DCCW Convention brings women of faith and action together for new ideas, spirituality, and friendship

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Kathleen Pond, DCCW organizational commission chairwoman (left), Anne Boyer, DCCW commission liaison and NCCW liturgical assistant, and Sister Eymard Flood, Vicar for Religious, Diocese of Orange County speak to the women about creating good councils and increasing spirituality.

SALT LAKE CITY — The 81st Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Convention (DCCW) "Women of Faith, Women of Action," was held at the Marriott Hotel April 25-26.

The convention is a time to celebrate the many ways in which the women serve in the diocese of Salt Lake City. Each year a Woman of the Year banquet is held to honor women from the parishes in the five deaneries in the diocese. These women are eucharistic ministers, religious education teachers and directors. They take care of the sick, nurture children, and their families, cook for their parishes, plan activities and parish functions, are in leadership positions, and work behind the scenes.

There were 34 Women of the Year honored at this year’s convention. Vicar General Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald and Msgr. Robert Servatius, DCCW moderator and pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish, presented each Woman of the Year with a Lady of Good Council medal.

Prior to the banquet Msgr. Fitzgerald, concelebrated Mass with Msgr. Servatius and Father Erik Richtsteig, pastor of Saint James Parish, Ogden. Chancellor of the Diocese of Salt Lake City Deacon Silvio Mayo, assisted at the altar.

In his homily, Msgr. Fitzgerald said, "We heard in the gospel that we are the witnesses to all that has transpired through the life, suffering, and death of Jesus. Women of Faith, Women of Action," the theme of this gathering. What a powerful theme because women of faith are witnesses by their actions through the power God has promised us in our lives.

"I was amazed to see a short time ago, that in the last 15 years, here in the State of Utah, there have been 5,000 adults who have come into the Church on Holy Saturday night because people have witnessed for them the passionate love of Christ," said Msgr. Fitzgerald. "Then last week a Catholic bishop was arrested for celebrating Mass without a license for a congregation in Bejing where in 2,000 adults were baptized into the Catholic Church. Is that not stunning? Is that not witnesses of the faith?

"I think the women of DCCW, our personal community of faith, have done so much to bring witness to us in our lives and in our time," said Msgr. Fitzgerald. "You have done so much to make us proud – Bobbie Hunt, as NCCW president; Msgr. Servatius, as NCCW spiritual moderator. You have been witness to the glory of God in our midst."

St. Clare Sister Eymard Flood, vicar of religious for the Diocese of Orange, Calif. said, "Ladies I want you to recall way back when you joined council," as she gave her talk "Women: Keepers of the Promise."

"Where were you, and what was the name of the parish where you first got that feeling that you wanted to be part of council?" asked Sr. Eymard. "What have you learned since then about council?"

"I came to America in Sept. 1967 (from Ireland), not knowing what life was like, certainly not in California. I had no family here. Our community was in San Diego, but I did not know the nine sisters who were there. That first year was very difficult for me. I was teaching junior high, I was scared, and I prayed a lot. But I had wonderful mentors. Throughout the years I learned what it was like to be a teacher and a sister, living and working in the United States. Then when I moved to Orange County, the challenge was even greater as vicar. It is wonderful to say yes to God, yes to that unknown."

"Here are a few questions for us. How do we attend to this moment in the life of our council in our parish, deanery, diocese, and even at the national level," asked Sr. Eymard. "It is not just doing the work of council, it is really living it. The role of women in the early times was to bring new lives into the world and to take care of the dying.

"In San Diego I was so happy to be working as a midwife with people as they were transitioning from this life into the next life," said Sr. Eymard. "I had the privilege to plan my friend’s funeral with her before she died. The message she left her family was, love God, serve God, and love one another.

"Do we share our hopes and fears with others, or do our hopes and fears take over our desires. Is what you are doing, saying to you that you are worth what you are doing?" asked Sr. Eymard.

