Southern Nebraska Register
The Lincoln Diocesan Council Catholic Women (LDCCW) held its 12th annual “Winter Symposium” Feb. 17, with several speakers talking about their work for the Church.
The LDCCW is an organization of all Catholic women in the Diocese of Lincoln, which aims to enrich the lives of Catholic women by pursuing projects designed to further spiritual and family life. The symposium, held at Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House near Waverly, was titled, “Magnify Our Lord with Beauty and Truth.”
“I was absolutely amazed at the passion and love for our Lord that each of the speakers brought to the symposium,” said Val Able, president-elect for the 2024-2026 term. “To have each of them share their faith journeys with us brought joy to my heart.”
Charlie Williams, assistant director of the Women’s Care Center Foundation, presented “Women’s Care Center and the Saints.”
“All life has value, no matter what amount of time God has allotted us on Earth. We see the beauty and fruits of short lives like Venerable Antonietta Meo, as well as through long lives like Bishop Fulton Sheen,” he said.
The Women’s Care Center is the largest pregnancy resource center in America, serving 16,000 mothers and babies annually at 33 locations in 12 states. The Lincoln location opened in December 2020. Located at 5632 S. 48th St., the facility accepts both walk-ins and appointments.
The organization’s mission is to help pregnant women choose life for their babies, to have healthier pregnancies, become better parents, and take first steps to self-sufficiency. The organization provides free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, counseling, classes on caring for and raising a child, diapers and wipes, new baby clothes, strollers, and car seats.
Bonnie Damrow, a member from Bennet, said hearing all the speakers at the symposium was a great education.
“I was disheartened to hear about the extent of sex trafficking in Nebraska,” she said, referring to the talk titled, ‘Hidden in Our Heartland: The Fight Against Sex Trafficking in Nebraska,” given by Paul Yates, executive director of I’ve Got a Name.
“The harsh reality is there is a silent epidemic of sex trafficking in Nebraska,” Yates said. “Women and girls are being sold and purchased throughout our great state within our communities, across rural towns and city streets. As a faith-based organization, I’ve Got a Name is determined to end this injustice.
His organization raises awareness across the state, and its street outreach team in Lincoln offers direct support to victims.
“In 2023,” Yates reported, “our street outreach team (of two people) had 818 personal visits with women and girls, offering them a lifeline and resources for healing. Awareness is our most potent weapon. It empowers us to protect our youth, dismantles this exploitative industry, and restores dignity to those it has stolen.
“As a Catholic,” Yates continued, “I urge all parishes throughout our diocese and Nebraska to pray, and help us fight this injustice, and it begins with you!”
He asked the women to encourage their pastors and the groups in their parishes to become aware that sex trafficking can affect their families.
“I will personally speak at no cost during any event at your parish, your community, organizations, or schools,” he said.
To learn more about the group’s mission or inquire about a speaking opportunity, visit www.ivegotaname.org or email Yates at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Emily Martinez, of Restoration Psychotherapy and Wellness, presented “Beauty: Moves Us Closer to Our Lord,” a visual presentation of God’s beauty in everyday life.
Damrow said the talk brought her “so much joy.”
“Seeing this young gal that is on fire for the Lord was truly a blessing,” she said. “Do we see the beauty in the world? It’s our direct encounter with God. We need to slow down in our busy lives to see that beauty, and then praise God each day.”
Sarina Stokes, outreach ministry coordinator at the retreat house, shared “Beautiful Mercies: Jesus’ Transforming Love.”
“The beauty of Jesus Christ is found in the broken pieces of our stories,” she said. “Oftentimes, we believe that beauty is found in what is perfect, what is whole, but it is actually our brokenness, our woundedness, and our weakness that attracts Jesus the most to us. It is here that we encounter the deepest intimacy with Him, in the beauty of the Cross.”
Katharine Hills, president of Pi Alpha Chi, the Catholic sorority at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) addressed the group alongside sorority sisters. The students shared stories of how each came to UNL, fell deeper in love with the faith, and found sisterhood in the sorority.
The young women prepared soup for the LDCCW board meeting the evening before the symposium, and expressed their gratitude for the organization’s donations. Hill said it was a joy to share the testimonies with faithful members of the community who uplift the Church.
The symposium included “Heart to Heart With Mary,” a time for participants to share experiences and thoughts in groups or five or six women. These exercises, according to Trudy Burenheide, president of the LDCCW, “provided an opportunity when we could be Mary in a Martha world, to connect with other women in a deeper and more personal way reflecting on the topics the speakers presented, to look into and support one another in joy and sorrow.”
Courtesy photos
