MARCH 2009

 

 

From the President

Isn’t this a wonderful time of the year?  Spring has arrived. We are approaching the most holy time of the church year.  Easter always brings with it such a time of renewal and thanksgiving.  We are so blessed to have Jesus in our lives and to live in a country where we have the freedom to worship.  As Catholic’s, we assume a responsibility each time we participate in communion in our churches.  What are you doing to take care of others?  

The Gaylord Council of Catholic Women has a two fold focus.  Each year at our Annual May Convention we ask the parishes to donate baby layettes.  The layettes are given to Catholic Human Services to be donated over northern Michigan or they may be given to a local organization of your choosing.  Our ladies have been overwhelmingly generous in the past.  This year, with the economy so bad, the need is even greater.  Please ask the ladies in your parish to help with this worthwhile charity.  I would like to see our table of donations overflowing this year.

As you read through this newsletter, be sure to read the report submitted by Colleen Barker, our International Commission Chairperson, concerning Water for Life.  Your diocesan council, along with the National Council of Catholic Women, continues to highlight the World need for clean water.  Many parishes collect pennies for water throughout the year.  In May the pennies are turned into dollar bills and the money is brought to the May Convention and placed in the wishing well-“Water for Life”.  All of the money will be sent through the NCCW to help the Catholic Relief Services to bring potable water to our sisters and brothers in the developing world.  Will your parish be able to help this year?  Checks may be made out to the Gaylord DCCW.  Be sure to note that you want your donation to go toward “Water for Life”.  Remember, even a small donation when added to others, goes a long ways toward helping people who so desperately need water.  Each time you take a drink of water or use water in your home over the next month, pray for those who do not enjoy this luxury and listen when Jesus tells you how to help!  Last year at the May Convention we collected $1985.61, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could collect over $2000 this year?

At our March Board meeting we finalized the plans for the Annual May Convention.  Due to a conflict with a new job, David Seitz was not able to be our speaker.  Our new speaker is Cathryn Torgerson.  I have spoken to her on the phone and she seems as if she will be a dynamic speaker.  You are going to love her!  She is so excited about coming to Gaylord.  Apparently, Cathryn has never been further north than Saginaw.  By Googling her name, you will come up with her speaking on Youtube telling her conversion experience.  Please remember the May Convention will be held in the Conference Center at the Diocese of Gaylord Pastoral Center, 611 North Street.  It is located across the parking lot from St. Mary’s Cathedral.  The registration information is included with this newsletter.  Information will also be posted on our website.  Please contact me if you have questions:  phone 989-728-2201 or email: [email protected]  I am looking forward to seeing many of you in May! 

I want to follow up on my article from the January newsletter concerning affiliation dues.  Fifty two parishes in the Gaylord Diocese are affiliated with the NCCW this year.  We picked up three new parishes, but lost five from last year.  We have 69% of our parishes affiliated with National this year.  Last year we had 72%.  The portion of your dues that stays with the DCCW will help us send two ladies to the NCCW Convention in September and to continue sending out the newsletters four times a year.  The Gaylord DCCW appreciates your support.

 Looking ahead to the Fall Workshop, please mark your calendar for Wednesday, October 14, 2009.  The Workshop will be held in St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish Hall again. More information will be coming out in the next newsletter.

 

May God bless each of you in a special way!
Diane Blevins, President Gaylord DCCW

 

IMPORTANT 2009 DATES 
May 13 May Convention
Pastoral Center, Gaylord

 June 18 Board Meeting
Pastoral Center, Gaylord

 September TBA Board Meeting
Pastoral Center, Gaylord

 September 16 Day of Recollection
Augustine Center. Conway

 October 14 Fall Workshop St. Mary
Parish Hall, Gaylord

 October 16-18 Weekend Retreat
Augustine Center, Conway

 
REGION REPORTS

West Central Color Lavender
Lorraine Aurand President

 Traverse City - St. Patrick

Held annual pie sale. Usually only cherry pies but this year also made apple and blueberry all from scratch in the parish hall. Cherry Growers and parishioners donated most of the ingredients. The CCW hosted the first of parish Lenten soup supper after the Ash Wednesday mass. 175 people were served. The CCW is helping the parish youth union financially with the fund raising efforts for a Spring Break trip. The trip will consist of roof building, house painting and general clean up in a hurricane hit area in Florida.

