By Voice staff

Jesuit Father William O’Neill, professor of social ethics at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, will be the keynote speaker at a daylong conference on global solidarity, Feb. 13 at Holy Names University in Oakland. He will speak on “Setting the Table for Everyone” at the 9 a.m. opening session.

The conference will offer workshops on a wide-range of issues, including human trafficking, immigration and world hunger — all in the context of Catholic principles of human dignity, solidarity and social justice, particularly in the global economy. There will be a session on teaching justice in the classroom and one on creating a political voice for the world’s hungry.

Workshop leaders include Eric Holt-Gimenez, executive director of Food First; Holly Hight, field organizer with Bread for the World; Deacon Matt Dulka, western region director for Maryknoll; Joe Hastings, regional director of Catholic Relief Services; and Holy Family Sister Caritas Foster.

The conference is primarily for catechists, teachers, youth ministers, and other lay leaders, but is open to all concerned Catholics, said John Watkins, diocesan coordinator for life and justice. His office is sponsoring the conference along with the School for Pastoral Ministry, JustFaith Oakland, the Sisters of the Holy Family, and Stop Slavery: Northern California Coalition of Catholic Sisters.

The conference will conclude at 3:30 p.m.

Early registration (before Jan. 29) is $20 general and $10 students at http://www.oakdiocese.org/pastoral/SocialJustice. On-site registration will be $30 general and $15 students. Food will be available for purchase.

Holy Names University is located at 3500 Mountain Blvd. in Oakland.

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