She said as we reflect on these questions, we must remain faithful to God’s call for each of us, so let us be aware of the strong women who have gone before us. These are really the keepers of the promise.

"Let us look at how women are valued in society and in the church, and how we have contributed to societies, including the U.S., Uganda, Brazil, and Bangladesh," said Sr. Eymard. "In a world that has seldom valued women for their contributions to society, it is no wonder that so many women find it difficult to value themselves and value one another. Demographics have no significant affect. Women in other societies have the same feeling, whether educated or illiterate, from cities or rural areas, rich or poor, single or married, gay or straight, they communicate experiences of oppression, in ways similar and distinctive. Often in television interviews, women say things would be different if they only had resources."

Sr. Eymard said wealthy women are most likely to speak openly about their distress. For others acknowledging their own vulnerability is just to painful to vocalize. Namelessness is a universal cultural practice that contributes to women’s own sense of insignificance. They are referred to as wives, mothers, or daughters.

"Today women are claiming their lives," said Sr. Eymard. "We still choose love in intimate relationships, but not as a reason for being. We can no longer live through others.

"Let us look at some of the women from the Old Testament and the New Testament," said Sr. Eymard. "Can you imagine being the mother of Moses and what she did to save Moses. Or can you imagine being Pharaoh’s daughter, Miriam, Deborah, Ruth, Naomi, Lydia, or Beth-sheba, Mary Magdalene, the women at the foot of the cross, or the Samaritan woman. Where would we be if we did not have these women in scripture?

"Puah and Shiphrah in Ex 1:15, the two midwives who assisted the Hebrew women, were instructed to kill the male babies and let the females live," said Sr. Eymard. "The midwives were God-fearing women and did not obey the king. The king questioned their motive. They said the Hebrew women give birth easily and the babies are born before we get there. The king was fine with their answer. These women spoke to power on behalf of God’s people who are unable to speak for themselves.

"My take on giving voice to the voiceless is not speaking for them, but giving them the words that they can speak for themselves," said Sr. Eymard. "It is you who are going to give new life and new hope to your councils. As women we need to work hand-in-hand, face-to-face, shoulder-to-shoulder, and side-by-side assisting in the birth of new life sharing dreams and imaging possibilities together. We need to invite others into our tent, and let go of the way we have been doing things forever.

"Who are you inviting into your tent? Are you expanding to accommodate everyone, and providing opportunities for all women," said Sr. Eymard. "Women, we can do anything. You can walk in someone’s footsteps, but don’t let them block the view of what you need to do.

"Who are the promise keepers, the trail-blazers in your lives?" asked Sr. Eymard. "My own mother never left home for a meeting and was not a joiner, but it was from my mother that I learned my prayers, hymns, and what it was like to be a woman. She left such an impression on me as a woman of faith and action in her home. She prayed me through life.

"The Samaritan woman, 2000 years ago, went to the well at noon. Jesus asked her for a drink of water," said Sr. Eymard. "This encounter changed her life. We need to drink that water so a spring can gush up inside us. When the Samaritan woman acknowledged the social taboo that separated her from Jesus, he simply invited her to a larger loyalty and purpose. We all need to look and pray for something more that cannot be found in material things, because the longing is for a personal relationship with the Lord.

"How do we nourish our souls in our lives? asked Sr. Eymard "We need to set aside time every day for prayer and reflection. We clutter our lives with so much stuff, there is no room for God."

Sr. Eymard said we look at the women at the foot of the cross, and how we stand with others. It is a process of making mistakes. These women stood with him in his abundance and in his pain. They heard his word and witnessed his miracles. Today women continue to remember, stand with, care for, nurture, empower, challenge, care for one another’s children, dry one another’s tears, applaud one another’s gifts, and lift up one’s another’s spirits. Mother’s urge their daughters to be what they themselves could never be. Women carry women until their friend is strong enough to make it on their own.

"Do we stand with women today?" asked Sr. Eymard. "Keep the promise to support women. Include everyone, nobody should be outside the tent."