Traverse City - St. Francis
Parish hosted Safe Harbor, (provides food and shelter for the homeless during the colder winter months) for 2 weeks. Churches in the area take turns. In December Father Stachnik fell from the roof of his parent’s home. Breaking some bones in his leg. He is recovering, but has been limited in his activities. Members of the parish have been aiding in his care with meals and additional tasks in the parish. The parish also is conducting stations, providing soup luncheons. St. Francis is also one of the many “Food Pantries” for the area. It is open and staffed by parishioners 2 days a week.

 Mapleton - St. Joseph
The Guild has been busy being hostesses for the Lenten Soup and Salad dinners. Did annual layette drive for the Father Fred Foundation. Preparing meals for a sick parishioners family. Providing funeral luncheons. The members will also be decorating the church for Easter.

 GillsPier/Northport - St. Wenceslaus
The quilting group has been meeting weekly to produce quilts which will be used for fund raisers in the future months. The Altar Society sponsors bi-weekly card parties for all community members to beat cabin fever. Desserts and coffee are served.

 Elk Rapids - Sacred Heart
At the February meeting a salad luncheon and game afternoon was enjoyed by the ladies. Valentines were sent to the homebound. At the March meeting pretzels were made from scratch. Ladies were asked to make a Lenten Journal. Elections will be held in April. For Easter we will be decorating votive candles and making prayer cards. The rosary will also be recited at the meeting remembering by name our homebound parishioners.

 Kalkaska - St. Mary of the Woods
On February 15, held a Pre Lenten Picnic. Sloppy Joes, meatloaf sandwiches, potato salad, veggie trays, chips and dessert were feasted upon. A raffle included a $50.00 gas card, afghan, icon, cross and a unique birdhouse.

South East Region Color Yellow
Linda McClain President

 Hale - St. Pius X
The CCW is helping to coordinate the Community Day of Prayer with the Methodist church for April. We have soup and bread dinner after Mass on Tuesday during Lent. RTL is going to gives roses again this year to the ladies on Mother’s Day. Daughter and Mother Banquet is in May and the Women of the Year will be announced then.

 East Tawas - Holy Family
Hosted Bishop Robert Carlson on March 7, speaking on Prayer and St. Paul. May is a big month with election of new officers, Mother and Daughter Banquet and Memorial Day Bake sale.

 Oscoda - Sacred Heart
Continues to use their new kitchen/hall for coffee after Mass and funeral lunches. They had a fun filled Fat Tuesday for the parish and are looking forward to St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner. A Lenten afternoon of Recollection is scheduled at the parish hall on March 31 from 1-4 PM presented by Deacon Pat Painter.

 St. Helen - St. Helen
Lenten Day of Reflection will be March 30 from 10-3PM. Presenter is Fr. Marty Iott. There is no cost but a free will offering will be taken. The CCW is working to collect items for Veterans boxes for May and July. They are also preparing to celebrate Sr. Barbara’s 25th Anniversary in July.

 Roscommon - St. Michael
Hosting a baby shower in April and gathering items for the Layette Closet. They are working on putting together a Parish Cookbook as a fund-raiser. Also, working on the annual raffle with the drawing the first Sunday in August. First prize is a handmade quilt. Last year 53 prizes were given at the raffle.

 East Central Region Color Light Blue
Kathleen Melville Hall President

 Harrisville - St. Anne
Had a change of officers, and do not meet in the first trimester of the year. Winter finds more and more of our parishes with depleted snowbird ranks. But before the ladies headed for warmer weather, they managed to sell cherry pies, maintain a Giving Tree for area nursing homes, donated money for various civic organizations in the Harrisville area and purchase vestments for the priest and Altar Cloths for the church

 Alpena - St. Anne
Two winter events were the November Card party and the Christmas Party that had to be rescheduled to a “Little Christmas” party in January, Mother Nature rules! The big event as far as Ponczki afficionados in Alpena are concerned is their Ponczki sale on February 23. Lines form long before the doors open as Annette LaMarre, a Posen transplant, and her laborers prepare vast numbers of the sweet confection.

