LDCCW winter event: fulfilling the works of mercy
Story by Reagan Scott
WAVERLY (SNR) – The Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women will hold their 10th annual “Winter Symposium” Feb. 7-8 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat Center.
The theme of the event is human dignity.
The LDCCW is an organization of all Catholic women in the Diocese of Lincoln which strives to fulfill the corporal and spiritual works of mercy as outlined by the Church. More than 23,000 women undertake to fulfill the Gospel mandate by becoming involved in their parishes and towns in humanitarian, religious, pastoral and educational endeavors.
Kay Wessel, LDCCW president, said the purpose of the event is to provide a “mini-retreat” for the women of the diocese.
The first evening will feature the Chaplet of Divine Mercy sung by the Marian Sisters, followed by a talk entitled “Helping Women in Africa” from Katie Patrick.
Since the LDDCW supports UNL’s Catholic Sorority, Pi Alpha Chi, representatives from the sorority will also speak that evening, which will conclude with a social and an opportunity to make Valentine favors or gift bags for the children at St. Gianna Women’s Homes.
On Saturday, the women in attendance will have the opportunity to hear from Marion Miner from the Nebraska Catholic Conference, Jennifer Allamby of the Villa Marie Ladies Auxiliary, and Angela Copenhaver of Human from Day One.
Father Gary Coulter, director of the retreat house, will celebrate Mass, and Christina Lloyd, CEDARS Street Outreach program director will give the final talk of the day.
It is Wessel’s hope that the women will come away with a respect for everyone and, whenever possible, to help them in their journey.
On average, 65 to 70 women attend the event each year and most of them stay overnight at the retreat house. They come from all parts of the diocese, from Wallace and McCook in the west to Nebraska City in the east.
Wessel said she loves the comradery of the events, where women have the opportunity to spend time with other Catholic women and talk freely about their faith.
The event ties into the LDCCW’s mission of “Performing the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy in the service of God and His Church” because it will equip attendees with the knowledge they need to meet people where they are and serve them with Works of Mercy.
“Every woman in the diocese is considered a member [of the LDCCW] whether they pay a contribution or not,” Wessel said.
The LDCCW is part of a tiered system that begins with the National Council of Catholic Women, which was established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 100 years ago.
The next tier are provinces. The LDCCW is part of the Omaha province, which is comprised of the diocesan councils from Nebraska’s three dioceses.
The third category is the diocesan level. The LDCCW is responsible for overseeing 15 deaneries in the state, which are made up of PCCWs (Parish Councils of Catholic Women).
At the parish level, PCCWs concentrate on activities within their parish, while the LDCCW coordinates diocesan-wide events and supports deaneries across the diocese, which then support their PCCWs.
“The best way to get involved would be to start at the parish level,” Wessel said.
Established in 1932 by Bishop Louis B. Kucera, the LDCCW has been committed to performing corporal and spiritual works of mercy over the decades, from assisting the war effort during World War II to supporting the efforts of Catholic Social Services in their service to the homeless today.
As part of this year’s symposium, participants are encouraged to bring donations of sleeping bags and personal hygiene items to give to CSS. Wessel has chosen homeless ministry as part of her “president’s project” during her two-year tenure.
In 2018, PCCW members across the diocese offered Masses and prayed for their parishes and priests, contributing to pregnancy centers both monetarily and with infant items, and providing housing for Totus Tuus teams during the summer, to name a few of the many apostolates they’re involved in across the diocese.
Father Thomas McGuire has been one of the spiritual directors for the organization since 2005. In his role, he attends LDCCW meetings, works with the presidents and officers to plan their goals for each year, and is helping plan the upcoming symposium.
“The LDCCW provides an opportunity for women to come together and become friends with other Catholic women,” he said.
Wessel said the LDCCW allows her to grow spiritually and become closer to God through information disseminated through the LDCCW.
“When you have the ability to meet women from across the diocese,” she explained, you realize that their backgrounds are so diverse, and you make personal friendships.”
Anyone interested in the LDCCW’s winter symposium can register at goodcounselretreat.com. Registration is open until the event.
