MADISON — The Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (MDCCW) invites women of the diocese to attend the 69th annual gathering on Tuesday, June 18, at St. James Church, 1204 St. James Ct., Madison, with an optional social event the evening before for men and women.
The theme for the conference is “The Eucharist — God’s Gift of Unending Love.”
The gathering is a month prior to the National Eucharistic Congress which has the mission to renew the Church by enkindling a living relationship with Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.
The planners for the Madison event want to help participants “understand more about the Eucharist so that we can become more enlightened disciples of the Church.”
MDCCW President Linda Ripp, Martinsville, is grateful for the central location of the gathering at St. James.
Her tenure as president ends at this conference.
Elected two years ago, she chose “Jesus is the Light of the World; May We Become a Light of Hope” for her theme.
To reinforce her theme, she created and wrote a monthly newsletter, “President’s Pen News,” to connect women throughout the Diocese of Madison.
Carol Rogers, Fennimore, will be installed as the president following the Mass.
Gathering speakers
Ripp said, “Our annual MDCCW conference promises to be a full schedule of enlightening speakers” including Bishop J. Donald Hying of Madison as the morning speaker and Anne Auger, director of evangelization for St. Thérèse of Lisieux Pastorate (Johnson Creek, Lake Mills, Sullivan, and Watertown) in the afternoon.
The day will also include Mass, prayer, lunch, a silent auction, and networking opportunities.
Bishop Hying will speak about the Eucharist.
In his Catholic Herald column from September 20 of last year, he wrote, “The Eucharist is the holy means by which our Lord Jesus Christ lives and acts in the world, abiding within each of us. When we embrace a Eucharistic life, grounded in Christ, acting as He does in this sacrament, we become extensions of Him to others.”
Auger, a wife and mother of six children, will also talk about the Eucharist with her presentation: “Is the Eucharist Really God?”
Participants are encouraged to invite their parish priests to concelebrate Mass with the bishop; Fr. Drew Olson, parochial administrator of Our Lady of Guadalupe Pastorate; and Msgr. Duane Moellenberndt, MDCCW spiritual advisor.
“Invite your priests to come for the entire day and learn what MDCCW is all about and what we do,” said Convention Co-chair Coreen Marklein, Baraboo.
New this year
Earlier MDCCW annual gatherings were called conventions, scheduled for two days and included a banquet.
While not officially part of the gathering, the MDCCW in cooperation with the Madison Catholic Woman’s Club is offering an informal social/faith-sharing event this year on the evening before the event.
Attendees are asked to bring a favorite prayer or book to share as they sample wine and cheese and have a light supper.
Carlos Caamal, captain of Madison Trader Joe’s, will talk about several varieties of wine and cheese and tell the story of Trader Joe’s, a national chain of neighborhood grocery stores with a unique approach to “offering the best values to the customers by cutting out the middleman”.
Supporting Babies & Beyond of WI
Participants are asked to bring donations to be given to Babies & Beyond of WI.
Its sharing center offers free baby items for newborns and young children (birth to four years) of families in need of support.
Families can “shop” for free once a month. All items are donated. Monetary donations are accepted.
For more information, go to babiesandbeyondwi.org
Gathering site
St. James is part of Our Lady of Guadalupe Pastorate which includes St. James, St. Joseph, Holy Redeemer, and St. Patrick Churches and St. James School.
The church and school are located at 1204 St. James Ct., Madison, near Meriter Hospital and the University of Wisconsin campus, just south of Regent St, off Randall Ave. and S. Brooks St.
Lodging and registration information
The MDCCW secured a group rate of $98 for either a double or single at the Clarion Suites at the Alliant Energy Center, 2110 Rimrock Rd., Madison.
Call 608-284-1234 for more information.
Located only 2.9 miles from St. James, complimentary parking, breakfast, and shuttle are included.
When reserving a room, please note it is for the Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.
The registration fee for Tuesday is $45 with a discounted fee of $35 for first-time attendees.
The registration fee must accompany the registration form and is not refundable but is transferable.
The Monday evening social event is $20 and can be signed up for on the registration form as well which is on the MDCCW website mdccw.com
You can mail your registration to Patricia Spragg, 884 Iroquois Cir., Baraboo, WI 53913.
For more information, contact Jane Grinde at 608-513-7565 or [email protected]