(SNR/LDCCW) - The Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (LDCCW) is an organization of all Catholic women in the Diocese of Lincoln, which strives to fulfill the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.
The LDCCW asks all Lincoln diocesan parishes to annually report the activities in their parish, allowing the sharing of activity ideas, possibly initiating a new parish activity. A survey of these activities appears below, courtesy Kay Wessel, president of the Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women:
Wow, ladies, you are blessed to serve the Lord. Fifty-two (52) parishes out of 130 submitted a 2019 Charitable Works Survey. Thank you to the ladies that took time to complete the survey and report their many activities. One deanery had 88% of their parishes submit surveys.
Are there activities reported below that could enrich your parish life?
The surveys again show the Parish Councils of Catholic Women (PCCWs) are truly faithful in providing funeral dinners, a variety of fundraisers, parish fellowship, receptions for parish activities and support for summer religious programs and FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students). All responding parishes indicated they collected diapers for the October Pro-Life Diaper Drive.
Spirituality Commission: Sixty-five (65) percent of parishes report they pray for their Pastor and/or seminarians. Ladies continue to join the Apostleship of Prayer, Bible studies, Endow Studies and/or Unbound. The Divine Mercy Devotion is done along with Lenten Devotions.
Contributions are made to the Funds for Nuns, Our Lady of Good Counsel Burse, Bishop’s Project, LDCCCW President’s Project and Mass for the Homebound.
Roses are purchased for the Religious Sisters and parishioners participate in Pro-Life/Right to Life Activities. Eucharistic Adoration is observed in many parishes as well as the recitation of the St. Monica Prayer.
Leadership Commission: Many PCCWs contributed to Spirit Catholic Radio, allowing more of us to benefit from their broadcast.
Have you all considered planning a special activity on the LDCCW Sunday to recognize all the contributions made by your PCCWs?
Attending ‘Catholics at the Capitol’ is very informative, and we could have more parishes represented. Maybe you could plan to attend next year? Has your parish worked with your Deanery in defining the responsibilities of your PCCW Officers? Defining Office responsibilities may make it easier to attract new PCCW Officers.
Service Commission: Many parishes made donations for the Flood Victims – seeing the face of Jesus in those that needed assistance and prayers. Ladies joined the ‘Apostles for Life’ for only $1 per month, with proceeds going to the Pregnancy Centers and Birthright. Have you thought about donating time to your local Pregnancy Center or Birthright? The hours volunteered are acts of love. 
Catholic Social Services has received many donations of time and money. Many used eyeglasses and hearing aids were donated to the needy. Imagine the joy in allowing someone to see or hear clearly! The local Bloodmobiles benefit from the Catholic women in donating blood, time and food. Lives may have been saved with the donated blood.
Do you have an opportunity to deliver meals for the ‘Meals on Wheels’ program or assist with your local ‘Food Net’? PCCW ladies could possibly use more volunteers. Ladies helped with the food pantries, homeless shelter and Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach.
Many visits are made to the nursing homes to help with Bingo and entertainment, delivering May baskets as well as delivering lap quilts. World Marriage Day was celebrated in many ways with breakfast, flowers and Mass.
Donations were made to St. Gianna Women’s Homes and Villa Marie. Some parishes made donations to the Catholic Relief Services, Madonna Plan, Water for Life, and domestic abuse/human trafficking. Monetary donations were made for ‘Help-a-Child’ and the backpack program.
Following are some activities your parish may want to incorporate or increase participation: assisting with packages for the Military; making rosaries; Missionary Childhood Association; National Children’s Day; Prison Ministry; and Propagation of the Faith. Masses were said for the living and deceased of the PCCW.
I’m confident there were many activities not mentioned above and they are all a blessing. Dear Lord, thank you for all the generous gifts provided by the Parish Council of Catholic Women in service to their God and Parish. Please continue your performance of the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy.
