NCEA Returns to Atlantic City for 99th Annual Convention

Brian Forés
(973) 497-4189
foresbri@rcan.org

For Publication:
March 25, 2002

NCEA Returns to Atlantic City for 99th Annual Convention
The five Roman Catholic dioceses of New Jersey will come together to host some 10,000 delegates at the 99th NCEA Convention & Exposition on April 2-5 in Atlantic City. This is the first time that all of the dioceses of a state have collaborated for the event, which is held annually the week after Easter Sunday. This year's convention also marks the return of the convention to Atlantic City after more than a quarter century, with the theme, "Catholic Educators: Navigators of Promise." The last time the convention was held there was 1975. Anyone working in or interested in Catholic education is welcome to register and attend the convention.

Approximately 400 sessions are held during the week on all levels of Catholic education for diocesan offices, elementary, secondary, religious education, seminary, boards of education, as well as for pastors and parents. The national NPCD (National Association of Parish Catechetical Directors) convocation, sponsored by NCEA's Religious Education Department, meets in conjunction with the convention, bringing together parish catechetical leaders. The NPCD celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

In addition to General Sessions and liturgies, the 2002 NCEA Convention will feature an array of sessions covering 21 different areas of interest including Administration, Arts, Curriculum and Instruction, Development, Early Adolescence, Early and Middle Childhood, Institutional Advancement, Leadership, Public Policy, Religious Education, Special Learning Needs, Staff Development, and Urban Education.

Affiliate groups meeting with NCEA include The Catholic Library Association and the National Catholic Educational Exhibitors, Inc. Religious communities of women and men also convene gatherings and meetings for their members during the week.

Over 2 million students are enrolled in 6,920 catholic elementary and middle schools nationwide, with an additional 643,000 students enrolled in 1,226 secondary schools. Over 450 exhibitors and 700 booths will vie for delegates' attention at the convention. According to Sue Arvo, NCEA convention director, an integral part of the four-day convention is the exposition, which features the latest in educational equipment and supplies. "With offerings ranging from school uniforms to computer networking and Internet services, exhibitors find the exposition an effective way to develop contacts," said Ms. Arvo.

The National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), the largest private professional organization in the world, has been providing leadership and service to Catholic education since 1904. NCEA's mission is to advance the educational and catechetical mission of the Church and to provide leadership and service to its members in preschools, elementary and secondary schools, parish catechetical/religious education programs, diocesan offices, colleges, universities and seminaries. In addition to the estimated 2.6 million elementary, middle school and secondary school students, NCEA members serve another 5 million Catholic University students and religious education students.

Slated to speak at the convention are Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington D.C., Angela Perez-Baraquio (Miss America 2001), and Rabbi Marc Gellman and Msgr. Thomas Hartman ("The God Squad"). Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark will concelebrate the opening Mass with the Bishops of the New Jersey Dioceses.