CONNECTING CATHOLIC WOMEN August 2016
Transcription
CONNECTING CATHOLIC WOMEN August 2016
Winona Diocese Council of Catholic Women Inside this Issue: CONNECTING CATHOLIC WOMEN August 2016 From our President Cindy Meling Dear Sisters in Christ, Isn’t it interesting all the news that is happening. I haven’t seen to many positive news items, just negative ones. All the killing or injuring of people, the DNC convention and more scandals coming out. We truly need to look at both contenders and choose the most positive candidate and vote for them. It is important that we vote and not to stay home and watch, then to complain about what happened. Not a positive thing to do. It can be hard to find positive things in our world, but we must look for them and make them known to everyone. The Lord is always looking for the positive, so must we. Try it for a day and see how it makes you feel. Talking about positivity, the Winona Diocese CCW is having a workshop Saturday, October 8th at St. John Vianney in Fairmont. We are having 6 speakers for the day that you will have to decide who you want to listen that day. In the morning Sacred Heart Haiti Mission will answer any questions that you may have. Scott Fischbach from MCCL will speak on abortion and assisted suicide and Pat Reymann, NCCW parliamentarian will speak on the pamphlet “Ask the Parliamentarian” and membership. All will speak at 10:00 am. In the afternoon we will start at 1 pm with 2 speakers. Denise Haaland, past Province Director, speaking on the Leader in Me. Ann Full will speak on God’s Plan for you. At 2 pm Fr. Paul Breza will speak on the Polish museum and the Winona Diocese relics. There will be a flyer in the newsletter with all the information about the day. We have quite an assortment of speakers for you to hear and we hope you will bring at least 3 other people with you so you can take in everything that day. Bring your mission items, both trucks, Rochester Medical Mission and Sacred Heart Haiti Mission, will be there at 8 am. They are expecting all kinds of items from the CCWs across the Winona Diocese. Talk about being positive CCW women. Remember Martha and Mary’s story; Martha worrying about everything and Mary worshipping the Lord, we all need to be like Mary in this world of unrest. We all have choices to make and everyone should be concerned with what would the Lord do or think about our choices. Mary made the right choice by serving the Lord, will we all be positive like Mary or will we be like Martha and be negative. Province Director 2 Leadership 3 Respect Life 4/5 Family/Community 6 Church 7 Coming Events 8 Workshop Flyer 9 Items for Haiti 10 Mission Statement: The WDCCW acts to support, empower and educate at Catholic Women of the Diocese in spirituality, leadership and service. The Council unites Catholic organizations of women, diocesan areas and parish affiliates for the purpose of producing activities, providing service and education, fostering spirituality by responding with Gospel values to the needs of the Church and society in the modern world. Connecting Catholic Women Page 2 Bev McCarvel Province Director Another GREAT meeting in DC and no snow! We celebrated Sheila’s birthday while we were there with cake and all. She said the cake was a real treat as her husband has diabetes and she never has cake. Sheila is on the left and Mary Matheus, our national treasurer is on the right. Beth Ward from the office reported on membership. One member-One chance generated 274 members with the winner going to a lady in Connecticut. We have 1700 members now and 85 of 195 Diocese are affiliated. So we have some work to do. The #’s have increased from Jan 2016, but we must be diligent in continuing to keep membership up. And as of the convention, we will be out of debt. But there too, that all is contingent in keeping the numbers up and the dollars coming in. One idea was to put into all budgets to send NCCW $100 each year. I did hear some say, “we use to do that!” Also affiliates can join the Birthday Club ($200/yr till 2020) or Legacy Circle $1000 /yr. for 10 years. There will be a Power point, created by Marybeth Stewert, for us to use on membership, so when you go to a meeting you can use it. This will be available at convention. Be sure to use the brochure “Introduction to NCCW” when you are talking about CCW to ladies. GOOD brochure! There will be a new look to the CATHOLIC WOMAN Magazine starting in September, and our new logo will be revealed. If you go to convention, each bag will have the magazine in. AND there will be a new price of $30.00 now for Priests, and all Bishops across the country receive the magazine. So make sure your priests are getting the CATHOLIC