CONTENTS PRESIDENT’S CORNER

During this Lenten Season, it certainly has been a time to reflect on our own lives and our lives in council. Do you view your activities in the Council of Catholic Women as, the “Agony in the Garden,” the “Scouring at the Pillar” or “Carrying a Cross?” We as council sister do many things and sometimes it may feel like there is no end to the charitable works we do …. Well ladies, there isn’t! But just like Easter is the joy that follows Lent,

certainly the many things that we do accomplish should be of great joy to us. I still continue to be amazed of how much our council sisters accom-plish all over the state. We truly live the “Works of Mercy” in the various projects that we do here in our parishes, our communities and abroad. The end of our council year is fast approaching and I know many of you are preparing for your diocesan conventions, and I hope to see some of you this year at your conventions, but before that I hope to see as many of you as possible in Tallahassee for our “Catholic Days at the Capitol.” We in Flor-ida are very fortunate that our Province of Miami includes the whole state of Florida. It allows us to come together in unity as Catholic women of Flor-ida to lobby our legislatures and also to come together to raise money for the homeless once a year through our “Hugs for the Homeless” project. God is truly alive in Florida and He works through us, His daughters. We are “Women of Faith, Sharing His Love.”

Rosi Schuhmacher, FCCW President/Province Director

President’s Corner

Important Dates

Prayer to Our Lady of Good Counsel

FCCW Spiritual Advisor

FCCW Guest Spiritual Advisor

Miami A/DCCW

Orlando DCCW

Pensacola-Tallahassee DCCW

St. Augustine DCCW

St. Petersburg DCCW

Editor’s Comments

Palm Beach DCCW

Venice DCCW

FCCW Conference Fundraiser

A Communication By and For the FCCW/Province of Miami Council of Catholic Women

April 2014 http://home.catholicweb.com/flaccw VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3

The Good News

NCCW MISSION STATEMENT

The National Council of Catholic Women acts through its members to support, empower and educate all Catholic women in spirituality, leadership and service. NCCW programs respond with Gospel values to the needs of the

Church and society in the modern world.

IMPORTANT DATES - Mark Your Calendar

NCCW Convention Sept. 24-27 Grand Rapids, MI

FCCW Conference October 23-26 at Westin Hotel, Ft. Lauderdale

Prayer To Our Lady Of Good Counsel

God of heavenly wisdom, you have given us Mary, Mother of

Jesus, to be our guide and counselor.

Grant that we may always seek her motherly help in this life

and so enjoy her blessed presence in the life to come.

O Mother of Good Counsel, patroness of the National Council of

Catholic Women, intercede for us, that we may be wise, coura-

geous, and loving leaders of the Church.

Help us, dear Mother, to know the mind of Jesus, your Son. May the Holy Spirit

fill us with a reverence for God’s Creation and compassion for all God’s children.

May our labors of love on earth enhance the reign of God; and may God’s gifts of

faith and living hope prepare us for the fullness of the world to come.

Amen

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FCCW SPIRITUAL ADVISOR

My Dear sisters in Christ:

In 1467, on the 25 of April, during celebrations for the feast of San Marco in Genazzano, Italy, a cloud was seen covering a 5th

century church dedicated to Our Lady of Good Counsel. Shortly

after the cloud lifted, the townsfolk, summoned by the church

bells, discovered a delicate fresco of Our Lady and the Child Je-

sus, it was painted upon a very thin piece of unsupported plaster,

and floated in a small niche of the church.

The 46th annual Orlando Diocesan Council of Catholic Women

Convention (as may some of the other A/DCCWs) coincides this

year with the feast, in honor of Our Lady of Good Counsel. Our

Blessed Mother has always been a source of inspiration to our organization! Her humility

and example motivate all of our members to seek always God's wisdom, by embracing the

example of Mary our Mother. Mary's life serves as a valuable gift for us to embrace the

Good Counsel she bore in her womb, Jesus her son. He is our light and source of all wis-

dom! May Our Lady of Good Counsel continue to take us by the hand, as she leads us to

her Son. May we put into practice what she motivated the servants at the wedding feast to

embrace: "Do whatever He tells you."

It is my prayer that all members of CCW throughout the country may turn to Our

Blessed Mother, as she continues to intercede for us. Our Lady of Good Counsel, pray for

us!

By Fr. Miguel González, FCCW Spiritual Advisor

“We Are The Champions”

Having sat on the FCCW Board for a number of years, I have

heard mountains of information about different fund raisers, pro-

jects and plans. But the one question that always seems to be

looming over our heads is: “How do we get new members and keep

them?” As with every organization this is not a new concern!

