Winona Diocese Council of Catholic Women
CONNECTING CATHOLIC WOMEN
January 2014
From our President
Cindy Meling
Dear Christ Chosen Women,
Happy New Year!!! Time is really going fast. I think the older
we get, the faster time passes. The busier we get helping out
as volunteers, helping our children with their children, trying to
work with more responsibilities, because you know more since
you have been with the company for so many years, and
keeping in touch with friends and families. Sometimes you just
need time for yourself.
With the New Year you can change all that if you want. Take a
step back and decide what is truly important to you. Your
spirituality should be one of those choices, getting in touch
with God more and taking the time every day to do this.
On January 11th at St. Finbarr in Grand Meadow WDCCW is
having their first gathering of the New Year. There will be two
speakers, Sr. Ramona Miller (women and spirituality) and Scott
Fischbach (assisted suicide) to fill the day. An agenda will be in
this e news to see everything planned for the day. We hope to
ReDiscover CCW with each meeting. I hope you will be a part
of the journey as Christ Chosen Women.
Hope to see you there!! I can’t wait to meet you!!!
Cindy
Inside this Issue:
Leadership/
Family Concerns
Respect Life
Jan. Holy Name
Int’l Comm
Leg. Comm./Agenda
Austin Area Mtg.
Province Conf./
Immaculee Ilibagiza
Schedule of Events
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Connecting Catholic Women
Page 2
Leadership/Organization Commission
“You are the President!”
Eight ways that you live out your call to serve in the leadership style of Jesus.
(Continued from last enews)
“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression God’s kindness:
kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, and kindness in your smile.”
#5. You invite and encourage all Catholic women to join Council: “everyone is welcome!” You are prepared to
share the wonderful work your membership accomplishes as you understand well that good communication and
PR is absolutely necessary for strengthening and growing your Council. You want women in the group to be
recognized for their contributions and outreach. You keep your website, Facebook page and newsletter current
and interesting.
A servant leader involves others; you don’t do it all yourself. You know that if you involve others, they will learn
and grow. You develop peer relationships. You are committed to the growth of others and your Council.
“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
#6. You express your thanks and appreciation constantly. All members of your board are thanked and praised for
their efforts. At every opportunity you remind them that we all stand on the shoulders of those who came before
us. Your gratefulness is contagious and magnetic!
A servant leader is humble. You exhibit an attitude of gratitude in every way. You celebrate small victories and
every accomplishment—recognizing that your success is never entirely your own.
“I cry out to the Lord; I pray to the Lord for mercy” Psalm 142:1
You can talk to God because God listens. Your voice matters in heaven. He takes you very seriously. When you
enter his presence, he turns to you to hear your voice. No need to fear that you will be ignored. Even if you
stammer or stumble, even if what you have to say impresses no one, it impresses God, and he listens. Intently.
Carefully.
Hope to see you at Grand Meadows on Jan 11th!!
FAMILY & COMMUNITY CONCERNS COMMISSION
Kathy Wilmes
“Whenever we encounter another person in love, we learn something new about God.
Whenever our eyes are opened to acknowledge the other, we grow in the light of faith and
knowledge of God. We do not live better when we flee, hide, refuse to share, stop giving and
lock ourselves up in our own comforts. Such a life is nothing less than slow suicide.”
Pope Francis “Evangelii Guadium” paragraph 272
Merry Christmas everyone! Let us always remember that there best gift we can give each other
in this holy season is one in which we make true encounters, one with another, in the sure
knowledge that it is Christ Himself that we find there.
Connecting Catholic Women
Eleanore Jones
17434 Co. 14
Spring Valley, MN 55975
507-937-3460 [email protected]
Page 3
RESPECT LIFE
Planned Parenthood 2012-2013 Annual Report Released; revenue reaches all-time high for nation's largest
abortion provider. Number of abortions drop slightly, but signs point to effort to further expand abortion
empire.