WOMAN. We are going to reach out to high schools and colleges. Dues for high schools will be $50.00 and a student dues will be$5.00 - that includes the CATHOLIC WOMAN magazine on line only and she will receive the CONNECT on line. It will be the same for colleges, the Newman Center on campus would be $50.00 and the college student pays only $10.00 for her membership and receives the on line magazine and CONNECT. This is very exciting news as we reach out to those gals that are the future of NCCW. Voting for National Treasurer took place between June 15 and July 15 and the results are….. Rose Martinet. Rose: 880 votes Ann: 368 votes Thank you to Ann Cubillas for submitting her credentials to run for Treasurer. Our National Convention in 2017 will be in Dallas, Texas – September 6-9. It was announced that Minnesota and Wisconsin had sent in to host the 2020 convention and no one for 2018 or 2019 yet. That was about all that was said, so they are thinking on it. I’m sure as soon as they know, we will know if we got it or not. Thank you for allowing me to represent you here in the GREATEST Province of them all!!!!! God bless all of you and keep on keeping on. I’m so blessed to know all of you Bev McCarvel I have talked to some of you about this book I'm reading, RETURN - How to draw your child back to the church by Brandon Vogt Here is a link to his website. He spoke at last year’s Convention in Florida and WOW I’m not very far into the book yet but it is very good! Here is a link to his site…..http://brandonvogt.com/ Connecting Catholic Women Page 3 LEADERSHIP TERI ROSENDAHL, VICE PRESIDENT Teri’s Email: [email protected] Home: 507.498.3250 Organization/Leadership --- our Board Meetings are really One large meeting for the bottom one third of the state! These meetings are attended by presidents, vice-presidents, past presidents, and devoted Catholic Women who want to empower themselves and bring the Good News back to their Area and local parishes. A big " Thank You" to all who took off time from work and rearranged their schedules to listen and learn! We appreciate the Host parish who welcomed us and treated us like royalty....you are a wonderful parish St. Francis Xavier! As a Council of Catholic Women we are always looking for ways to get the word out as to who we are and what we do. One way is to get everyone to subscribe to the E-News and get the E-News on the parish or tri-parish web-sites! Thank you to all who are working on this and don't forget to personally ask and advertise whenever you can....wear your WDCCW pins . God Bless, Teri Rosendahl POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR AUGUST Universal: Sports That sports may be an opportunity for friendly encounters between peoples and may contribute to peace in the world. Evangelization: Living The Gospel That Christians may live the Gospel, giving witness to faith, honesty, and love of neighbor. Connecting Catholic Women Page 4 Spirituality Commission Respect Life, Legislation & Anti-Pornography Eleanore Jones [email protected] 507-937-3460 Please remember to work at your MCCL fair booth and Thank You if you did. If you would like to volunteer at this summer’s MCCL State Fair booth, Aug. 25 - Sept. 5, contact MCCL’s State Office at [email protected] or by phone at 612835-6831. Could Stem Cells be the Next Penicillin? Chances are you’ve heard the term “stem cells” at least once before. They’ve been in the news for years. But did you know that stem cells are currently being used to treat chronic lung disease? For many sufferers of diseases like COPD and pulmonary fibrosis, stem cell treatments have allowed crucial aspects of their daily lives to be restored. Stem cells and penicillin both come from humble beginnings and accidental discovery. They are both used to treat life threatening conditions and diseases, and just like penicillin, stem cell biologists have won Nobel Prizes due to the practical uses of their discoveries. The stem cells used to treat diseases in the United States the same cells that warranted a 2012 Nobel Prize in Medicine - are adult stem cells. This type of stem cell is instead found throughout the body in blood and bone marrow. Stem cells are simply blank cells standing by to meet your body’s needs. Today, a clinic called the Lung Institute is using adult stem cells harvested from the patient’s own blood or bone marrow to provide similar promotive effects for people with lung diseases. Their website, lunginstitute.com, states that they have treated over 2000 patients to date. If the number of people who have already been successfully treated with stem cells is any indication of the future, then it will undoubtedly be heralded as one of the most groundbreaking medical technologies of its time. If you or a loved one suffers from COPD or another lung disease, the Lung Institute may be able to help with a variety of stem cell treatment options. If you’re looking to take control of your health, and wonder if you qualify, don’t wait. No fetal or embryonic stem cells are utilized in Lung Institute’s procedures. All treatments performed at Lung Institute utilize autologous cells, meaning those derived from a patient’s own body. 10 Reasons Why Assisted Suicide is Wong and Should Never be Made Legal: 1. Assisted suicide turns doctors into killers. 