 Hillman - St. Augustine
We find those good ladies busy as ever. They organized an annual clothing give away in October and have several other functions that they host. In December they joined forces with the local K of C’s and their auxiliary to host one large Christmas party instead of three small ones. The same method worked in wrapping and preparing gifts and food baskets for needy families. By combining efforts, it lessened the chance that some families feasted while others had famine. The weather did in the January meeting and they decided to hold no more until April.

 Alpena - St. Bernard
Ladies kept up the tradition of their Christmas Bazaar which has always been popular, even in these lean times. The Christmas party was postponed thanks to the weather, but eventually was a success. Church decorating was high on the priority list with much of the gold items, chalice, tabernacle, candelabras and more being refinished. Vestments, Altar Server robes and a stole for the Deacon made it to the top of their list. St. Patrick’s day must be celebrated in this parish that was originally “the Irish church”. The altar society and the parish each had parties.

 Posen - St. Casimir
The ladies of St. Casimir keep busy cleaning and decorating their church. They also “do” the funeral meals, pot lucks and find time to collect food for the pantry and a Giving Tree. Also ongoing is First Friday adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

 Ossineke - St. Catherine
Ladies have discontinued their meetings until April when the snowbirds return. Most of their activities have centered around donating money to food pantries, the church and Madonna House. They continue to provide funeral luncheons as needed.

 Black River - St. Gabriel
Ladies were active hosting the local Habitat for Humanity group with food and a donation. They were responsible for the Christmas Giving Tree and decorating the church. Then they went into hibernation for the first trimester of 2009, but resumed activity in March. Their prayers and hopes are how to keep their church open.

 Rogers City - St. Ignatius
Rosary Society believes in the old adage that “green is the denomination most pleasing to the Lord.”.. and acted accordingly, gifting all the people of the parish that keep it functioning, priest, teachers, custodians, and also seminarians. Like the ladies of the other parishes, they pretty up the church for the holy season. They donated to the Catholic Radio station and also to the food pantry at Westminster Church store.

 Atlanta - Jesus the Good Shepherd
Like most of our parishes, snowbirds rule.
The ladies were busy up through Christmas with food drives, mitten and hat tree for the local baby basket and elementary school; they bought new decorations for the church for Christmas and are looking forward to hosting the June DCCW meeting.

 Alpena - St. John
Ladies have been very active. They collected items for St. Vincent DePaul Society; held a trash and treasure sale; provided a Giving Tree for Christmas; more sales of goodies; gifts for the pastor and new vestments too; continually collect pop can tabs; box tops for education; Campbell soup labels; pennies for water; and ink cartridges for All Saints School. They also sponsor weekly exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, workers for the funeral luncheons; and coffee and donuts every Sunday. They keep BUSY.

 Alpena - St. Mary
Ladies have stayed busy doing most of the things the other parishes have done and in addition put together a really spectacular 125th anniversary party and celebration of their church. They hosted the LARRC Unity Service and vicariate wide pre-cana gathering.

 Herron - St. Rose
The church is small but continues to support all the activities and functions of that parish. They maintain the garments, altars, decorations and linens of St. Rose Church. They have a big Valentine Auction in February, with proceeds going to the parish. They work on preparing snacks for the young people attending the Religious Ed program because they come directly from school on the bus. As always they do the funeral luncheons.

 
NEW LOCATION
37th Annual DCCW Convention
Wednesday, May 13
Gaylord Diocese Pastoral Center
611 W. North St
In Gaylord.

The cost of $20.00 includes lunch and materials. Reservations need to be in before May 6th. Details and registration forms are included in this newsletter.

