Gatherings planned to discuss women’s ministries
Will take place at locations around the archdiocese
By Dan Russo
Witness Editor
Faith formation leaders are seeking feedback from women of all ages about how to enhance women’s ministries. A series of meetings with the theme “Beauty Alive” are slated to be held in September and October in locations around the archdiocese.
The purpose of the events “is to gather, share, inspire and mobilize women to become more involved in their Catholic faith as missionary disciples of Christ,” according to Mary Pedersen, director of the Archdiocesan Office of Adult Faith Formation.
“We really need to connect women, and we want to hear from them,” she said. “Bring a friend. We’re going to have a good time.”
Organizers want participants to share their “needs, desires and ideas for women’s ministries.”
The meetings are co-sponsored by the Office of Adult Faith Formation, Catechetical Services and the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (ACCW). The ACCW will be providing food for each gathering, which will take place from 6:30-8 p.m. at various venues.
“They (the venues) were chosen for their location or meeting space,” said Pedersen. “We tried to get one in each major area (of the archdiocese).”
The schedule of events is as follows:
- Sept. 14, St. Henry, Marshalltown
- Sept. 19, St. Patrick, Cedar Falls
- Sept. 21, St. Joseph, Mason City
- Oct. 3, St. Joseph, Marion
- Oct. 5, St. Benedict, Decorah
- Oct. 9, Resurrection, Dubuque
- Oct. 10, St. Mary, Manchester
The “Beauty Alive” initiative grew out of the first ever Archdiocesan Women’s Conference, held Feb. 4 in Cedar Rapids. About 600 women attended. One of the recommendations to come out of the conference was that small groups of women should meet and share ideas on a regular basis.
Pedersen emphasized that the theme of the upcoming meetings, “Beauty Alive,” applies to the beauty of women’s spiritual lives in Christ, and her hope is that the gatherings will lead to action:
“To me, beauty is as beauty does,” she said.
As part of the gatherings, organizers will be raffling off tickets to the next Archdiocesan Women’s Conference, which is scheduled for Jan. 27, 2018, at the Doubletree Hotel in Cedar Rapids. Thanks to a donation from Theisen’s, the second annual conference will be able to accommodate more people than the first, according to Pedersen.
If you are interested in attending the “Beauty Alive” gatherings, you can RSVP at www.DBQArch.org/Events. Reservations are requested, but not required. All are welcome.