2. Assisted suicide endangers the weak and vulnerable. 3. Assisted suicide laws give societal approval to killing. 4. Just call it what it is: suicide. 5. Assisted suicide laws are unfair to the disabled. 6. Assisted suicide laws lead to euthanasia. 7. Assisted suicide laws put the poor at risk. 8. It pressures dying people to end their own lives. 9. 3.4 million nurses oppose assisted suicide. 10. Assisted suicide laws go against the Law of God. How to Talk to Your Son about Pornography. Pornography is a powerful threat to our sons. It skews their view of sex, love, women, and relationships. Obviously when we were younger access to graphic sexual images were not as easy to come by as they are today. Things are so different now. Having the Internet on so many devices inside and outside the house means the barbarians are perpetually at the gate. The best way to fight it is to prepare them for pornography _ expose the ugly reality of it and it’s many dangers. It may be difficult, but here are 3 points on how to talk to your son about pornography. 1. A momentary thrill leading to dissatisfaction, emptiness and addiction. An explicit image is stimulating and causes a scientifically proven chemical release in the brain. That is why we are drawn to it like the ring in Lord of the Rings. However when the viewing is over, we are left empty, unsatisfied, and full of guilt. 2. Living in isolated fantasy versus connected reality. A full life is found in relationships and shared experiences. Porn is about entering a fantasy world. We become isolated. In essence, our soul becomes intertwined with something that Connecting Catholic Women Page 5 isn’t real. Porn doesn’t provide anything, it takes everything. Strong men of character are ones that are firmly founded in reality and relationships. Live in the real world. 3. An example of diminished one dimensional sex. One of the biggest and most dangerous of all lies is that porn stars know how to have the best sex. True intimacy and knowledge of one another comes in commitment. When women know we rare committed, we create an environment where they feel safe to share their whole self with us. Porn turns sex into mere physical acts. It is one dimensional sex and will always fall short of what it could be In fact, it even falls short physically. Personalities and bodies respond differently. Sex for a committed couple that continues to grow closer in love and knowledge of one another will continually get more passionate. It’s like becoming an expert at playing an instrument. Pray for the Holy Father…and speak the truth with boldness! The situation in the Catholic Church has become critical. In the opinion of Italy’s leading Catholic historian we are currently in a crisis even ‘worse’ than the Arian crisis! It is the duty of all Catholics to proclaim the Church’s life-giving teachings on life, marriage and family courageously, prayerfully, charitably, and without compromise! Perhaps we should not be surprised that we find ourselves in these confusing times. Heaven did warn us that times like these were coming. “Even the elect, if it be possible, will be confused,” says Our Lord in the Gospel of Matthew. In a letter by Fatima seer Sister Lucia to Cardinal Caffara, she revealed Our Lady’s warning that “the final battle between the Lord and the reign of Satan will be about marriage and the family.” We are battling abortion, contraception, sane-sex “marriage”, transgender extremism, and attacks on religious freedom at unprecedented and frightening levels. “It is the time of the laity,” Bishop Schneider told us, regarding the hour of crisis in the Church. We need to speak up and to pray and fast like never before. The faithful bishops and clergy need us to do so. Let us lovingly and respectfully plead with our spiritual leaders, including our Holy Father, to embrace the hard teaching of Christ, despite their unpopularity. As Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said in his Easter Homily in 2012, the Resurrection of Jesus assures us that: “Life is stronger than death. Good is stronger than evil. Life is