 DCCW OFFICERS
President Diane Blevins
1st VP Bernic Zolnierek
2nd VP Linda McClain
Recording Secretary Lorraine Aurand
Treasurer Gen Reynolds

 

From the Editor....Please share this newsletter with your ladies.
Lorraine Aurand 231-947-6441
[email protected]

 
COMMISSION REPORTS
Legislative Angie Yarch
Legislature to tackle budget roads in 09

 Lansing - Michigan lawmakers enjoyed a smoother road this year, avoiding their bruising tax battles of 2007. But the national recession and the deteriorating financial health of the Detroit automakers may bring even stiffer challenges in 2009.

 First, the accomplishments.

Energy laws were rewritten to require more wind and solar electricity, boost energy efficiency and clear the way for more power plants to be built. Legislatures also voted to protect the great lakes from raids by dry, thirsty states and to oversee large water withdrawals.

 Both measures were complex, and not everyone was happy with the results. But after the contentious and all-consuming 2007 budget debate sucked the air out of the Capital halting progress on other issues- Law makers this year showed they could craft major policy changes and pass a budget on time.

They played a pretty good catch-up game in 2008, said James Clift, a policy director for Michigan Environmental Council. He said however he’s worried about next year 2009.

 Senate fiscal experts predict Michigan unemployment will rise to double digits-----10.6 percent in 2009 and 11.3 percent in 2010. They say state government likely will collect much less in taxes than expected this budget year because of ailing car companies and economy.
Issues that may come up when Michigan legislature convenes in 2009:

 Budget: The ailing economy and the declining health of the Detroit Three automakers are reducing tax revenues

That could provoke more fights over government spending.

 Fuel Taxes: 19-cent-a-gallon gasoline tax is bringing in less money for roads repairs while construction costs are rising. Legislators may look at reconfiguring the per gallon tax and raising vehicle registration fees.

 Prisons: Michigan’s incarcerations rate too high compared with other states, according to critics. Lawmakers may get more serious about ways to save money---exploring everything from the length of prison sentences to labor costs.

 Smoking Ban: Advocates of a smoking ban in bars and restaurants will keep trying despite the issue flaming out in ’08.

 Health Insurance: Legislators likely will have to deal with proposed changes in the health insurance marker for individuals who buy their own medical coverage. A push by Blue Cross Blue Shield stalled in 2008.

 From the Alpena News

 

Family Concerns Joyce Ryther

 The number one stress affecting families today is job and income loss, spiraling gas prices and growing residential insecurity topped the list of sources. Wall Street’s roller coaster ride is costing Americans more than money. It is costing them marital conflicts, emotionally distressed kids, sleepless nights, increased depression and anxiety, and more devastating a rise in suicide.

There may be a silver lining in this cloudy sky and it may be just that – looking for the silver lining. We are hurting now from the economic crisis, we have to ask ourselves what we have left, and should we see indeed there is much left, for there is love of Jesus in our life. Just like the economy, this is an opportunity for you to show Him that you can go through the bad times with Him, not just the good times.

We should follow the four “C’s” to help people cope. Stay calm, Be cautious and careful, and have confidence. Focus on what you can do instead of what you cannot do. It is important to maintain a life balance. To eat right, engage in pleasurable activities, and strike a balance between attention paid to the financial crisis and attention paid to your well being.

A parent’s instinct is often to protect children from financial worries. The families that managed to keep their priorities on the family itself, remain close and working together to solve a problem.

Say to children 5-9 “Daddy or Mommy is a little worried about things at work, but we are taking care of it and our family is going to be ok.” Ages 10-13 “You’ve seen the news about how the economy is having some troubles. I’m working extra hard to help us get through this”. Ages 14-17 “The weak economy has hurt our business, but we’ve been through this before. I’m working hard on some new possibilities.”

The most important thing in times of stress may be relying on our faith and holding our families close.

 Church  June Duby
The Vatican is considering welcoming into the Roman Catholic Church a group of traditional Anglicans who broke away from the global Anglican Communion nearly two decades ago over women’s Ordination and other issues.

Vatican officials stress that no decision has been made and no announcement is imminent. Still, Anglicans across the spectrum of belief are closely watching for any sign of movement.