So we have been discussing things like our Mission and Purpose,

Image to the general population, attitudes and concerns, strengths

and weaknesses, and a vast array of other topics. Through partici-

pation in these group discussions myself, then sitting back and listening to the varied re-

sults, it came to me that one of the big strengths we possess and only seem to mention is

EMPOWERMENT. Yes, we have spoken it many times, but have we used it?

The power and strength we possess does not only come from mentoring others for roles

in various offices, but also by showing other women of faith how confidence can do amaz-

ing things when combined with the many talents God has given us to use. And CCW is the

group that helps support and nurture confidence in its membership! If we can but exude

joy and confidence in all we do, then we will not have to worry so much about who is wait-

ing in the wings to follow in our footsteps because the numbers will be great.

So share all the wonderful things we do with others besides the FCCW Board Member

and let them know the joy it brings you to finally be able to help God by being His hands!

Attract and empower other women like yourselves by example!

Fr. Rick Dawson, Pensacola-Tallahassee DCCW Spiritual Advisor

FCCW GUEST SPIRITUAL ADVISOR

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By Josephine Gilbert, Miami A/DCCW President

MIAMI A/DCCW

It was a busy year. I have traveled around our Diocese to Deanery

and affiliation meetings, membership drives, lasagna dinners, anni-

versary celebrations, installing officers and much more. I have been

welcomed with hugs and made to feel at home. I have also attended

Catholic Days at the Capitol. It was an opportunity to meet the people

that make our laws. As always the Red Mass was an inspiration.

It has been my privilege to represent the Orlando Diocese and the

FCCW at the National Convention in Fort Lauderdale. It was very well

attended with many inspirational and formative speakers.

Our convention committee has been working hard to have a wonderful weekend for our

ladies. Our Lake Yale Leadership Symposium is July 26-27. I extend a invitation to all

women. It will be informative and fun.

The work that the CCW women do for Church and Community is awesome.

By Kathy Kirchon, Orlando DCCW President

ORLANDO DCCW

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We have been preparing for the upcoming spring convention along

with all of the things we need to do while waiting for better weather. I

had not realized how much work it takes for a three day convention un-

til actually being responsible for one. I truly admire all the ladies that

have participated at every level that have done it in the past and are

willing to assist with future ones.

We began the “We are One” campaign and were happy to hear that

we did not have to end it at the end of February as it will be ongoing.

As we all took note that it was so easy to collect $1.00 from everyone

in the room at our FCCW Board meeting. Just show up with one dollar and people will

come forth with another. Who wants to be outdone? With that attitude and that of oth-

ers, we will get NCCW out of the whole and definitely in the black in no time. From com-

ments we have heard we are helping to do just that.

We were happy to see all of you at Catholic Days at the Capitol in March to speak with

our legislators and talk of more of what is happening at each Diocese. It is always great

to see the “Red Sea” of red in the pews at the Red Mass. When attending retreat days be

sure to mention these things along with the fact of NCCW reducing the cost of individual

membership.

Hugs for Homeless goal was $50k this year as we came close last year and we all know

that the number of families with young children are close in our hearts. We hope all gave

a ‘Hug’

I would like to invite each of you to our spring convention in May 8 -10 2014. The

theme of the convention will be “Jesus Christ – The Source of Our Hope”.

Peggy Clark, Pensacola-Tallahassee DCCW President

On behalf of Bishop Felipe Estévez, we invited all women to the 2014

Eucharistic Congress held in Jacksonville, Florida on March 28th and 29th,

2014. The theme this year was "In Him We Are One" with a focus on

"Following Christ!" There were five tracks available: A general track

(English Speaking), A Spanish track, a young adult track, a teen track and

a children’s track.

The speakers included: His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Father Bill

Casey, Father Simeon Leiva, Ike Ndolo, Sister Briege McKenna, O.S.C.,

Reverend Kevin Scallon, C.M, and Father Leo Patalinghug.

You can find out more information about the Eucharistic Congress, including a video of last

year’s incredibly moving Stations of the Cross, at the website http://

www.floridaeucharist.org/

Robin Conley, St. Augustine DCCW President

PENSACOLA-TALLAHASSEE DCCW

ST. AUGUSTINE DCCW

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In the St, Petersburg Diocesan we have a lot of Martha's and Mary's. Our ladies work very

hard in their parishes and in their communities. Some of our programs are “Eckerd Rais-

ing Hope” which serves thousands of children in the foster care system, and which through

its “Rooms of Hope” provide clothing, hygiene items, school supplies etc. to children with

over whelming needs. We have parishes that make prayer blankets and shawls for people

in hospitals and also for our members who are sick. We have one parish that collects

money for a program call “Smile Train”. This money goes to help parents who other wise

could not afford to pay for their child's surgery to repair their cleft palate.

