We Resolve…

By SHELLY HOLT

At the National Council of Catholic Women’s Convention, four resolutions were passed. I mentioned them in the September issue and will now go in-depth.

Prayer for Peaceful Elections encourages us to daily recite the St. Michael the Archangel prayer, the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be. Continue to say these prayers after the election to promote peaceful dialogue within and between all government entities.

Mental Health Illnesses and Challenges Awareness gives practical ways our councils can heighten awareness through education and political advocacy considering the directives set forth by the USCCB National Catholic Mental Health Campaign (usccb.org/ mentalhealth). The National Catholic Mental Health Campaign is a year-round initiative of the USCCB to encourage all people of good will to respond to the ongoing mental health crisis across the United States. Everyone who needs help should receive help. The Mental Health Novena (usccb.org/mental-healthnovena) focuses on nine days of education and prayer on the various aspects of mental health including removing stigma, families, mental health ministry, childhood, youth and young adults, effects of racial discrimination on mental health, poverty and mental health, suicide awareness, and grief.

Supporting and Praying for Priests cites the great need to uphold our priests and bishops in daily prayer. One way to do this is through the Seven Sisters Apostolate (sevensistersapostolate.org), which offers a holy hour solely for the intentions of the priest, praying for the priest’s deepening devotion to Mary each day of the week. The Holy Hour is prayed each day of the week for the sole intention of a specific priest or bishop - a “holy wasting” (cf. Mattew 26:10) or lavishing of prayer for his deeper conformity to Christ. It is ideally prayed before the Blessed Sacrament either in an Adoration Chapel or in front of a Tabernacle. In the words of Father Gerald Fitzgerald, S.P., “In strengthening the priest you strengthen the whole church…Strengthen the priest and you strengthen the whole foundation, you strengthen everything in the Church.”

Support of WUCWO Resolutions (wucwo.org) encourages all councils in our nation to be aware of the key resolutions that impact issues and challenges women and children face around the globe.

Joy in the Journey

More than 50 women from midteen to age 93 attended the W-RDCCW Fall Convention, Joy in the Journey

Highlights included Human from Day One and WeTeachThink founder Angela Copenhaver's speech on educating the public on the value of human life at all stages of development - both born and preborn. We saw billboards, TV advertisements and videos we can personally share through text, email, and on social media to get though provoking facts in front of the middle-minded to challenge the narrative of “I don’t believe in abortion but…” and progress the culture of life.

Also, Deacon John and Nancy Hust gave us an overview of the Unbound Prayer apostolate. Unbound helps us respond to the good news of the gospel and apply truth to our lives using Five Keys:

1. Repentance and Faith

2. Forgiveness

3. Renunciation

4. Authority

5. The Father's Blessing

We also celebrated an uplifting Mass with Fr. Will Thompson, followed by members sharing the story of coming to Council through the Tree of Life activity.

You may contact me at: shellyholttotalwellness@gmail.com or 507.381.2842.

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