stronger than hate. Truth is stronger than lies.” Vote in the Aug. 9 Primary Election. Be a pro-life citizen! Few people vote in primary elections, which means your vote will have even more influence. Four areas of ongoing concern are: First Planned Parenthood continues to increase its domination of the abortion market. The group performed a record 5,048 abortions in MN last year, topping 50% of all abortions in the state for the first time. Second, the percentage of abortions funded by taxpayers hit a record high of 43.3% in 2015. State funding allows the abortion industry to market “free” abortions to lowincome women, increasing abortion numbers and revenue and compensating (in part) for the lessening demand for abortion. The incidence of abortion would be significantly lower if taxpayer dollars were not available. Third, chemical (drug-induced) abortions using RU486 reached an all-time high of 32% of total abortions. These abortions are cost-efficient for the abortion industry, but they pose greater health risks to women than first-trimester surgical abortions. Fourth, the number of abortions at 20 weeks gestation or later increased to 184 in 2015: the number of dilation and evacuation (D&E) abortions, which involve dismembering the unborn child during the second trimester, increased to 816. These concerns are areas that we have tried in recent years to address with legislation, and we will continue to do so. Many lives have been saved through the work of the pro-life movement but much, much more work remains to be done. 2016 Fall Tour Locations in Our Diocese are: Pipestone - Sept. 12, Austin - Sept. 18, Windom - Sept. 13, Winona Sept.19, Rochester - Sept. 20, Mankato - Oct. 12. All meetings begin at 7PM. Please attend one of these locations and invite others to join you in becoming energized and mobilized to save lives. Come and be educated, inspired and empowered to take a stand for life! Connecting Catholic Women Page 6 FAMILY AND COMMUNITY CONCERNS Nancy Back PO Box 482 Harmony, MN 55939 [email protected] 815-275-2360 I feel the need to address an issue that has been discussed at previous meetings and in previous articles. Concern about human trafficking has been brought up to me in my local community. I had been working at the local county fair at the MCCL (Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life) Pro-Life and the Republican Party booths when asked for more information about the subject. I had first spoken about it at the Republican County Convention when an amendment was being discussed. It raised curiosity about the subject in people's minds. When they saw me again, they needed more information. I told them that I would contact the sisters at Assisi Heights in Rochester to see about having them come to speak locally. This wonderful opportunity is coming into being because I got involved in the community. I chose to speak up when there was a chance to help educate. I was available to work a couple of hours at fair booths and made a difference not only on this subject, but also for a small group of young girls. As I was working at the MCCL booth, a few girls came up and took a quiz regarding different life questions. One of them felt bad that she got so many wrong. I told her to instead look at how much knowledge she has learned. I share this not to boast, but to make you aware the difference that you can make in the lives of others by getting involved and speaking out. These were simple things that many of you can already do. As I write this, my teenage daughter and niece are working the MCCL booth. Look for these opportunities to impart your convictions to your children, grandchildren, and anyone that you can. I encourage you to come to CCW (Council of Catholic Women) meetings on the local parish, area, and diocesan levels. These are wonderful opportunities to educate yourself and impart on others the wisdom that God is trying to share with you. CCW can always use your help in our mission. Many don't realize that they are already a part of WDCCW (Winona Diocesan Council of Catholic Women), no matter the title of your group: St Anne's, Catholic Daughters, Altar Society, and many others. All of you are welcome here. Please get involved. We look forward to meeting you! Upcoming Events: October 18, 2016 “Trafficked Boys: Bringing Male Victims of Sex Trafficking Out of the Shadows” Presented by Jerome Elam, President and CEO Trafficking in America Task Force http://traffickinginamericataskforce.org/ Child Sex Trafficking Survivor, Child Advocate, Speaker, Marine Corps Veteran and Staff Writer and Columnist for Communities Digital News Join us for one of Jerome’s presentations on October 18: Noon-1:30pm – Rochester Public Library – Lunch and Learn: Bring your own bag lunch. No charge to attend. 