Council of Catholic Women: united to pray, study and serve

by Joanne Pohland

In August, my husband and I spent a week in Fatima, Portugal, where our Lady appeared to Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco, three young children in 1917. We were on a pilgrimage with renowned author, Matthew Kelly. It was an awesome experience for which I will be eternally grateful.

For us, it was a true pilgrimage, not only because it took four flights to get to Lisbon, and then a bus to Fatima, but also because it was really the first time in over twenty one years that my husband and I had been away on a trip without our children. However, we looked upon this trip as an opportunity to take time to study and pray.

Each day included seminars in which we heard talks on growing in holiness, the seven levels of intimacy, how to read the Bible, stewardship, and the role of Mary in Christian spirituality. Each day also included Mass. Each evening at 9:30 p.m., at the Basilica, a candlelit rosary was prayed followed by a candlelit procession. The rosary was prayed in at least five languages, and it was awe-inspiring to pray with so many others in common. In addition, there were other prayer opportunities, and, in fact, the whole time was one of prayer and study. I wish you all could have joined us!

This whole pilgrimage was certainly a gift to me. It reenergized me. It helped me to once again see the importance of prayer and quiet time before the Blessed Sacrament. It also encouraged me to continue on in all the service aspects of my life.

As Council of Catholic Women members, we owe it to ourselves to ensure that we feed ourselves through prayer and study so that we are energized to serve. That was always the message of Jesus-to know (study) and love (pray or worship) the Lord so that we can serve others in this life and spend eternity with Him in heaven.

Nourishing ourselves with prayer and study, we find we become more willing to serve, doing all the "projects" of CCW. I truly believe that it is when we avail ourselves of opportunities to grow spiritually that the Council of Catholic Women will really grow. When we become committed Catholics, we desire an outlet such as CCW to help us live that commitment. So let us keep trying to build up our Councils of Catholic Women in our parishes.

I invite you to join others throughout the diocese at "One Body, One Spirit in Christ," the Year of the Eucharist Diocesan Celebration on Sunday, October 9 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. at St. Catherine’s, Redwood Falls. The day will include exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, prayer for vocations, evening prayer, the rosary, a Eucharistic procession, and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Special activities are planned for children ages 3-8 as well as for Jr. and Sr. High Youth. Students receiving First Communion and Confirmation are especially invited. Religious books and supplies will be available for purchase. A light supper will be served. This event is being co-sponsored by the New Ulm Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and the New Ulm Diocesan Office of Worship. I hope that many of you will make this day a priority and come to spend some time with the Lord to refresh and energize you for the work that you do! It promises to be a truly spiritual afternoon.

Joanne Pohland is from Glencoe and is the DCCW President.