October 28, 2010 // Local

Diocesan and National Council of Catholic Women seek members

Todays Catholic

The Fort Wayne Council of Catholic Women collected and made hats and gloves for the Rescue Mission, Charis House and Women’s Care Center. Pictured are Roz Ort, Margaret Freiburger, Arlene Aker, Debbie Lautzenheiser, Carol Koehl, Theresa Oberley, Nancy Vander Velde, Betty Gfell, Betty Howard, Marie Reichelt. Not pictured is Gloria Yagodinski. The National Council of Catholic Women acts through its membership to support, empower and educate all Catholic women in spirituality, leadership and service.

WASHINGTON — The National Council of Catholic Women will hold their Annual Convention Nov. 10-13 at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C. For 90 years, the National Council of Catholic Women has supported, empowered and educated Catholic women in spirituality, leadership and service — the three core tenets of the organization.

As a faith-based organization, the National Council of Catholic Women fosters growth in spirituality, adds value to their lives and assists them to grow in faith.

Beginning and ending all that they do with prayer is another way that NCCW brings home the reality that prayer and spirituality can and should be a fully-integrated aspect of their lives as Catholics.

It is prayer that gives the women courage to follow through on the second and third tenets — leadership and service. The National Council of Catholic Women equips women with the skills necessary to become honest, effective leaders for the Catholic Church and the faith. Various events such as Leadership Training Development programs, conventions and joint endeavors with organizations such as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Charities USA and the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations (WUCWO), afford them opportunities to have their collective and individual voices heard.

Women involved with the NCCW have a hand in leading the culture towards becoming what Pope John Paul II called the “culture of life.” Issues such as social development, world peace, refugee services, family concerns, pro-life advocacy, rural development and so much more are addressed with compassion and integrity by members of NCCW, who choose to lead by example as they seek to find solid, faith-centered solutions to these challenges.

The NCCW believes that each woman can serve with purpose and meaning as a Catholic woman in society.

Members of the NCCW serve in tangible ways when they build new water systems in Third World countries, provide nutritional supplements for mothers and children in developing nations, collect old cell phones for domestic violence victims, support pregnancy centers and pro-life rallies, and “adopt” seminarians and send them both prayers and cookies.

The National Council of Catholic Women offers true, lasting value on so many levels, and all that is asked of them in “payment” is their faith, friendship and service.

Additional information is available at www.nccw.org.