Absorbing the breakaway Traditional Anglican communion would be a small but notable victory for Pope Benedict XVI, who has made unifying Christians a goal of his papacy. At the same time, any invitation by the Vatican is likely to upset leaders of the 77 million-member Anglican Communion. Anglicans split with Rome in 1534 when English King Henry VIII was refused a marriage annulment.

The Traditional Anglican Communion was formed in 1990 as an association of orthodox Anglicans. Members of the group are generally Anglo-Catholic, emphasizing continuity with Catholic tradition and the importance of the sacraments. The fellowship says it has spread to 41 countries and has 400,000 members, although about half are regular churchgoers.

 According to Archbishop John Hepworth of Australia, the leader of the Traditional Anglican Communion, they want to unify the Anglican and Catholic churches. They have accepted the ministry of the Pope, but want to maintain their Anglican traditions. They are seeking a communal and ecclesiastical way of being Anglican Catholics in communion with the Holy See.

The head of the Vatican office, Cardinal William Leveda, wrote Hepworth in July 2008, saying he was giving “serious attention” to the TAC’s proposal. But he noted that the situation with the broader Anglican Communion, with which the Vatican has an official dialogue, had become more complex. The AC is on the brink of schism because of internal rifts over how it should interpret what the Bible says about gay relationships and other issues.

The Vatican spokesman, The Rev. Federico Lombardi confirmed that the traditional Anglican group and the Vatican have been in contact for sometime and would continue to talk.

The Pope’s recent efforts to bring Christians together has hit many snags. In January he lifted the excommunications of four bishops of the traditional Society of St. Pius X, which broke from Rome, because of its opposition to the liberalizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council. That decision created a public outcry since one of the four bishops denied that 6 million Jews were killed during the Holocaust.

Progress has stalled between the Vatican and the Anglicans because of the same issues that have fractured the fellowship itself: women priests and bishops, the ordination of bishops in same-sex relationships and the recognition of same-sex unions. The Traditional Anglican Communion opposes those trends as well. The Vatican has made no secret of its willingness to welcome into its fold Anglicans who want to convert, even married Anglican priests. After the Church of England voted to ordain women in 1992, several hundred priests defected to Catholicism.

Rome will continue talking, it’s not going to turn anybody away. But on the other hand it’s going to be extremely cautious about a group of people who want to enter but with reservations.

From Catholic Weekly

 International Concerns Colleen Barker
WATER FOR LIFE

MATTHEW 25...whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine you did for me.

 Why does the Church care about access to clean water?

 Pope Benedict said in 2006, “Water is much more than just a basic human need, It is an essential irreplaceable element to ensuring the continuance of life.” As host of Earth Day since 1970, the month of April typically highlights environmental awareness. Yet, today public awareness campaigns pervade our lives to an extent that every day can feel like Earth Day. As stewards of God’s creation, we must not harden our hearts against the trouble that our high-consumption, high-waste lifestyles cause. God’s creation is marvelously complex and interdependent. Whether or not we like it, our environmental carelessness and wastefulness have global implications, particularly in third-world countries among the poor and marginalized who have few representatives in the global scene.

 Possibly the most important cause for social concern is the lack of access to clean water around the world. Only about 1% of the water on earth can be directly used for human consumption, agriculture, and industry. Over 70% of that is used for irrigation and other agro-industrial uses. In “Water for Life and Livelihoods”, Friends of the Earth International state that “at the present time, excessive human consumption of fresh water is threatening the viability of the water cycle” that renews this natural resource. In addition, “it is making is harder for poor people, whose livelihoods depend upon the water cycle, to earn enough and grow enough to live with health and dignity.” Most of us are bliss- fully ignorant of what no access to fresh water means, but we, as stewards, cannot afford to be complacent in our ignorance. Here are some facts that should concern us:

1.1 billion people have no clean water (1/6 of the world population), 2.6 billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation (1/3), and water-borne diseases annually kill 1.8 million children in developing countries. The average American uses about 100 gallons of water daily. Our lifestyle uses a glaring excess of over 70 gallons of precious clean water a day. Yet, prudence can easily reduce this amount. During North Texas’ summer drought of 2006, the customers of the North Texas Municipal Water District save over 250 million gallons of water a day.