Planned Parenthood clinics, which performed a record 333,964 abortions in 2011, reported 327,166 abortions in
2012, a 2% drop, according to PPFA's annual report. At the same time its revenues were the largest ever,
exceeding $1.2 billion.
Planned Parenthood is rich, powerful, and politically well-connected. Every page of the 2012-2013 annual report
signals that it will continue to aggressively promote its abortion agenda both here and abroad.
Just 2,197 Planned Parenthood patients were referred for adoptions in 2012, just slightly fewer than the 2,300
reported in 2011. Even with fewer abortions, it puts things in perspective to see that abortions still outnumbered
adoption referrals at Planned Parenthood by a nearly 149 to one ratio!
From the opening paragraph of the message from the group's chair: Planned Parenthood is "the nation's leading
reproductive health care provider and advocate," specifying that they are "the most effective advocate in the
country for policies that protect access to safe and legal abortion..."
The annual report shows that revenues at the abortion giant reached another record this year, reaching $1.2
billion ($1,210,400,000, to be more precise) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013. Close to half (45%) of that
came from the pockets of federal, state, and local taxpayers, with $540.6 million in revenue from "Government
Health Services Grants and Reimbursements."
The advent of ObamaCare promises even more revenues and probably more abortions. "Health Care Expansion"
was #1 among Planned Parenthood's "History Making Moments" for 2012, as Planned Parenthood celebrated that
the "Affordable Care Act goes into effect, with the women's preventative benefit that Planned Parenthood led the
fight to include."
We won't go into detail here about all the ways that Planned Parenthood stands to benefit under the new health
insurance system (if you wish to see more, look here
www.nationalrighttolifenews.org/news/2013/11/obamacare-key-to-planned-parenthood-expansion). But if the
law steers more women toward Planned Parenthood clinics, it will obviously mean more customers, more
abortions, more money, and more political influence.
It is clear that the wealthy abortion giant isn't going to just walk away. But let this small drop in abortions be a
reminder that the efforts of pro-lifers, educating their communities, voting, passing laws, reaching out to abortion
vulnerable women, and praying can make a difference, A woman who finds out there are better, life-affirming
alternatives to abortion may decide not to be Planned Parenthood's latest customer or conscript.
"Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they
want." Mother Teresa
I pray that you have a Blessed and Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!
_______________________________________________________________________________
Connecting Catholic Women
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___________________________________________________
January --Holy Name of Jesus
Blessed be the most holy Name of Jesus without end!
Since the 16th century Catholic piety has associated entire months to special
devotions. The devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus has been traditionally
associated with the month of January, due to its celebration on January 3. The
name Jesus was given to the Holy Child at God's command (Luke 1:31). The Holy
Name is all-powerful because of the Person who bears it; we honor it because of
the command of Christ, that we should pray in His Name and because it reminds
us of all the blessings we receive through our Holy Redeemer. Hence St. Paul was
able to write to the Philippians: ". . . at the name of Jesus every knee should bend
of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth" (Phil. 2:10). By means of this
devotion we also make amends for improper use of the Holy Name.
Thoushalt
shaltcall
callHis
His
Thou
Name Jesus,
Jesus,for
forHe
Name
shall
savesave
His people
He shall
His
from
their
sins.Thou
Thou shalt call His Name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.
people from their
shalt call His Name
sins.
Jesus, for He shall
save His people from
their sins.
March for Life Date: Wednesday, January 22, 2014
The March for Life is coming up. The Seminarians would be interested in going.
Why not adopt a Seminarian and send $350 to the below address and also write checks to
IHM Seminary and write in memo for seminarian March for Life.
The address to send the money is: Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary
March for Life Campaign
700 Terrace Heights #43
Winona, MN 55987-1399
PLEASE PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER
The positions that are open for the next two years on the WDCCW Board are –Vice President, and
Parliamentarian. We would love to have you onboard as we start the next two exciting years of our WDCCW.
