Lisa Hendey
I wanted to share the following article about this year’s National Council of Catholic Women convention, held recently in Florida. I’ve been to this conference in the past and it is always invigorating to be around so many terrific, holy women. This year’s participants were treated to some fantastic speakers, including Patheos’ own Pat Gohn. Given their topic of “Confidence, Hope & Joy”, I can’t think of a finer person to lead them towards inspiration!
The National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) 2013 Convention was held September 25 – 28, 2013 at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with nearly 500 participants from across the USA.
The theme, “Be the Voice of Catholic Women: Confidence, Hope & Joy,” was based on the purpose of the proposed women’s council which was created by the United States Bishops in 1920: “To give the Catholic women of the country a common voice and an instrument of common action in all matters affecting Catholic or national welfare.”
Members voted to adopt resolutions of Prayerful Support for Pope Francis, and Conscience Protection and Religious Liberty.
The Opening Liturgy was celebrated by His Excellency James V. Johnston, Jr., Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, NCCW Episcopal Liaison. The Closing Liturgy was celebrated by His Excellency Thomas Wenski, Archbishop of Miami. More than 60 priests from across the USA concelebrated daily Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, were available for confession, and, the Holy Rosary was said on the beach.
Keynote presentations were made by: Dr. Edward Sri on “Walking with Mary: A Biblical Journey from Nazareth to the Cross;” ValLimar Jansen on “Women of Faith, Women of Hope;” Pat Gohn on “Blessed, Beautiful and Bodacious: Celebrating the Gift of Catholic Womanhood.”
Newly elected officers and province directors were installed. The NCCW Officers are: President Rebecca Woodhull, PhD (Diocese of Springfield), President-Elect Karen Hurley, DSS (Diocese of Harrisburg), Treasurer Mary Matheus (Diocese of Orlando), Secretary Carolyn Morrison (Diocese of Kalamazoo), and Past President Patty Johnson (Diocese of Knoxville).
The National Council of Catholic Women consists of more than 3,000 affiliated Catholic women’s organizations in parishes and dioceses throughout the U.S., representing hundreds of thousands of Catholic women, and almost 3,000 individual Catholic women.
- We are Catholic women who hold Individual, Parish, Deanery/Vicariate Membership with NCCW.
- The NCCW is a member of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations (WUCWO).
- We are recognized by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
- We are active participants in partnerships with other Catholic groups.
The National Council of Catholic Women acts through its members to support, empower and educate all Catholic women in spirituality, leadership and service. NCCW programs respond with Gospel values to the needs of the Church and society in the modern world.
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