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Stepping into October with the W-RDCCW
By SHELLY HOLT
The annual Winona-Rochester Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Convention “Joy in the Journey” will be held on October 12, the feast day of Blessed Carlo Acutis, at the Church of the Resurrection in Rochester. Call to register: 507-381-2842. The $30 Registration fee can be paid at the door.
Blessed Carlo Acutis, the first Millennial saint, will be canonized on October 20, 2024. Carlo was an Italian teenager known for his deep faith and dedication to the Church. Born in 1991, he was a computer enthusiast and used his skills to document Eucharistic miracles around the world. Despite his youth, he lived a life of piety and charity, helping those in need and attending daily Mass. Diagnosed with leukemia in 2006, he died the same year at the age of 15. His life of holiness and his use of modern technology for evangelization led to his beatification. Blessed Carlo said, “The Eucharist is the highway to heaven.”
“We are all called to evangelize, and thanks to the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are well-equipped for this mission. It may not mean spreading the Gospel in a foreign land or going door-to-door with the Good News - and it may require overcoming some fearsbut the Lord is asking each of us to step out of our comfort zone and evangelize one-on-one. There is someone in your life right now whom Jesus longs to call to himself. He wants to spark a relationship with them and bless them with his sacraments. In this Year of Mission, Catholics across the U.S. are saying “yes” to a special form of heart-to-heart accompaniment called the Walk With One initiative. This is your opportunity to be God’s instrument in the life of another person. Imagine how our families, neighborhoods, and country will be transformed if every active Catholic answers this call! Let us look to him and learn from him in the year ahead.” eucharisticrevival.org/ walk-with-one.
The National Council of Catholic Women Mary’s Garden Campaign began on September 8 (the Birth of Mary) and ends on May 31 (Feast of the Visitation). 25 Years ago, NCCW raised money through individuals and affiliates to create Mary’s Garden at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Back in May, the statue of Mary was vandalized, and the garden needs some repair. Our goal is to raise $80,000 to assist with the renovations of this garden. We look forward to celebrating the rededication of Mary’s Garden at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., sometime in late spring. As we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Mary’s Garden, we invite you to consider giving a donation to assist with the rebuilding of this significant NCCW project. You can go to NCCW.org to donate online or send your donation to National Council of Catholic Women, 10335-A Democracy Lane, Unit 201, Fairfax, VA 22030.
October is the month we recognize individual councils during Council of Catholic Women Sunday. How does your council celebrate your members?
October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This is a special time to mourn those who have died because of domestic violence, celebrate survivors, and work to end the violence. The National Council of Catholic Women developed the Women Healing the Wounds program and resources can be found on the NCCW website.
Shelly Holt is the president of the Winona-Rochester Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.
