for youth.

Although the National Catholic AIDS Network will cease as an 501(c)3 nonprofit organization by the fall of 2007, the mission of the Network is still vital. Catholic ministers and ministries must continue to focus efforts on the many issues the HIV and AIDS present. We must continue to help reduce stigma and to reframe the discussion of HIV and AIDS to begin with the dignity of each human being made in the image and likeness of God. I commit to continue to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in my parish community, to continue to maintain this website, to continue to produce periodic editions of Online Connections and to join others who believe that responding to HIV and AIDS is part of our role as being Catholic Christians.

Peace,

Dan Lunney
Executive Director
National Catholic AIDS Network

 

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