Day of spirituality for women set for Ladysmith
By A.M. Kelley
Catholic Herald
SUPERIOR -- Mother and daughter Joan and Kelly McGrath will be the keynote speakers at a workshop on March 25 in Ladysmith: "Empowering the Vocation of Woman, Day of Spirituality for Women."
This is the first time the pair have combined their speaking talents.
"We've wanted to do something together for a long time," Joan McGrath said. "We're both seasoned speakers in different areas but this is new for us. We are going forth in faith, hope and prayer."
The title of their talk, "I'm Not My Mother, I'm Not My Daughter," draws on the many roles the two have experienced: mother, daughter, wife, widow, divorcee and grandmother.
Joan McGrath, 66, lives in White Bear Lake, Minn. She was widowed in 2001 after 39 years of marriage. Besides losing her husband, her mother also passed away last year.
She has two daughters, a son and four grandchildren. Kelly McGrath, 38, lives in West St. Paul, Minn., and is divorced with no children.
"These things bring us to different places in our lives," Joan McGrath said. "We are works in progress and we hope we have a message women will connect with."
The elder McGrath is the newly appointed National Council of Catholic Women representative to World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations (WUCWO). The organization's 100 representatives come from five continents and meet every four years to work on problems common to women throughout the world. In 2002 they met in Rome and this June the United States will host the women for the first time. McGrath is also a past president of the National Council of Catholic Women.
Kelly McGrath has a background in mission work and is also a founding member of Fiat Ministries, a program for younger church women in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area.
"We hope we will bring a good message to the ladies in Ladysmith," Joan McGrath said.
Besides the McGrath's talk, Bishop Raphael Fliss will speak and there will be 10 afternoon sessions and participants will have the opportunity to choose two to attend.
These include:
* "Heroines in Today's World" by Sr, Marla Lang, FSPA
* "Dignity in Fashion" by Chris Newkirk
* "Health as Empowering" by Sr. Jeanne Weist, OP
* "Discovering the Attitude of Compassion" by Susan Adam
* "Claiming Our Gifts" by Helene Machac
* "Discovering and Owning Our Own Call: Mary, Joseph, Rosa and the Rest of Us" by Mary Jo Holzhaeuser
* "In the Image of God" by Deacon Michael Cullen
* "Discovering and Owning Our Own Spirituality" by Fr. Frank Folino, OFM
* "Introduction to the Theology of the Body" by Tricia Duhaime.
Lunch will be served and a freewill offering will be accepted for the day. To register and for more information call Sr. Jovita Winkel, CSA, 715-532-5694, or e-mail winkees@centurytel.net.
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2006