By SHELLY HOLT

Happy Advent! I hope you are prayerfully entering into this wonderful, prayer-filled season of waiting - waiting for the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May your Christmas Season be full of love.

Over the next few months, I will be highlighting the National Council of Catholic Women Commissions and their projects along with various resources available for your use. Each Diocese, area/deanery and church within the diocese should be promoting the work of the commissions.

The first commission I am highlighting is the National Council of Catholic Women Spirituality Commission. The chair, Debbie Keller, is from our Ecclesiastical Province of St. Paul and Minneapolis and our Province Director, Carol Shukle, is also a member of the Spirituality commission team.

The work of the Spirituality Commission is to reinforce 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.

Some of the areas of focus include:

• First Saturday Devotion

• My Faith Journey

• Prayer for Adoration

• Spirituality Prayer to Love: Healing Racism

The Spirituality Commission leads a monthly Rosary said together on the 13th of each month. In addition, there are various prayer services and retreats developed for use available in the member area found at www.NCCW.org

Our next Diocesan Council of Catholic Women member meeting will be on Saturday, January 13, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Church, 103 N Mill St. in Rushford. The in-depth speakers will be from the Leadership and Legislative Commissions. Please plan to attend!

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