Our District Presidents are working hard on increasing members in their own affiliations

and than extending a personal invitation to the non affiliated churches to join council.

We have traveled and are traveling a new path with Our Blessed Mother, who is the link

between Heaven and Earth. May we always “hitch our plans” to that link and may our Dis-

tricts continue to be blessed and blossom in its efforts.

May the holy spirit inspire us and may Our Lady of Good Counsel help us,

Patricia Hanson, St. Petersburg DCCW President

ST. PETERSBURG DCCW

EDITOR’S COMMENTS

All articles pertinent to the seven A/DCCWs of the Province of Miami, Florida Council of

Catholic Women should be sent to the attention of Gwen Allen, FCCW The Good News E-

Newsletter Editor. Articles should be in Microsoft Word or Publisher format and sent via

email to Gwen Allen, gwenallen@cfl.rr.com.

The Good News is published as often as is needed by the FCCW President and Board of

Directors and will be sent via email to A/DCCW Presidents to disperse to their deanery,

district or subdivision members. The newsletter will also be linked to the FCCW website.

Thank you for your help in getting “The Good News” out to all Council of Catholic Wom-

en members, Spiritual Advisors and other interested parties.

By Gwen Allen, “The Good News” Editor

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This Diocesan President, had given at the start of her term a charge to

the three Deanery Presidents, and that was to identify and investigate the

unaffiliated parishes in her respective deanery, seek contact with the pas-

tor and/or women leaders and begin efforts to have them join CCW

whether by dialogue, letter or face to face meetings. Each Deanery presi-

dent was given a copy of the NCCW resource on Membership easily down-

loadable from the NCCW website under Leadership tools and also easily

adaptable for your individual diocese.

For those of you unaware, this document is mainly a power point

presentation but can be made into a booklet form for an easy “show and

tell” marketing presentation. We will continue to maintain these efforts and hope to gain

some beneficial ideas and “take- away” projects from my fellow diocesan presidents,

Spiritual advisors , and brain storming sessions here.

I feel my diocese has been particularly shaken because of the proximity of the loss of

leadership in 2013. Many affiliation presidents have written the National officers with their

concerns and just how concerned our women are and identifying a need we must address

and not ignore. This president is assured by the National office of their support and is

grounded in her own faith that we will survive.

Many of the above mentioned members will continue their support this year thru partic-

ipation in Hugs for the Homeless, Seminarian Projects, Vocation Awareness, Prison Minis-

try, Right to Life Walks, Immigration Reform, migrant worker t shirt campaigns, soup

kitchens, helping hands knitting groups, prayer shawl ministries and hours in anti-abortion

crusades to name a few! Because they know the harvest is plenty, but the laborers are

few!

Dolores Hughes, Palm Beach DCCW President

Greetings from all our Sisters in the Venice Council and from our

Spiritual Advisor, Fr. Joe Connolly, TOR. Visiting the affiliates had been

received very well by the Presidents and Deanery directors since many

questions had been answered right on their own parishes. One deanery

is visiting the parishes that are not affiliated in their area and talking to

the priests. Our next move will be approaching the priests and Presi-

dents of the affiliated parishes in a friendly meeting in their own place

and in which the Deanery Director will be a guest.

Our Diocesan One Day Convention will be on the Feast of Our Lady

of Good Counsel. Several meetings and preparations had been done.

Four speakers, the Bishop’s Mass and several activities are already in

place. A non affiliated parish is the host church for the convention.

This had been possible due to VDCCW Independent members and a very supportive Pastor

at Our Lady of Grace, Avon Park. We are making a reality the saying that “if you don’t

come to the mountain, the mountain will go to you.”

The Mini Workshops at the VDCCW Board meetings are working since the Presidents of

the affiliations are signing for it. At our next one, the Winter Board meeting, Ellen Bach-

man will present one for the officers and I will be conducting a President to President talk.

Our summer workshop is schedule for June 28th.

We strongly believe that the Holy Spirit is working in marvelous ways to unified, reach

out in mysterious ways and inspires to serve with Joy under one big service organization,

the Venice Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (VDCCW).

Iris Gomez, Venice DCCW President

PALM BEACH DCCW

VENICE DCCW

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FUNDRAISING

2014 FCCW Conference

Fundraiser

Gently used & new

Jewelry sale Please bring your donations

to the FCCW Board Meetings

or to the Conference

Start saving now!

We can also use jewelry gift boxes, small gift bags,

& Tissue paper for packaging

For information contact:

Barbara Asfendis, FCCW Fundraising

galagirlb@aol.com