VERO BEACH | Members of the Council of Catholic Women lit up the hall at St. Helen Parish on Oct. 19 with their spirituality, friendship and joy. The occasion was the first Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Northern Deanery meeting for 2024-25, with the theme of “Be the Light.”
The day began with Mass celebrated by Father Frank D’Amato, St. Helen’s parochial vicar and council spiritual advisor, followed by lunch.
Ellen Elia, Northern Deanery president, asked, “How can I be the light when my light within is dimming each day?” She answered her own question, advising members to “Pray to our light … Jesus Christ” and ask him to “reignite your light” to serve and love others.
Tammy Farr, current National Council of Catholic Women education chair, and Julie Ann Farrell, assistant education chair for the national council, spoke about the national council’s Tree of Life to the council women.
“On March 4,1920, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops decided they needed a strong foundation that would lead in spirituality, leadership and service in their communities,” Farr said.
They looked to Catholic women, and “they got the job done,” she said. The bishops created the National Council of Catholic Women, and the bishops planted the seeds” of the NCCW Tree of Life. A video showing Bishop William Wack of Pensacola-Tallahassee giving encouragement to the council women was played.
“As we all know, trees don’t grow over night,” Farr said. “We must always be gardening and grooming our Tree of Life to continue our membership growth.” They do this, she said, by “sharing our stories of NCCW with every woman we meet.”
Some CCW women “gardeners” spoke about their special stories. “This group of wonderful warm-hearted women have shown me what it means to be part of a very special faith family, and I enjoyed being in partnership with them helping our community and supporting each other,” said Judy Narducci, St. Sebastian council member.
“Let your light shine in the same way your light shines before others,” Farrell said. “They may see your good deeds, but they are going to glorify your Father in heaven, so say ‘yes,’ and don’t be afraid.”
Farr encouraged the council women to “chat up CCW, be proud, be strong and remember to use Mary’s ‘yes’ whenever you can.” She added, “Our tree is standing strong because the roots have stayed in place, thanks to our supportive bishops, priests and deacons.”
The trunk of the tree represents faith, passion for the Eucharist, love for Jesus and Mary, love for one another, diversity and inclusiveness, kindness, gentleness and sisterhood, they said.
Katie Roddy spoke about the Northern Deanery’s Wreaths for Veterans service project, which decorates the graves of military vets. “If every single dues-paying member from last year buys one wreath, we would have purchased over 600 wreaths with the ‘buy two, get one free,’ and we would have almost met the need of Riverview Memorial Cemetery.”
For more information on Wreaths for Veterans, contact Riverview Memorial Park directly or email Katie at Katieroddy.ccw@gmail.com. To learn more about the Council of Catholic Women, visit https://pbdccw.org.