There are 4 meetings a year in various parts of the diocese and Fall Conference. We try to car pool for the
meetings. Contact Cindy Meling if you would like to be part of the team.
Connecting Catholic Women
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International Commission - Teri Rosendahl
St. Stanislaus Kostka Basilica, Winona, MN
Phone: (507) 498-3250 Email: [email protected]
As members of the National Council of Catholic Women we can become involved as a group of
Women Helping Women - campaign for Human Dignity.
What:
Through Cross Catholic Outreach’s Women Helping Women program you have a chance to put your faith into
action and help restore dignity to destitute women and children around the world. As you read about the
following ways to help, we hope you’ll prayerfully consider joining us in spreading the love of Christ to those who
need it most.
Where:
Fighting Human Trafficking — Project #0500
Each year hundreds of thousands of women and young girls are sold into slavery for labor and sexual exploitation.
These innocent victims fall prey to human traffickers because they are trapped in extreme poverty and lack
education. Without options, impoverished, young women are easily lured by traffickers who offer false promises
of opportunity and a better life. The National Council of Catholic Women is fighting the scourge of human
trafficking and giving young women in Asia the hope of a brighter future through education and vocational
training. In partnership with Cross Catholic Outreach, NCCW members can free young women from the chains of
poverty and help them avoid the devastating effects of human trafficking.
Upholding the Sanctity of Life — Project #0928
Worldwide, approximately 42 million unborn children lose their lives to abortion each year. In a time when many
no longer regard human life as sacred, Cross Catholic Outreach is standing by God’s Word, which says that every
child — no matter at what stage of life — is special and formed in the image of God. The National Council of
Catholic Women is upholding the sanctity of human life by supporting programs that give desperately poor
mothers-to-be hope for a future. Together we’re providing shelter, health care and support to help these mothers
and their infants have full and healthy lives.
Protecting and Sheltering Women — Project #0544
In Sub-Saharan Africa, women and their children are often abused and abandoned by husbands or other male
relatives. With skyrocketing unemployment, no laws for protection and gender discrimination, single mothers
have little hope of finding food and a safe place of refuge for their children. The Daughters of Charity work to
change the lives of female-headed households in the Tigray region of Ethiopia by building houses so poor families
can finally have a safe place to call home. In partnership with Cross Catholic Outreach, the National Council of
Catholic Women is bringing hope to this region by supporting programs that protect, uplift and shelter vulnerable
women and their families.
Preventing Mother and Child Mortality — Project #0704
In the Matisi Village of Kenya, women live in unsanitary slums with waste in the streets, substandard housing and
an unsafe water supply. In the past, pregnant women were unable to access critical prenatal care and deliver their
babies safely. Many mothers and infants died due to unsanitary conditions, premature labor and the
complications of unsupervised birthing. The National Council of Catholic Women is preventing needless deaths
among mothers and infants by providing care to some of the poorest women in Kenya. Together the NCCW and
Cross Catholic Outreach can help Catholic missionaries dedicated to protecting vulnerable women and their
children.
For more information please contact Maria Aleman at 1-800-914-2420
ext. 126 or via email at
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>.
Connecting Catholic Women
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Legislative Commission
Jane Reineke
14060 Co. 14
Spring Valley, MN 55975
The Budget seems to be set for the next two years, and Laws are being introduced continually. Keep an eye on
laws being introduced and make sure that they are for the betterment for all people.
From the Public Advocate of the United States, we see that the government is attacking our Religious Liberties. In
AR a man was arrested for holding a bible study in his home because he was using his home as a church. He was
arrested for his religious convictions. Also in New Mexico a woman was fined $7000 for not taking photos of a
homosexual couple. We do not have the right to turn away work because of beliefs. Christianity is under
attack! Homosexual Activists are attacking us! The Government is attacking Your Religious Liberties!