7:00-8:30pm – Heintz Center Commons, RCTC Campus Co-sponsored by: Rochester Public Library, RCTC Student Life, Mission 21 and Rochester Franciscans as part of their Human Trafficking Awareness Education Efforts November 7, 2016 “The Prostitution and Trafficking of Native Women in Minnesota” Presented by Christine Stark, writer and women’s rights advocate, and co-author of Connecting Catholic Women Page 7 “Garden of Truth: The Prostitution and Trafficking of Native Women in Minnesota.” 6:30-7:45pm – Rochester Public Library Auditorium – 1st Floor Co-sponsored by: Greater Rochester Area Dakota Supporters (GRADS), Mission 21, Rochester Public Library and Rochester Franciscans as part of their Human Trafficking Awareness Education Efforts (https://www.rochesterfranciscan.org/what-we-do/justice-and-peace/human-rights-issues.html) SPIRITUALITY – CHURCH COMMISSION VALERIE EHLENFELDT PO BOX 83 OSTRANDER, MN 55961 [email protected] On May 25th of 1802, excavators in the ancient Catacombs of St. Pricilla in Rome uncovered a well-preserved shelf tomb. This Tomb was sealed with terracotta slabs in the manner usually reserved for nobility or great martyrs. Three tiles inscribed with the words LUMENA/PAXTE/CUMFI marked the tomb. Correctly translated, the tiles read, “Peace be with you, Philomena.” The tiles were also marked with the symbols of a lily, arrows, an anchor, and a lance; which indicated virginity and martyrdom. Inside the tomb was the skeleton of a young girl, 13 years in age, and a vile of her dried blood. Several miracles were immediately reported due to her intercession. On August 10th of 1805, the relics of St. Philomena were transferred to Mugnano, Italy and countless miracles continued – so much that this virgin martyr soon earned the title, “Philomena, Powerful with God.” Pope Gregory XVI dubbed her the “Wonder-Worker of the Nineteenth Century” and canonized Philomena in 1837 and her memorial is August 11th. St. Philomena became the only person in the history of the Catholic Church to be recognized as a Saint solely on the basis of her powerful intercession, since nothing was known of her at the time except what was found at her tomb. She has become another patron of “hopeless” or “impossible” cases, like St. Jude or St. Rita, but she is especially powerful in cases involving conversion of sinners, return to the Sacraments, expectant mothers, destitute mothers, problems with children, unhappiness in the home, sterility, priests and their work, help for the sick, the missions, real estate, money problems, food for the poor, and mental illness. Three separate people who had no connection with one another, and who resided in different parts of Italy began receiving details of St. Philomena’s life through private revelations. Mother Luisa di Gesu’s account (found at http://blakejes.ridgewater.net/mmdt1144/final/saint/index.html) was the most well-known. She began receiving personal locutions from St. Philomena in August of 1833. Saint Philomena taught Mother Luisa di Gesu the following devotions at her own request: ~ Say 3 Glory Be in thanksgiving and praise for the extraordinary graces given to Philomena in the hours before her martyrdom when God allowed her to be in a state of ecstasy during which she endured cruel torture and, after being brought back to a full state of consciousness from the shouts of the crowd, finally beheaded. ~ Say the Creed 3 times: first, for the perseverance of the Just; second, for the conversion of sinners; and third, for the return of heretics and infidels to the Faith. The Chaplet of St. Philomena is a popular devotion and was highly advocated by St. John Vianney and Pope Leo XIII among many others. A great resource for St. Philomena is http://philomena.us/ and it is the website for the Shrine in Italy. There is a beautiful shrine much closer to us in Briggsville, WI, where they are blessed to have a First Class Relic of St. Philomena. There website is http://blakejes.ridgewater.net/mmdt1144/final/index.html “My children, St. Philomena has great power with God, and she has, moreover, a kind heart; let us pray to her with confidence. Her virginity and generosity in embracing her heroic martyrdom have rendered her so agreeable to God that He will never refuse her anything that she asks for.” ~St. John Vianney Connecting Catholic Women Page 8 It is almost as if God held Saint Philomena in quiet reserve for almost 17 centuries just to be summoned to our aid now. Let us turn to her with confidence for she is the very saint we need in today’s dark culture! th ~August 5 2016 ~ First Friday’s th ~August 6 2016 ~ First Saturday’s