2002 NCCW General Assembly convenes in Miami this past September

by Ellen Nester

The National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) convened its 2002 national meeting September 5-7, 2002, in Miami, Fl. More than 500 council officers and commission chairs from around the country attended sessions organized around the theme "Come, Live in the Light" at the Doral Resort and Spa. Attending from the New Ulm Diocese were: Fr. Gene Lozinski, Diocesan Moderator; Mary Ann Kramer; Donna Sanders; Yvonne Nachreiner; Arlyce Anderson; Joanne Pohland; Elizabeth Mohr; Bette Hillemeier; and Ellen Nester.

Hosted this year by the Miami Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women, the NCCW biennial General Assembly provided council leaders with workshops and presentations on issues of particular interest to Catholic women. This year’s special sessions focused on communications media, women’s spirituality, and the value of mentoring. Rev. Bernard R. Bonnot spoke to the role of the media in "Rating the Media: God’s Gift or Not". Rev. Bonnot is a priest of the Diocese of Youngstown, OH. His topic was of particular interest to NCCW members who passed resolutions in 2001 calling for "safe and moral media environments" and supporting internet filtering software in public schools and libraries in order to protect children from pornography.

Other topics at the assembly included: "Awakening Women’s Spiritual Essence," which examined physical and spiritual rhythms, interconnectedness, discovery, creativity, and hope and healing and their roles in an integrated spirituality that allows women to serve their churches and communities with dedication and effectiveness; and also "mentoring-the rationale, the means, and the ways in which NCCW members are particularly suited to mentoring other women in a variety of roles."

The General Assembly addressed NCCW’s Mission Statement, "to respond with Gospel values to the needs of the church and society in the modern world."

Ellen Nester is from Redwood Falls and is the New Ulm Diocesan CCW President.