Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2008 / Women's conference highlights service, solidarity
Women's conference highlights service, solidarity
by Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published April 18, 2008
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Kristen Lukowski | The Michigan Catholic
Cardinal Adam Maida was principal celebrant at the Mass that was a part of the Council of Catholic Women's conference last week. |
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Kristen Lukowski | The Michigan Catholic
Lillian Kret, a member of St. Cyprian Parish, Riverview, looks over Operation Layette items with Marge Caram, who chairs the organization's National Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak chapter. |
Detroit — Michael Klatt was in Honduras when, one day, he came upon a young girl and her brother poking around a dumping ground, sifting through the trash instead of learning in the classroom.
"What is my responsibility to God's creation?" he said to himself, he remembered.
He knew that we all have a responsibility to mountains and the air, but "our most important resource, the human resource — this little girl, this little boy — what's my responsibility to them?" he asked himself.
Klatt, a Catholic Relief Services Midwest volunteer who'd just returned from a year and a half in Central America, was one of the speakers at last week's Council of Catholic Women conference, the theme of which was Bringing Light to our Global Society. At that day's Mass, Cardinal Adam Maida said we all know how important it is for us to have light.
"So just as we need the sun and the solar energy, as well as electricity, above all we need the light of faith, the light of the Holy Spirit, the light that shines and shows us the way on life's journey, the light that only God can give," he said during his homily. "Christ is the light that guides us and directs us on our way."
The CCW's biennial conference drew about 200 women to Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit. The day included presentations from Catholic Relief Services and Freedom House, and a sale of Work of Human Hands products, made by people in developing nations for a fair wage.
Laura Johnson, program/advocacy officer with CRS Midwest in Chicago, told the women gathered about worldwide poverty statistics, including how half the world's population lives on $2 a day, with 1 billion living on $1 a day.
Johnson explained how money raised through CRS is used, such as for dietary staples, programs for orphans, and malaria nets. "Our mission is to alleviate human suffering around the world, wherever and whenever we can," she said.
She said even small donations make a difference, quoting an African proverb: "Together spiderwebs can tie up a lion." The ubiquitous Operation Rice Bowls that collect change during Lent raised $100 million last year, she said.
In addition to telling the story about the children in the dumping ground, Klatt also talked about the differences between urban and rural poverty in Honduras, and how the United Nations has ranked Honduras in the top 10 for most corrupt governments. Young people there are addicted to glue, he said, and girls as young as 11 are already forced into the sex trade.
Joyce Francois, the archdiocesan director of youth ministry, shared with the attendees her trip to Ecuador last year, visiting CRS ministries through the Call to Witness program. Among the ministries at work she was able to see include the beginnings of a new church building — she helped lay the cement floor — and the painting of a school building.
She was able to use her experience to put together a training session for youth ministers, which 50 youth ministers attended, she said. And, she pointed out, if each of those youth ministers reaches out to their teens, and those teens reach out to their friends, that could reach potentially hundreds of people.
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Kristen Lukowski | The Michigan Catholic
Michael Klatt shared with attendees his experience as a Catholic Relief Services volunteer in Honduras. |
"You can only imagine what the possibilities are," she said.
The women attended Mass before lunch, principal celebrant of which was Cardinal Maida, with concelebrants including Fr. Steven Koehler, CCW's moderator. Cardinal Maida thanked the women several times during Mass, saying they were witnesses to other groups in the archdiocese. CCW's new officers were installed after communion.
Bernice Czajkowski, of Sacred Heart Parish, Dearborn, said she enjoyed hearing about the CRS programs, especially since it was an example of older people, not just students, going on service trips. "You really need help all over the world," she said.
Patricia Coughlin, of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Livonia, said she'd be taking her experience at the conference to her parish because there isn't a CCW chapter there. She'd enjoyed everything about the morning, including the chance to buy items that give people in developing nations a fair wage.
"I think it's great," she said of the day. "I'm glad I took a day off."
RoseAnne Ushman, also of Sacred Heart Parish, enjoyed both Mass with the cardinal and how the presentations were an example of helping others. "I think we need to do charity at home, and if resources give us extra then go out to the world," she said.
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