Dear Sister in Christ,

Welcome to GIVEN! We are so grateful for your willingness to serve as a volunteer at the 2024 GIVEN Forum. The Forum aims to provide emerging Catholic female leaders with faith formation, leadership training and dedicated mentoring as they navigate the questions, opportunities, and challenges posed to the contemporary Catholic woman. Volunteers are integral to the success of these goals!

We are honored to welcome you to attend the Forum as a volunteer. You are truly an essential part of this work, and we are grateful for the gifts you bring.

In Christ,

Elisabeth Showalter & Alice Kraus/Volunteer Coordinators and the GIVEN Team

Please mark the following dates:

April 11 – Volunteer Orientation
Volunteer orientation to learn what to expect volunteering at the Forum. Click here to register.

May 15 – Details Update/Team Assignments
Receive your team assignment and learn more about the details of how you’ll be serving at the Forum. Zoom link to follow.

June 7 – Volunteer Arrival
Dinner and Evening of Recollection with lay and consecrated women

June 8 – Forum Preparation Day
Prepare campus spaces and giveaway bags, receive your assignment for volunteering throughout the week

June 8-12 – 2024 GIVEN Forum
Serve in your role, take in the talks and programming, and form community with hundreds of Catholic female leaders!

Where will the 2024 GIVEN Forum be held?

Lodging and most programming for the 2024 GIVEN Forum will take place at The Catholic University of America: 620 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20064. Directions for how to get to the campus from area airports or driving can be found on the university’s website. Portions of the Forum will also take place at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the Saint John Paul II National Shrine.

Where will I stay during the 2024 GIVEN Forum?

Lodging will be available at Catholic University on the arrival date that you specify on your registration form. Accommodations at CUA will be a single room with privacy of a door and a shared bathroom. Linens and towels are provided. If you need hangers, a clothes iron or a hair dryer, please bring those items. The dormitories are well air-conditioned, so please keep this in mind while packing if you tend to be cold.

Although we only offer complimentary lodging for consecrated women who have taken a vow of poverty, we have managed to bring down the cost of lodging to an affordable rate compared to lodging outside Catholic University Campus.

Women may also make their own accommodations off campus at their own cost. Please see this list of area hotels if you are interested in this option.

If you are local and are not going to stay at CUA, there is a spot to indicate that on the registration form.

When should I arrive?

Event volunteers are to arrive at Catholic University in Washington, DC on June 7, 2024 starting at 4PM EST. Once settled, we have dinner together followed by an Evening of Recollection.

On the following day, June 8, 2024 will be Forum Preparation Day. This is when we get moving to prepare campus spaces, giveaway bags, and other Forum related logistics. This is also the day where we receive our specific volunteer assignments throughout the week of the Forum. In the evening, the young adults arrive to your hospitality and prayerful support!

For the duration of the Forum, from June 8-12, you are called to lovingly serve in your role, take in the talks and programming, and build community with hundreds of Catholic female leaders. The Forum will conclude on Wednesday, June 12 by 2:00pm.

What is the schedule for Friday, June 7?

4:00PM-6:00PM – Check-in for Mentors & Volunteers
6:00PM – Dinner Available
7:30PM – Mass
8:00PM – Adoration and Conference by Fr. John Burns

What is the schedule for Saturday, June 8?

We will share more details about Saturday’s schedule soon!

To which airport or train station should I arrive?

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is the closest airport to Catholic University. Upon arrival visitors can take a taxi, Metrorail or rental car to reach campus. You may also arrive at Baltimore/Washington International or Dulles International. The closest train (Amtrak) station is Union Station.

If I am staying at home and commuting to the Forum, what time should I arrive and leave each day?

On Friday, June 7, check in takes place from 4-6PM followed by dinner at 6PM. Mass and a conference by Fr. John Burns begin at 7:30PM.

On Saturday, June 8, please arrive by 8AM and plan to leave 9-10PM

On Sunday, June 9, please arrive by 8:30AM and plan to leave 8-9PM

On Monday, June 10 and Tuesday, June 11, please arrive by 8:30AM and plan to leave 9:30-10:30PM

On Wednesday, June 12, please arrive by 8:30AM and plan to leave 1:30-2PM

If I am driving, will I need a parking pass?

Yes. You may register for a one-week visitor parking permit at CUA’s parking website.

Will there be time for sightseeing during the Forum?

No, there will not be time allotted for sightseeing in DC during the days of the GIVEN Forum. If desired, feel free to make travel arrangements to allow for sightseeing either prior to or following the GIVEN Forum. You are wholly responsible for all costs and accommodations outside the days of the GIVEN Forum. If you do decide to extend your stay, you can visit the following website for tourist information: https://washington.org/

What is the weather like in June in DC?

June tends to be warm, often between 70-85°F. As the event draws nearer, we suggest checking weather.com for more specific temperatures.

What is the dress code for the GIVEN Forum?

Business casual dress is appropriate for attending the conferences, workshops, and liturgies throughout the week. Be prepared for chilly air conditioning for indoor programming and in the dorms. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

For the Catholic Female Leaders Celebration on Tuesday night, the dress code is cocktail attire.

Should I bring spending money?

All meals will be provided. You will need to bring money to pay for your travel costs and any additional or personal spending you desire throughout the week.

Will there be time to exercise?
Yes, you are welcome to exercise during free time periods. A group often forms for morning runs as well!

How do I share my dietary restrictions?
You can share any needs for diet or accessibility, as well as any other notes for Forum organizers, in your registration form.

Will there be a daily holy hour and time for private prayer?
Yes. During the Forum preparation days, Adoration is scheduled for the evenings, and during the days of the Forum, Adoration and Morning Prayer are scheduled for the morning before daily programming begins. You will also have the opportunity for private prayer during lunch and dinner breaks.

May religious communities provide information for the young adults?
Religious communities are welcome to bring a brochure or piece of literature about the community. We will have a table to place these items where attendees can pick them up.

One more thing…
In preparation for the GIVEN Forum, we recommended that the participants explore the following documents. Although there is no requirement to read them, we want you to have access to these great resources that speak to the beauty and dignity of women as well as the gift of our personal vocation: