Updates from the CCW

By SHELLY HOLT

Our quarterly member meeting on Saturday, April 13, has been moved to Good Shepherd Church in Jackson. In-depth speakers will be from Leadership and International Commissions. Rosary, Mass, breakfast, lunch are part of the day. The day begins at 8 a.m. All women are invited!!

This month I’m focusing on the Spirituality Commission.

The Spirituality Commission reinforces faith and supports service to the Church and to the world through discipleship and spiritual growth; and encourages legislative advocacy at the local, state, and national levels, guided by Catholic social teaching (from the National Council of Catholic Women website NCCW.org).

Our Board is looking for a Spirituality Commission Chair. Please contact me if God is calling you to serve and use your faith to promote and enrich the spirituality of our women. Please call me at 507-381-2842 or email shellyholttotalwellness@gmail.com.

In other news, the St. Paul and Minneapolis Province Conference is at St. Mary’s Church in Sleepy Eye on June 25, and the National Council of Catholic Women Convention is in Oklahoma City, OK, August 13-17. Our Winona-Rochester Diocesan Convention is at the Church of the Resurrection in Rochester on October 12.

Also, remember that you can receive the Connecting Catholic Women e-newsletter by sending your request to our editor at wdccw@dow.org.

Finally, I'll close this month with an election year statement from the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) Legislative Advocacy Committee (reprinted from The President’s Pen, March email):

Forming Your Conscience Before You Vote!

Election season is here! Let us enter the season with prudence. Prudence is critical as we hear many competing voices. Many voters’ guides will say they are Catholic but present conflicting messages.

In their document Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship (FCFFC), the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) gives us a thorough overview of teaching about political responsibility. They encourage Catholics to seek resources authorized by our own bishops, state Catholic conferences, and the USCCB.

Unlike statements from groups claiming to be Catholic but who say that only a few issues matter, FCFFC gives teaching on a full spectrum of issues important for Catholics. Unlike voters’ guides that tell which candidates or political parties to support, the USCCB tells us to form our consciences and vote prudently in our unique situation. They remind us, Catholics may choose different ways to respond to compelling social problems, but we cannot differ on our moral obligation to help build a more just and peaceful world through morally acceptable means, so that the weak and vulnerable are protected and human rights and dignity are defended. Read Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship at www.usccb.org/offices/justice-peace-human-development/ forming-consciences-faithful-citizenship.

Shelly Holt is the president of the Winona-Rochester Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.