by Christine Young
Intermountain Catholic

SALT LAKE CITY — The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (DCCW) celebrated their 80th Annual Convention at the Sheraton City Centre April 26-27. The theme was “Bringing Light to Our Global Society.”

“Eighty years of service to the Church in Utah and our communities, what a wonderful milestone,” said Roberta “Bobbie” Hunt, National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) president, and keynote speaker. Hunt is a member of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Layton. Hunt has served on the NCCW Board of Directors. As a Region two vice president, she chaired the communications committee and was a member of the International Concerns Commission team. She served as the San Francisco Providence director, and is a past DCCW president.

The convention offered women an opportunity to connect with friends from parishes across the state, and to be inspired and learn from speakers. Mary Nickles, KUTV 2 news anchor gave a presentation on saying no to stress. Anne Boyer, NCCW Commission Liaison, and member of St. Peter Parish, American Fork, presented a workshop on giving life to local women’s councils.

Aden Batar, Immigration and Refugee Resettlement director for Catholic Community Services in Salt Lake City spoke about the resettlement program and talked of ways people could be of assistance.

Vickie McCall spoke of her journey to the war zones in South West Asia, and a need for sweat pants for injured soldiers. Her story will follow next week.

The convention was hosted by the Wasatch Deanery, who invited nationally and internationally known singer and song writer Sam Kauffman to open the convention with a prayer service.

Kauffman visually guided the 220 women in attendance through the story of the Risen Lord in her performance of “Witnessing to the Light Through Mary Magdalene.”

Kauffman said, “We come to the garden not having seen, yet believing. We carry the story of eternal love into a world that is hungry for hope, that is skeptical and cynical. We carry the good news past unimaginable oceans and rivers. Yet in our hearts, there is none like the risen Jesus.”

“The Prayer of the Risen Lord will be with us as we celebrate throughout the convention,” said DCCW Spiritual Moderator Msgr. Robert Servatius, in his 20th year. Msgr. Servatius is pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish. “Later today we will celebrate the Eucharist. When we leave, we are called to go out and bear fruit with God’s people like the apostles.”

In his homily at a Mass celebrated at the Sheraton City Centre, Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald, Vicar General of the Diocese of Salt Lake City (right) said, “We again experience the life and enthusiasm the women in the diocese bring to our faith at this DCCW Convention.” DCCW officers and commission chairwomen offer prayers of intention. IC photo by Christine Young

Hunt said in her keynote address, “Let us rejoice and be glad we are gathered here today as women in the Church serving Our Lord.”

“Our theme, “Bringing Light to a Global Society” is so appropriate,” said Hunt. “The work the women do in the Catholic Church both locally and nationally is phenomenal. In 2007, through the efforts of all our councils, the members of the NCCW were inducted into the Ambassadors of Hope Circle of Catholic Relief Services (CRS). We were recognized for contributing well over a million dollars during our 60-year partnership with CRS. We have given hope to millions of our sisters in underdeveloped countries around the world. Your councils are vital, as we, the women, are the backbone of the church. Keep the enthusiasm going.”

Hunt said the title of her talk, “The Work of Our Hands,” signifies the hope women throughout our global society receive through the work we do. The most famous hands in the world are those of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who fed the hungry and gave comfort to God’s poorest and dying in the streets of Calcutta.

“Last week it was an honor for me to be invited to the welcoming ceremony at the White House for His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI,” said Hunt. “ To be able to see the Holy Father in person and hear him speak was an event I will never forget. President George Bush said in his remarks to the pope, ‘We need your message that all life is sacred, and that each of us is willed, each of us is loved, and each of us is necessary.”

“And so it is as women of faith, women of action – we fight for life from conception to natural death,” said Hunt. “I, and five other members of the NCCW board of directors attended the national Prayer Vigil for Life Opening Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D. C. We prayed on Jan. 22, the 35th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. I am always amazed to see the number of youth who come from around the country to attend the march and support life.

Hunt then spoke of six people who are all amazing and all have something in common. Four of them were born without arms, one has no arms or legs, and the sixth has stumps. They have made extraordinary accomplishments in their lives. One is a supervisory computer specialist. Another, repairs clocks and electric razors, and drives a vintage car he put together himself using his feet. Still another has a website called “Life Without Limbs.”

“He is a motivational speaker and said God has given him strength to surmount what others might call impossible,” said Hunt.

Hunt said one woman attended Utah State University. She is a preschool teacher who shows her students how to cut with scissors, write their names, and do simple math problems using her feet. Another plays the guitar with his feet and played for Pope John Paul II when he visited Los Angeles in 1987.

Hunt recalled several ways and several projects in which women are using their hands to help those around the world in need by gathering shoes for those who have none.

Hunt said our hands are the hands of Christ when we attend our women’s council meetings, contribute to various programs, comfort those in sorrow, make a funeral dish, serve the poor, and give of ourselves in our many ministries.

