BERLIN — Holy water and blessed salt were among the items in the gift bags for the women participating in the 67th gathering of the Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (MDCCW) held at All Saints Church in Berlin last month.
Hosted by the Columbia North Vicariate CCW, its president, Mona Matijevich, suggested that the women sprinkle the salt in their houses and keep the holy water in their cars for special needs.
Matijevich, a member of St. John the Baptist Parish in Montello, chairs the MDCCW Spirituality Commission.
Among the 130 who attended from throughout the diocese were 25 first-timers.
Katherine Higgins from Madison, who works with the Walking with Moms in Need initiative of the diocese, received a Madonna statue for being the youngest first-time attendee.
Meeting in person for the first time since 2019 when they gathered in Wisconsin Dells, MDCCW President Judy Lyons from Fort Atkinson conducted a brief business meeting. She complimented the women for what they have done despite the pandemic.
Instead of saying “we can’t do this, you said we will do it this way instead.”
Lyons was installed virtually as president in 2020 when no convention was held.
Last year, the West Dane Vicariate CCW hosted the MDCCW via YouTube.
MDCCW service
Lyons encouraged the women to sponsor and support Walking with Moms in Need. An initiative of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Diocese of Madison adopted it as well as a way for Catholic parishes “to walk alongside vulnerable pregnant and parenting women in need.”
Among other projects of the MDCCW are Boxes of Joy, the ordination reception, and Prayers for Priests.
Working with the National CCW, diocesan women last year prepared 896 Boxes of Joy distributed to children in Latin America, a 20 percent increase from 2020.
Coreen Marklein, MDCCW service commission, had a table at the convention for representatives to take boxes for this year’s collection.
Lyons encouraged women to attend the NCCW convention in Minneapolis on November 2 to 5. Registration information is on the website: nccw.org
Lyons introduced the slate of officers. With no new nominations offered, the delegates voted unanimously to approve the slate.
President-elect Linda Ripp from St. Martin of Tours Parish in Martinsville automatically succeeded Judy Lyons as president.
Those elected are president-elect Carol Rogers from Queen of All Saints Parish in Fennimore; secretary Coreen Marklein from St. Joseph Parish in Baraboo; and treasurer Julie Zenz from St. Clement Parish in Lancaster.
Msgr. Duane Moellenberndt, MDCCW spiritual advisor, installed the officers after Mass.
In his spiritual advisor’s report, Monsignor Moellenberndt told a story about Albert Schweitzer comforting a woman as she watched her son sail off to war by sitting near her and crying with her.
Comfort, strength from God
Monsignor Moellenberndt reminded the women that God weeps with us.
“In Christ, God has gone to the heart of human suffering. Christ knows how lonely it is when your closest friends misunderstand you and those you trust turn against you. Christ knows how it feels to surrender to the grave someone you love with all your soul. God has touched the very depths of our souls. God comforts us; God strengthens us; God equips us for our Christian ministry of service.”
The retired pastor commended them for their service.
“God bless the Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women for all you do in the ministry of service to God’s people, for you know God is with you in all your work. God bless all of you for all you do for the good of the Church, working to bring others to paradise.”
Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison celebrated Mass with attending priests: Monsignor Moellenberndt; host pastor Fr. John Silva; Fr. Savio Yerasani, St. John the Baptist Parish, Montello, and Good Shepherd Parish, Westfield; Fr. Anthony Thirumalareddy, Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Green Lake; and Fr. David Greenfield, retired All Saints pastor.
Recently ordained Deacon Simon Tipps whose summer assignment is at All Saints and nearby Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Green Lake, participated in the day’s activities.
Talk on St. Philomena
Following lunch, Susan Hilliard, volunteer caretaker of the National Shrine of St. Philomena, Briggsville, told of her dedication to St. Philomena and her work in maintaining the shrine.
She shared a copy of the picture of the saint which she made to revive interest in the saint and the shrine which was established in the late 1940s by a priest from Milwaukee who had been given a first-class relic of the saint obtained by a priest from Italy.
Bishop Hying will celebrate Mass at the shrine at 2 p.m., Aug. 11, the feast of St. Philomena.