Rebecca A. Kearns, president Resort Banking, Division of Zion’s Bank, in her talk "Creating Balance: Faith, Family, Community Service Work – In a Hectic World," asked where is the balance in our lives?

"The balance in our lives should create harmony and peace," said Kearns. When we moved to Utah 15 years ago, we were members of Blessed Sacrament Parish, and have been a member of Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish, Park City, for the past 11 years.

Kearns has been married 22 years to her husband, has two teenage boys sons, who are competitive golfers, and she said she does not ever want to miss an event in their lives. She is a twin, a sister, a sister-in-law, an aunt, and a daughter. She spends as much time as she can with her family who live throughout the West.

"I am a one and a half year breast cancer survivor," said Kearns. "I am a 30-year career person in the financial services industry. I have been a vocal advocate for women in my 30 years, and have worked diligently to move women up the corporate ladder by pioneering in unchartered territory, and showing people that women can hold powerful positions and make a difference in the world. I have been recognized by the American Banker’s Association on three different occasions as one of the most powerful women in banking. I am an active community leader and have served on more than 50 boards.

"I spend most of my time with my friends and my family, and I have traveled all over with all of them," said Kearns. "I am an avid runner, and I am beginning to train for my second marathon. I only tell you this so you can see that I, like most of you, have a very full plate, and I am always striving to be a woman of faith, a woman of action, and a woman who can do it all. But as we all know, we can’t do it all. You must find what you really want do to."

Kearns said as you find your balance you will find true peace and happiness. Once defined you will balance your priorities.

"Years ago as my career was starting to take hold, my husband, Keith, and I sat down to try to balanace our lives with our priority being our two young boys," said Kearns. "We did not want to turn around years later and say I wish I would have.

"My game plan was to be a good mom, a good wife, successful community leader, and business person," said Kearns. "Having been raised in a good Catholic family, faith has always played a big part in my life. But then I realized I really did not have balance until I was diagnosed in November 2007, with breast cancer. I realized so many women define themselves by something such as work.

"At the moment I was told I had cancer, and the many months to follow, I realized my priorities were variable," said Kearns. "My priorities are my family, friends, and my faith. I realized this because without them I would have never made it through one of the most difficult times in my life. This gave me an opportunity to truly evaluate my faith, and find the meaning behind my diagnosis.

Kearns said she learned not to wait until tomorrow to evaluate your priorities. Find your balance today. You never know what God has waiting around the corner. I wish I had not let cancer be the thing that made me make the changes I wanted to make.

"Your attitude and demeanor resonate far beyond what you realize. Although my journey was difficult and painful, I realized I could survive. I have added to my priorities to be a resource to help people through their challenges, and know there is light at the end of the tunnel.

"This experience has enlightened me to the importance of truly understanding who I am. So now I take time out for me. I ask you to do the same," said Kearns. "You need to take care of yourselves. Take time to pray and be thankful, and be focused on you. By being focused on you, you can be a woman of action. Slow down and pay attention to those around you.

"Take time to be a mentor to somebody, said Kearns. "Mentoring is a true way to give back and a good way to create good will toward yourself. If you feel you need a mentor, reach out to someone and ask them. We should live our lives in the fashion we would want people to talk about us after we are gone. This is being true to ourselves. Find a friend, a spouse, your children, or a parishioner, and ask that they remind you to stay on task so your priorities in life are in check. Your inner and outer voices can help you stay focused and true to yourself thus creating a full life."

National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) President Bobbie Hunt said, "The words of our theme, "Women of Faith, Women of Action," describe the very fabric of your councils," said Hunt. "We have been called to action through our faith. As it says in James 3:17, "So you see it is not enough just to have faith," you must also do good to prove that you have it. Faith that does not show itself by good works, is no faith at all."

"For the Mass this evening, I was asked to read the first reading. So I went to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) website to print it off," said Hunt. "Next to the reading was homily tips, so it started reading it. It said today’s readings remind us of the importance of witnessing to our faith. We witness to our faith not only through our words, but through our actions.

