Women of DCCW find friendship, fellowship at convention

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
April 24, 2008

WEST BEND - For one member of DCCW, the recent convention brought a surprise nomination as secretary.

Julie Storr from Resurrection Parish in Pocahontas has been a member of DCCW for about a year. She was attending the convention to meet other women from the diocese.

"It is exciting to find other Catholic women who you can gain fellowship and friendship from," she said. "I am excited to serve as a diocesan officer because now is a good time for everyone to grow spiritually."

She looks forward to working with her fellow officers and the bishop to get people excited about the faith.

Michele Leiting, current DCCW president, was elected to another two-year term as president. Over the years, she has served in offices at the parish level of DCCW as well.

"I feel blessed that I am able to do this, and humbled by the fact that they would want me again," she said. "It is such a fulfilling job. The Spirit is definitely watching over us. Being with these faith-filled, dedicated women, who have the true love of God in them, is amazing."

She said that overall the convention went well and the speakers were "wonderful."

"The women were very attentive and listening," said Leiting. "I hope that they went back to their parish satisfied. It is important that women have the opportunity to be here."

Mary Ann Ruether, a parishioner at St. Joseph's in Le Mars, has been the vice president of the Northwest Deanery for two years. She will become the president of the deanery at the end of April.

"I feel that there is a need for this - education. It is a time to gain insights as to what we can do to live our faith, to be an example of our faith and hopefully to get other people involved," she said.

Betty Nielsen's, founder of the Freedom Quilts, faith witness touched Ruether and made her think of all the people that have experienced a loss.

"I lost my mother when I was 13," she said. "If someone had given me a quilt and told me if I wrapped myself in it, I would feel my mother's arms around me, I would have related to them. Granted, they didn't do this back when my mother died, but I related to the little boy knowing what it meant to him to get the quilt."

Ruether mentioned that she has only been part of the DCCW for two years, but it came at a time that she was ready. She related this to Father Pelzel's talk when he stated that he wished he would have known sooner that he was going to be a priest.

"God puts you where he wants you to be, when he wants you to be there," she said.

Phyllis Schroeder, a parishioner from St. Bernard's in Breda, attended the convention in support of Michele Leiting, DCCW president, who is a good friend. She was also intrigued by the speakers and has always wanted to hear the "quilt lady," Betty Nielsen.

"I gained insight on how God can lead your life," she said. "He will carry you through."

Rosemary Paulsen from Annunciation Parish in Coon Rapids has been a member of DCCW for many years. The drawing point of the convention for her was the retreat. She also enjoyed Mass with the bishop and the convention as a whole.

As someone with another role in her community, Serra Club president, she said Father Brad Pelzel's presentation was beneficial to her.

"I want to incorporate his talk into our next meeting - how we can promote vocations," said Paulsen. "I am going to tell them what he suggested - a lot of that we do now."

In two years, the convention will be held at another location in the Diocese of Sioux City.