From National Right to Life News Today Dec. 11, 2013 ObamaCare, Rationing
More Obamacare Rationing Evidence: Exchange Plans Limit Access Not Only to Top Hospitals and Doctors, but
also to Drugs.
It talks about the wide limits on access to lifesaving drugs.
When the government limits what can be charged for health insurance, it restricts what people are allowed to pay
for medical treatment. While everyone would prefer to pay less-or nothing-for health care (or anything else),
government price controls prevent access to lifesaving medical treatment that costs more to supply than the
prices set by the government.
While Obamacare continues to roll out, it is important to continue to educate friends and neighbors about the
dangers the law governing them poses in restricting what Americans can spend to save their own lives and the
lives of their families.
Note: the abortion-related provisions dealing with the state exchanges are described
here: www.nrlc.org/AHC/index.html
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Winona Diocese Council of Catholic Women
Agenda for Sat., Jan 11, 2014
St. Finbarr, Grand Meadow
8:00 AM
Registration
8:30 AM
Area Presidents meeting
9:00 AM
Meeting Starts
9:45-10:45 AM Sr. Ramona Miller speaks
11:00 AM Mass
12:00 AM Lunch
1:00 PM
Scott Fischbach speaks
2:00 PM
Finish business
3:00 PM
Adjourn-depends if business is done.
This is a short version of the Agenda, full agenda available at our gathering
Connecting Catholic Women
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AUSTIN AREA WDCCW MEETING
SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2014
St. Finbarr Catholic Church
Speakers: Cindy Heimer & Jane Reineke
Sr. Ramona Miller will speak on Jan. 11th about women and spirituality
St. Finbarr
504 SW First St.
Grand Meadow, MN 55936
Board meeting – Friday January 10, 2014 at 5:30 PM
Regular meeting on Saturday - 8 AM Registration
8:30 AM presidents meeting, meeting at 9 AM.
Hotels for the meeting can be at Austin or Rochester. They are about 20 miles from
Grand Meadows
Hosted by the tri-parishes of St. Finbarr, St. Ignatius—Spring Valley and St. Patrick—
LeRoy
Motels Available: Windmill Hotel & Event Center
120 State Highway 16
Dexter MN
507-584-1508 or 507-990-3315
Single bed room--$60.95
2-Double beds—$70.00
For those traveling from the West, exit I-90 on Exit 193 (Grand Meadow, Spring Valley), go right on
Highway 16 East and hotel is approx 1/2 mile on left. Continue on to the East and Grand Meadow is
approx. 5 miles. I am not sure of the exit # if you are traveling from the East.
There is also a motel 10 miles east of Grand Meadow on Highway 16 Spring Valley.
Spring Valley Inn & Suites
745 North Broadway
Spring Valley MN
507-346-7788
Call Kitty Kerrins if you would like more information. 507-754-5804 or 507-440-6616
Connecting Catholic Women
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COMING EVENTS
2014 WDCCW AREAS - Schedule of Meetings
Sat Jan. 10/11
Wed April 8/9
Wed July 8/9
Sat Oct 10/11
St. Finbarr
Easton
Austin Area
Blue Earth Area
Caledonia Area
Owatonna Area
Speaker: Cindy H. & Jane
Speaker: Teri & Bev
Speaker: Kathy & Eleanore
Mini Workshop Convention
CCW Dates to remember
June 21, 2014 Sat. St. Paul & Minneapolis CCW Province Conference St. Mary’s, New
Ulm
Pre-Province Conference Speaker Fri. evening 6-20-13 Immaculee Ilibagiza
Get your tickets early as they expect it to be sold out.
September 24-27 2014 NCCW Convention in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Anyone is welcome to contribute articles to this E-news.
Cutoff date for articles is the 26th of each month. Please send
your submission to [email protected]. Our President
reviews all items and reserves the right to decline them
before they are printed.
Fran Berreau
Communications Committee for the WDCCW