"The NCCW was founded 89 years ago," said Hunt. "Our’s is a history of faith in action. It mirrors the lives and work of women in every diocese in this country, and tells us a lot about who we are, and where we are going. Today American Catholic women not only manage homes, and volunteer in school, church, and community, but most also work outside the home, and many work for the church. In 2005, 80 percent of the over 30,000 paid lay ministers in the U.S. were women. Few thought of career or ministry in 1920 when NCCW was founded. Housing, immigration, education, and health are still on the list of national concerns.

"Could we have anticipated the way American prosperity and security would intertwine with the lives of families around the globe?" asked Hunt. "Or the number of children who do not have both parents involved in their lives, the lives lost to abortion, or the constant threat and challenges of war. Yes, these are the challenges and changes we face, even close to home.

"Faith is the constant that helps us as Catholic women," said Hunt. "The Catholic women I meet around the country and here in Utah, are busy being a blessing to others. Their efforts extend through every professional and volunteer activity imaginable. As women we advocate for the dignity of all people with state and federal elected officials. We raise large sums of money for Catholic Relief Services to fund schools for girls, bring medical care to families, build life saving cisterns, and sanitation systems, and make loans to women for small business development. What ever we do in life, what ever path or career we follow, our faith guides us to show love in the way we treat others and in the service we give."

Mary Adams, San Francisco Province Director, said Utah is in Region II comprised of northern California, Nevada, Utah, Hawaii, and Guam. Her job is to be the liaison between the Diocese of Salt Lake City and these states and the NCCW board.

"We really need to encourage membership in NCCW, and need to use the programs available through the NCCW to fill our needs (in council) and in the process serve the needs of others," said Adams. "Women will only remain active in our councils if we offer them something they want or need, and something that will enrich their lives.

"How can we do this? We have to believe in ourselves," said Adams. "We can do this with faith in ourselves and faith in our councils. We can do this with hope for the future. The NCCW program manuals offer a great ‘how to’ resource.

"We also have to be welcoming to charity," said Adams. "We have to be loving and willing to share our gifts and talents. Our attitude is important. Take pride in your councils. They are service to God and community.

"Spread the secret," said Adams. "Action – there is strength in numbers. Stand up and be counted. We have the power to bring your council into the 21st century. Together we can make a difference."

Anne Boyer, DCCW commission liaison, and NCCW liturgical assistant; Kathleen "Casey" Pond, DCCW organizational commission chairwoman; and Sr. Eymard, gave a workshop on women’s councils and spirituality.

"Women want to make new friends, share new experiences, become an accepted member of the group, use their skills and talents to effectively serve the church and larger community, and develop leadership skills," said Boyer. "They drop out if the meetings do not meet their needs.

"The NCCW mission is to support, empower, and educate, women in leadership and spirituality," said Boyer. "Spirituality is living one’s life as a pilgrim open to learning, and learning about God."

Sr. Eymard said "We cannot give what we do not have. We have to have our own prayer life and spirituality. We have to be open to learning, wonder, mystery, and ultimately God.

"In the decree of the laity, we are commissioned to be apostles to the Lord," said Sr. Eymard. "Empower the ladies by being creative in prayer. Educate them in psalms, and scriptures. Through leadership, give them support and encouragement to be leaders. Be liberal with praise and constructive in criticism. Build them up. Educate and encourage the women in your councils."

"Service has hundreds of definitions," said Pond. "Service is Jesus washing the apostles’ feet. We are baptized Catholics, and we have made a baptismal commitment to serve others.

"There is a lot of pressure to succeed when we take on service projects, because we do represent our Church in the community, but Mother Teresa said ‘If you can’t feed 100 people, then feed just one,’" said Pond. "We need to be aware of who we are serving in our projects. Look for a balance of programs/activities in your projects. Set a time for the program, and welcome new members. Have follow-up meetings to keep records of changes. Take photos and publicize your work."