th ~August 15 2016 ~ Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is not a Holy Day of Obligation this year as it falls on a Monday. I do, however, encourage those who are able to attend to do so as an act of love and reparation. The Novena to Our Lady th th of the Assumption begins August 7 and continues through August 15 and can be found at https://www.americaneedsfatima.org/Our-Blessed-Mother/novena-to-our-lady-of-the-assumption.html I encourage you to continue to say Our Lady’s Holy Rosary daily… or begin this devotion if you haven’t already. Remember to pray for our children and grandchildren as they begin a new school year at the end of August! _____COMING EVENTS_______ Caledonia Area meeting Rushford, Minnesota 6:30 PM Thursday July 28th Mass with Father Havel Lunch to follow along with short meeting Mat for Homeless demonstration. 2016 NCCW Convention Catholic Women: Instruments of Mercy September 7 - 10, 2016 Indianapolis, IN Anyone is welcome to contribute articles to this E-news. Cutoff date for articles is the 26th of each month. Please send your submission to [email protected]. Our President reviews all items and reserves the right to decline them before they are printed. Fran Berreau Communications Committee for the WDCCW “WDCCW WORKSHOP” Women of all ages invited! “Women of Mercy” SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2016 St. John Vianney 901 S Prairie Ave, Fairmont, MN Fr. Paul Breza Pat Reymann "Ask the Parliamentarian" Registration Gathering Polish museum and the Winona Diocese relics 8:00 9:15 Sacred Heart Haiti Mission 10:00 Pat Reymann 10:00 Scott Fischbach 10:00 Mass Lunch Scott Fischbach Executive Director of MCCL Ann Full Denise Haaland Fr. Paul Breza 11:15 12:15 1:00 1:00 2:00 Ann Full Finding Hope: Trusting God’s Plan for Our Family in Suffering Trucks from Sacred Heart Haiti Mission and Rochester Medical Mission will be available to be loaded from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM Denise Haaland Sacred Heart Haiti Mission Past Province Director _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Women of all Ages Invited! _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (Cut and send this reservation and payment of $20 Registration fee – Checks payable to WDCCW NAME:__________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS: ______________________________________________________________ City & PARISH: ___________________________________________________________ TELEPHONE: _____________________________________________________________ FRIST TIME ATTENDEE:____________________YEARS ATTENDED: _____ Reservations due by October 1, 2016 The Registration fee is $20.00 includes noon meal Free Registration for Junior High and High School Students Students -$7.00- for the noon meal Kitty Kerrins * P. O. Box 74 * Grand Meadow, MN 55936 __________________________________________________________________ Connecting Catholic Women Page 10 Items Needed for Haiti Mens Clothing Shoes in good condition Riding toys Long sleeve shirts Short sleeve shirts Dress shirts Hats and caps T-shirts Neckties and belts Blue jeans Dress pants Light weight suits Socks and underwear Baby and Kids Clothes Most everything lightweight Socks and shoes If you’d like to sew a diaper, baby seats Baby blankets baby wiipes Medical Bandages Toys Stuffed toys, Wheelchairs and crutches Walkers and canes Rubber gloves Pill Bottles School Supplies No English books Pen and pencils Crayons Backpacks Paper-notebook, colored paper Any item needed for school Wagons Bicycles Dolls Floor toys for handicap Trucks and cars Most simple toys that are not technical Tools All hand tools Nails Shovel & pick axes Bedding Sheets in all sizes Comforters and blankets Sponge pads Pillows and cases in all sizes Sleeping mats Ladies Clothing Most anything lightweight (no polyester) Handbags Wedding dresses Underclothing Jewelry, scarves, shoes, socks No shorts Hygiene Shampoo & Conditioner Soap & Lotion, deodorant Baby powder & baby lotion Christmas Miscellaneous Christmas trees Candles Gift wrap and ribbon Kleenex and paper towels Tree decorations Music stands Nativity sets Musical instruments Household Chest of drawers, not too large Tupperware or plastic containers for food storage w/ lids Small tables and folding tables, no coffee tables Chairs-Folding, small wooden and outdoor plastic Bookcases Dishes-plates, cups, bowls, forks and spoons Twin bed and frame Cast Iron pans, no Teflon pans Craft and Sewing Treadle and electric sewing machines Fabric, Thread. Needles & pins Embroidery floss Lace and trim Zippers and scissors Religious Altar Linens, Vestments Anything used for Mass Rosaries, Medals Holy pictures in frames