By Sallie Bachar
Catholic Herald correspondent

SDCCW holds annual convention

WOODRUFF -- Under their banner, "Jubilee Women: Re-creating a Circle of Love," the Superior Diocesan Council of Catholic Women held its 51st annual convention at Our Lady Queen of the Universe Church on June 5th. Over 200 members and their guests, along with Bishop Raphael M. Fliss and several area clergy, were in attendance.

The keynote speaker was Arthur Zannoni, a freelance author, teacher and theologian from Roseville, Minn., who also gives workshops in Biblical studies and Christian-Jewish relations. His address, "The Challenge of Jesus: The Call to Discipleship" was insightful and sprinkled with humorous anecdotes.

Zannoni highlighted four key points in being a disciple of Christ

Citing examples from Scripture, he pointed out that God has called and continues to call his people regardless of their shortcomings and sins.

The response to being called is the quest where the disciple searches for God. Sometimes, he stated, that quest continues beyond death as Mary Magdalene continued her search for Jesus in the garden after his death and burial.

The Sacrament of Baptism calls us to the third element of discipleship, embracing the cross, said Zannoni. The temptation, he added, is to lighten our crosses as we go through life.

The fourth and final point in Zannoni's talk was about making a choice. "We cannot be lukewarm," he said. We either wash our hands of Christ as Pilate did or we wear the towel that Jesus wrapped around him as he washed the feet of his apostles at the last supper. He left his audience with the question, "Whose basin and whose towel will you accept - Pilate's or Jesus'?"

Following Zannoni's presentation, Bishop Fliss concelebrated Mass with the other clergy that were present. At this time he presented the Pax Christi Award to Betty Reichert of Whittlesey.

During the afternoon session Fr. Jerry Hagen, pastor of Our Lady of the North Parish in Phillips, gave a short presentation on his recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land. "It was not only a journey of history and geography but also one of faith and spirituality," he said. "The Scriptures speak in a whole new and powerful way in the Holy Land."

SDCCW scholarships

Every year the SDCCW presents a $500 Continuing Education Scholarship to two deserving young women. This year's recipients are Britt E. Olson, daughter of Linda and Thomas Olson of Phillips and Laura Maar, daughter of Diane and John Maar of Medford.

Olson is continuing her degree in nursing at UW-Oshkosh and Maar, who will receive a bachelor of science in Pre-Med at UW-Green Bay, has been accepted at the school of Osteopathic Medicine at Iowa University.

Installation of new officer

One new officer was elected to the diocesan women's council. Mary Ann Broadbeck of St. John Parish in Sheldon replaces outgoing treasurer, Getel Matczak. After Fliss administered the oath of office, Broadbeck, who is new to her parish and the diocese, expressed her gratitude for being accepted so readily into the area and chosen as treasurer.

Closing remarks

Fliss, referring to the convention's banner in his closing remarks, acknowledged that "we are a Jubilee diocese and you are Jubilee women." He said that in planning for the past year 2000 he did not feel the laity was as involved as it should have been.

With that in mind and looking ahead to the future, he told the women, "We recognize your call to holiness and we want you to participate in and help us plan for that future."

A new document entitled "Springtime of Christianity" will be shared in the coming months with all the parishes and the people of the diocese, he said, and they will be gathering together on all levels to plan their future.

"The secret word," he remarked, "is collaboration." "We will cooperate and collaborate to carry on the mission of Christ and build the kingdom among us."

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2001