Excerpts from Catholic Woman

"When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say." - Luke 12:11-12

As we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost this week, we more fully understand the blessing of seeking guidance of the Holy Spirit to direct our lives, our activities and our ministries.

Undoubtedly, the Holy Spirit was present when Pope John II issued in 1988 Mulieis Dignitatem, On the Dignity and Vocation of Women. On the 20th anniversary, Pope Benedict XVI did continue the emphasis of this document with an international conference titled "Women and Man, the 'Humanum' in its Entirety" held Feb. 7-9, 2008 in Rome. Sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Laity, representatives from 49 countries were present including delegates from 40 episcopal conferences, 14 organizations and 35 movements.

Catholic Woman, the official publication of the National Council of Catholic Women, in the May/June 2008 issue has presented a summary report from three women who attended the conference. Certainly you will want to read the entire article while this will be the highlights.

Sheila Garcia is associate director, USCCB, Secretariat of Laity, Marriage Family Life and Youth. She represented the U.S. bishops at the conference. Garcia notes that Pope John Paul II was the first pope to issue a document dedicated exclusively to women. In 1955, he issued his Letter to Women and he delivered a series of addresses in preparation for the U.N. conference on women in Beijing. As pope, he called for the "new feminism" that expresses the genius of women.

Garcia also notes other speakers' points such as rather than restricting women's freedom, the Catholic Church has been the true defender of women's equality and dignity. God's plan for humanity includes both uniqueness and duality.

At the closing of the conference, Garcia states that Pope Benedict received the group in the audience and said, "In order to understand male and female identity, we need a 'renewed anthropological research' that incorporates advances in science and in our understanding of cultures." He called the Christians to promote the dignity of women in the face of violence and exploitation and challenged government to adopt social policies that promote marriage.

Executive Director Kerry A. Robinson of the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management noted how the attending women leaders from around the world were manifestations of faith, leadership, intelligence, courage, prophetic witness and reason for hope. She noted her awareness of how impoverished the Catholic Church would be without the active participation and testament of women, therefore the critical importance of engaging women in service to the church. Consider the 80 percent of lay ecclesial ministers in the U.S. today are women. "Meaningful participation allows for greater engagement. A well-managed church allows for a more efficacious mission."

The third resource person is Karen Hurley, President General of the World Union of Catholic Women and a member of the National Council of Catholic Women. Karen acknowledges the letter's reference to the vocation of women setting the tone for the beautiful spiritual reflection on the dignity of women modeled by Blessed Mother Mary and other women found in sacred Scripture. The letter closes with "Therefore the church gives thanks for each and every woman..." Let these words serve as a constant reminder of your "gift of God."

Please read the article. If you would like your own personal copy of the Catholic Women with individual membership, contact Michele Leiting, (712) 663-4584 or gleiting@win-4-u.net. Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. Our Lady of Good Counsel, pray for us.

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