DCCW plans annual convention for September

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SALT LAKE CITY – The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women will hold this year’s much-anticipated annual state convention Sept. 11-12 at the Sheraton Salt Lake City Hotel.

“The women are so excited; they missed it last year,” DCCW President Becky Colombo said. “They really missed getting together with people from all over the state.”

The theme of this year’s convention, “Let Your Light Shine,” originally was chosen by Past President Casey Pond for last year’s convention, which was cancelled due to the pandemic.

“She just felt like the way the world was at the time that we needed to go out and spread the love because everyone was getting so hateful in their politics. She felt like we needed to let our light shine and spread the love,” Colombo said of Pond’s theme.

This year’s keynote speaker will be Cuban native Maria Morera Johnson, the award-winning author of Super Girls and Halos, My Bad Ass Book of Saints and Our Lady of Charity. She will speak on “Living in the Light of Eternity,” and will encourage women to become witnesses in the world and to share Christ’s light in everything they do.

In addition, Emmie Gardner, CEO of Holy Cross Ministries, will share highlights of her 35+-year career in the non-profit arena and speak about how the Sisters of the Holy Cross influenced her career. New to the convention this year will be a special breakout session for Spanish-speaking women. This discussion, focused on St. Paul’s approach to evangelization, will be hosted by Johnson on Saturday afternoon.

At the same time, in “A Journey of an Unassuming Woman,” Mary Anne Berzins will share her work in leadership and organizational development at the University of Utah.  

On Sunday, Kit Cummings, communications coordinator at St. Rose of Lima Parish, will speak on “The Love Languages of Christ.”

Women or men who are not members of the DCCW are invited to attend the convention.

“The feeling that you get when you’re there with those women and you know you’re involved with this large group of women, especially in the state of Utah that is so dominantly LDS, it just gives you a feeling of family,” Colombo said. “When they leave on Sunday, they’re so anxious to come back the next year because it just gives you such a wonderful feeling.”

“If you just come and experience the feeling of joy and family that you get from being there with all those women, it’s a seller in itself – you’ll want to come back year after year,” she added.

Convention participants will attend Mass Saturday at the Cathedral of the Madeleine and enjoy recitation of the rosary and prayer and memorial services together. Light breakfasts and lunches will be provided during the convention; registration fees include a ticket to the Woman of the Year banquet. There will also be awards, drawings, raffles and a silent auction. The Service Commission will be collecting items for those who struggle with poverty, homelessness and abuse (see dccwutah.org under the “Service Commission” tab for a list of needed items).

The cost for the full convention is $125; scholarships are available. Deadline is July 28. Contact your parish women’s council or visit www.dccwutah.org for details, registration forms and sponsorship information.

The DCCW will follow any health guidelines that may be in place during the convention. Masks will not be required but those who are more comfortable wearing them are invited to do so, Colombo said.

For information, contact Colombo at 435-650-6392.