 I took a U.S. Geological survey to see how much water we used in a typical day, and it came to about 103 gallons for just two of us. There are ways that we can cut back, I think we just need to be aware of how precious water is to us! We can also PRAY that we be guided by the truth of the dignity of all humans, LEARN about Catholic social teaching. EDUCATE ourselves about ways to conserve our own water use, ADVOCATE to friends and family about how we can save and GIVE to relief and development agencies like the Catholic Relief Services.

From The Social Ministry Commission Newsletter, College Station, TX

 Legislative Angie Yarch
In some of our communities, the joys of Spring are not enjoyed by families who are afraid to leave the house. They go to work and they go home. They spend the evening in darkness and then start another day the same as before.

These are undocumented immigrants who live among us. Across the Midwest, we have witnessed recent raids by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents (ICE). The fallout from these raids proves just how broken our country’s immigration program is. During the raids I speak of, the agents took married couples into custody and put them on a bus to deport them. No one stopped to think that their children would come home from school to find no parents. If a husband is deported, it leaves the mother and the children with no financial support. Some non-American families go into hiding when the ICE agents come to town. They stay in their basements for days, never turning on a light, never heating the stove, for fear that someone might see that they are home and come knocking at their door.

 The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has joined with hundred of other congregations and faiths in signing the Interfaith Platform on Humane Immigration Reform. It calls for the Obama Administration and the 111th Congress to:

 Uphold family unity as a priority of all immigration policies.

Create a process for undocumented immigrants to earn their legal status and eventual citizenship.

 Protect workers and provide efficient channels of entry for new migrant workers.

Facilitate immigrant integration.

Restore due process protection and reform detention policies.

Align the enforcement of immigration laws with humanitarian values.

 This document concludes with a statement that all six of our commissions should take to heart: “ As people of faith we call attention to the moral dimensions of public policy and recommend reforms that uphold the God given dignity and the right of every person, each of whom are made in the image of God. We are dedicated to immigration reform because we value family unity, justice, equity, compassion, love and the humane treatment of all persons”.

 Let us be like St. Paul, let us welcome anyone who wishes to have Christ in their hearts, may we offer hospitality, charity and open mindedness. Let us pray that the laws become fair and enforceable and let us welcome the least among us.

Report from the Catholic Woman Magazine

 

Always do Right
This will gratify some people
and astonish the rest

Mark Twain

 

Organization  Virginia Pitman
MOMENTUM - A Leader’s Best Friend
“It takes a leader to create momentum, followers catch it.” Creating momentum requires some who can motivate. All leaders face the challenge of creating change. In all organizations change can be address as something positive rather that as an obstacle. We change, our families change, the world changes around us. The same is true for council.

The leader must create forward progress—momentum. Even the simplest task can seem to be an insurmountable problem. With momentum on your side, the future looks bright, obstacles appear small, and trouble seems temporary. Change is possible! Is your council in a backward moving mode? Getting a stalled organization motivated and moving forward takes tremendous energy and time! To change direction is difficult. The leader must be a momentum maker and make things happen! What is needed to promote forward progress?

 Resources

Wise decision-making

Association with your great inner circle

 What is the key to maintaining momentum in an organization? The answer is not what but who. The leader must deal with critical issues to keep an organization moving forward. A leader must possess:

■ a willingness to accept responsibility! New leaders are often faced with issues they did not create and tend to dismiss those issues. No matter what, the buck stops with you.

■ a willingness to direct momentum! Don’t let momentum direct you! A leader must steer momentum and keep it moving.

 ■ a willingness to be enthusiastic at all times! Remain positive- believe that the work you are doing is important. Believe that the people with whom you are sharing your goals and vision are the best.

 A good leader has a vision and taps into the passion of others.

 A good leader connects with people and seeks “what makes them tick”. Every organization has the potential for motivation and momentum busters. As a leader, you must clear the way for positive momentum. Take time to celebrate your council achievements.

 Momentum is a good leader’s gift. Have you been give the gift of momentum? If you have, what are you doing with it?

 Report from Catholic Woman Magazine