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DCCW convention to bring Catholic
women together for prayer, fellowship

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
(Email Katie)

CHEROKEE – Women of the Diocese of Sioux City are invited to come meet other Catholic women and grow in their faith at the DCCW Biennial Convention.

“The biggest thing I would hope for the women attending is to meet more Catholic women,” said Julie Storr, DCCW secretary. “I think that will be a perfect opportunity for them to meet new women, draw strength and to learn about their faith. It has meant a lot to me. The friendships that I have through the Council of Cahtolic Women have been a big part of my spiritual growth.”

The Biennial Convention will be held on April 30 and May 1 at Immaculate Conception Church, 709 W. Cedar Street, in Cherokee.

The theme of the convention is Women of Faith, Women of Action – Moving Forward with Faith and Joy. The first part is from the NCCW’s theme two years ago and the second part was the past president’s theme.

“Since I have been president for two terms, I put them together,” said Michele Leiting, the diocesan president of the organization. “They seem to merge well together.”

The convention opens on April 30 at 5 p.m. with registration and a light supper.  At 7 p.m., Stacy Martin will present a program on “Holiness Never Decays: Relics and Lives of the Saints.”  A living rosary and a social time will conclude the evening.

“She (Stacy) has visited and documented some of the incorruptible saints in Europe,” said Storr.

Father LeRoy Seuntjens will bring the relic of St. Faustina Kowalska for the women to see on Friday evening, mentioned Leiting. The relic will also be available for viewing on Saturday.

Events on May 1 will begin at 8 a.m. with rolls and coffee, registration and a silent auction.  The business meeting will begin at 9:10 a.m. Sean Martin, the Director of Religious Education and Family Life for the Diocese of Sioux City, will speak on Eucharistic devotion at 10 a.m. with Mass celebrated at 11:15 a.m., followed by lunch.

The featured speakers for the afternoon sessions will be Joanne Pohland, the first National Council of Catholic Women vice president, and Edna Brunkhorst the province director for the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Another special guest will be Donna Sander, the past national vice-president.

Other afternoon happenings will include installation of officers, presentation of Our Lady of Good Counsel Award and announcements of upcoming events. The day will conclude at 3:30 p.m. with the closing prayer.

“It should be a very good, very interesting convention,” said Leiting. “There are a lot of women who haven’t attended a convention like this.”

She encourages women of the diocese to come and enjoy being with other Catholic women “for a faith learning experience and to meet other women of like minds. We want to make it a prayerful but social time.”

“Society has gotten so anti-family and anti-faith,” said Storr. “Being a part of the Council of Catholic Women is a place for women to grow and get that strength back and realize that the priorities in life are our families and the faith that we have and share. That is what is going to get us through what the world is throwing at us right now. Those are the things that are important.”

She added that having these opportunities for women gives them a place to become strengthened and renewed.
Registration for the weekend convention is $20 with a deadline on April 24.  For registrations after that date, the registration fee is $22. Registration is payable to the DCCW and can be mailed to Robin Corzilius at 1044 55th St., Cherokee, IA 51012.

Bring an air mattress and personal items if you wish to stay at the church facilities. There are also hotels

available for those wishing to stay in Cherokee.

“Come try us out. You don’t know what it is until you experience it yourself,” said Leiting.