Over 450 women, priests and sisters attended the 43rd Annual Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Convention dedicated to divine mercy.

Participants listened as 10 men explained why they decided to become priests for the Diocese of New Ulm. They gave us these challenges to help foster vocations:

encourage children and grandchildren to think of priesthood as a way of life and to listen carefully for that voice; tell your young ones that devoting your life to Christ is a wonderful thing; live a good holy life and show direction in how you live out your lives; pray Bishop Lucker’s Prayer for Vocations each day; refuse to believe the culture that tells us dedicating our life to God is ridiculous; write letters to the seminarians or people in religious life with support and prayer.

God has answered our prayers and blessed our future with these seminarians.

Donna Helget, of St. Mary’s Parish in Sleepy Eye, received the NUDCCW Women of the Year Award.

The Diocesan Distinguished Service Medal was awarded to Past Presidents: Bette Hillemeier, Jan Crowe, Dolores Berg, Pauline Stahl, Judi Weber, Nancy Hanna, June Brust and Shirley Nowak. These women were recognized for their service to their parishes, communities, and throughout the Diocese of New Ulm.

Our next Province Director, Betty Mohr of St. Raphael, Springfield, stated that "it is an honor to work in the vineyard of our Lord." We are honored to say that she’s our representative from the Diocese of New Ulm.

Jeff Cavins, keynote/workshop presenter, told us that God created us in his image because he loves us. Because we are created in his image it is natural for us to have love and share it with others. We have the characteristics of God our Father because we are his children.

Video tapes of the convention presentations are available. Contact Lila Schmidt, 2834 County Road 5, Marshall MN, 56258; (507) 532-7564; lilalamb@starpoint.net.