Nickles said, “Just say no to stress. It is fun for me to learn from my mistakes and those of others. We learn from our mistakes on the Morning Team on the Channel 2 News. I learned how to be a team player from my mother who raised nine kids and was a state law maker. Everybody loved her because she listened. She was honest.

“Always be honest, it eliminates stress,” said Nickles. “Also learn what makes you nervous, such as speaking engagements, like this one, and just say no.”

Nickles said she also learned communication skills from her mother. On the morning news when they are laughing and having fun, it is she who has to say “cut” and bring the group around.

Sam Kauffman opens the convention with a prayer service of the Risen Lord through the eyes of Mary Magdaltene. IC photo by Christine Young

“We are all team players, we just have different responsibilities to help the team win,” said Nickles. “We delegate and trust people because we know it will help the team.

“Nelson Mandela said, ‘As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously let others do the same,’” said Nickles. “ Being Catholic women, we let others shine.”

Nickles said she uses the acronym THINK to alleviate stress. The T is for time. Take time to think before you speak and give some time to listen to others so they feel they matter.

Be honest, it eliminates stress.

Everyone is intelligent. Some are book smart and some are creative. Know what you are and don’t give up.

Be natural. You are more comfortable and confident when you are yourself.

Finally, be kind to others in everything you do. Smile and be pleasant, and don’t judge others. Jesus did not judge others.

Boyer told the women throughout the diocese the way to give life to your local councils is to look back over the year and see how closely you reflected on your mission statement, then ask what more you can do and how you can improve. Boyer said we can do more than cook, clean, and bake for the parishioners.

“Put your councils in the position to support, empower, and educate,” said Boyer. “Commission work supports women and children locally, nationally, and globally. There are six commissions. They include church, family concerns, community concerns, organization, legislation, and international concerns.

Boyer said be aware of women in your groups with particular interests or knowledge and allow them to share and participate. Allocate time to share information, support new volunteers with encouragement, and be use the NCCW Guideline Resource Manual.

“Start and end each of your meetings with prayer, and pray thoughtfully, which is crucial to your spiritual life,” said Boyer.

Batar spoke about immigration and refugee resettlement. He said the women in the diocese could help the refugees by inviting them to parish activities when a family moves into their parish to help them get involved and feel welcome. We need to show the new refugee families love and compassion.

“Working with the refugees, I see the same frightened look I had when I was a refugee,” said Batar. “They have escaped civil wars in their countries. My goal is to help them feel welcome and make them successful members of society.

“There are more than 13 million refugees worldwide because of civil wars,” said Batar. “Refugees who survive and escape the wars make it to refugee camps. They cannot go back to their country or they will be killed. People have a misconception they are seeking a better life for economic reasons.

“After the 9/11 tragedy in 2001, the refugee population declined because of Homeland Security,” said Batar. “Now we are seeing an increase again. Congress approves 70,000 refugees to come to the United States every year. Refugees bring a lot of diversity and rich culture with them to the United States.”

Batar said when refugees arrive they are assigned a case manager who orients them to their housing and utilities. Some refugees do not even know how to flush a toilet. The federal government provides $425 per person to cover everything. The average cost to resettle is $1,000 per person.

“We cannot do what we do without the involvement and support of the community,” said Batar. “The refugees need household items and furniture, food, and monetary donations. We need volunteers to mentor refugees to teach them English and to welcome them. Children are often separated from their parents in refugee camps. Sometimes their parents die. The refugees all have so many stories to tell.

“When I left Somalia, I went to Kenya,” said Batar. “I had never been to Kenya before, but I did not care, it was a safe place. It took about a week to cross the border. I spent two years there until the refugee process was complete. I did not have friends in the refugee camp and I did not know how I was going to survive. But with the help of the United Nations and Catholic Community Services in Utah, I received a sponsorship and I was able to come to Salt Lake City.

“When I got here, I had never seen snow in my life,” said Batar. “It was a culture shock from the moment I set foot in Utah. It was very difficult, and I was educated and I spoke English. Imagine what it is like for those who do not speak English. These refugees need a lot of help.

“I had a lot of volunteers help me go through the system,” said Batar. “I would not be standing here today without all the help I received. What keeps me going are the smiling faces of the refugees I see every day.”

Batar started working with CCS in 1996 as a Somalia case manager, and later trained as an immigration attorney.

Batar said housing is the most difficult issue in resettling refugees. They are housed anywhere from the Salt Lake Valley to Logan.

“Ninety percent of the refugees we resettle become sufficient within six months of resettlement,” said Batar. “That is how we can do it. We do not depend on government funding.

“Every month we bring in 400 new refugees,” said Batar. “They are admitted on an unlimited status and eligible for all benefits. They just cannot vote. After one year they can apply for a green card, and after five years they can apply for citizenship. Our bridge is commitment.”