Welcome to the October Council Connect | | Know Him, Love Him and Serve Him! | | | | |
LDCCW PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Fall Full Board Meeting – September 19, 2026, Valerie Able, LDCCW President
Since May, your officers and commission chairs have been actively learning, planning, and carrying out the many responsibilities entrusted to us in our leadership roles.
Website & Communications
In May, we met with Fr. Coulter to review updates to the LDCCW website. If you haven’t visited recently,
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you’ll notice a refreshed design, our revised Mission Statement, and ongoing updates to our forms and resources.
Leadership Manual Review
A committee began reviewing the Leadership Manual in June. Kathy Rowell, Donna Havlat, Judy Weston, and I have spent more than 14 hours together on Zoom—plus many additional hours individually—carefully reading, discerning, and praying about the revisions needed to strengthen this important resource.
Executive Board Gathering
The Executive Board and Commission Chairs met in York at Chances R for fellowship and a collaborative discussion of our goals for the upcoming term. It was a joyful time of connection, accompanied by a delicious lunch.
Province Meeting & Newly Ordained Priests
In July, Teresa Koch and I met with the newly ordained priests, presented their blessed palls, and shared information about the LDCCW. Ahead of the Province Meeting in Grand Island, the Finance Committee worked diligently to prepare the 2026–2028 budget. The following day, we attended the Province Meeting hosted by the Archdiocese of Omaha. Next year, the Lincoln Diocese will host, which includes planning the Mass, selecting a speaker, and arranging lunch. This meeting is always held on the third Monday of July.
Focus on the Domestic Church Project
This summer, we ordered materials for our first Focus on the Domestic Church project. With the help of St. Clara’s Altar Society, we assembled 35 packets centered on the foundation of family life—marriage. Couples preparing for marriage through Engaged Encounter will receive a Family Fully Alive: Building the Domestic Church booklet, a congratulatory card, and a Holy Family medal from the LDCCW. Engaged Encounters occur about 12 times a year at the Good Counsel Retreat House in Waverly, with roughly 25 couples attending each session. I will be reaching out to PCCWs and Deaneries for help assembling future packets.
NCCW Convention
At the end of August, seven of us attended the NCCW Convention in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This year’s theme, “Speak, Lord, Your Servant is Listening,” set a beautiful tone for the gathering. Keynote speaker Mary Lenaburg inspired us deeply with her lived faith, encouraging us to notice and accompany the people God places right in front of us.
Faith Enrichment Boxes
One new NCCW service project that caught my attention was the Faith Enrichment Boxes. Parishes are encouraged to identify individuals who would benefit from a box filled with items to support and enrich their spiritual lives. Examples included First Communion, Confirmation, and Grief Ministry boxes. Our diocese is already ahead in this area—we provide Baptism materials (Parent Educator book, Bishop‑signed holy card, and medal) and Engaged Encounter bags. While these items are not boxed, parishes are welcome to package them in whatever way best serves their community.
As we continue focusing on the domestic church, I invite you to consider additional ways we can bring Christ into the homes of families across our diocese. One idea is a Home Blessing Box. More details and suggestions are included in your deanery packets. Please share any new or creative ideas your PCCW develops.
Closing
The greatest blessing of attending the NCCW Convention is being surrounded by women who share our faith, our commitment to service, and our desire to contribute to Christ’s mission. It reminds us that while our work is local, we are part of something much larger.
Thank you for your dedication and your continued service.
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Women from across the Lincoln Diocese gathered for a day of faith sharing and spiritual enrichment at Sacred Heart Church Hall in Crete, Nebraska.
Thank you to everyone who attended! Our next Spiritual Gathering & Meeting will be on January 15 & 16, 2027, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House in Waverly.
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INSPIRING SPEAKERS!
Sr. Mary Gabriel – Spoke to us about the School Sisters of Christ the King and how they support the families in our Diocese.
Ruth O’Gara gave a beautiful talk on the Schoenstatt Shrine. Did you know that the word, “Schoenstatt” means beautiful place?
Rachael Tvrdy, Director of Family Life & Discipleship for the Lincoln Diocese. Explained why the Domestic Church is so important to the well-being of society.
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HALOS
The Wahoo Deanery is the first to update their information for the LDCCW Website! I encourage each deanery to send in updated information before the end of December.
Pictures and information can be sent to ldccwpresident@gmail.com
St. Wenceslaus, Wahoo in the Wahoo Deanery
PCCW Activities
• Monthly Coffee & Rolls to encourage solidarity among parishioners
• Sell desserts at the Knights of Columbus Lenten Fish Frys
• Hold quarterly meetings for all members
• Hold the Mission Bake Sale each December – Funds are donated St. Gianna’s Program for Women and Bishop Neumann Campus Ministry for student mission trips
• Serve brunch for the Confirmation candidates and their parents during their annual retreat
• Organize and serve dinners to the priests before Penance Services at Lent & Advent and lunch to the bishop and priests following confirmation
• Give gifts to:
o Women who are received into the Catholic Church
o Newly registered women of the parish
o Our priests on their anniversary of ordination
o Our Seminarians at the beginning of the school year
o Our Marian Sisters on their Feast Day
o Our Marian Sisters at Christmas
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Divine Mercy
Bonnie Damrow
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Saint Maria Faustina
Aug 25, 1905 - Oct 5, 1938
"The great apostle of Divine Mercy "
"The secretary of Divine Mercy"
"The first saint of the new millennium " canonized on Apr 30, 2000.
Today we continue to rely on St Faustina as a constant reminder of the message to trust in Jesus' endless mercy and to live life mercifully toward others. We also turn to her in prayer and request her intercession to our merciful Savior on our behalf:
Saint Faustina, you told us that your mission would continue after your death and that you would not forget us (Diary 281, 1582). Our Lord also granted you a privilege, telling you to distribute graces as you will, to whom you will and when you will (31). Relying on this, I ask your intercession for the graces I need, especially (mention your special intentions). Help me, above all, to trust in Jesus as you did and thus to glorify His mercy every moment of my life. Amen.
The Divine Mercy Message and Devotion, Fr. Seraphim Michalenko, MIC with Vinny Fyynn and Robery A. Stackpole, STD
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Service Commission
Members of the Executive Board met at Chances-R in York, Nebraska, to plan for President Val's upcoming term. A significant portion of our discussion focused on ways to assist families in need through CSS. Ideas included encouraging each PCCW to provide financial support and/or contact CSS for a list of donation items needed.
At the local level, PPCWs are encouraged to support community food drives. Members are also invited to contact their nearest Outreach Center to obtain a list of needed bedding and toiletry supplies.
Most importantly, we are called to provide both spiritual and emotional support to those in need.
We continue to encourage LDCCW members to serve others through St. Thérèse of Lisieux's "Little Way," remembering that even the smallest acts of kindness are expressions of God's love.
During our review of the annual Diaper Drive, the question was raised regarding a need for adult diapers. At this time, several community resources are already available to meet that need, and a list of those resources was provided.
As our annual Diaper Drive begins in October and November, we anticipate surpassing one million diapers donated since the program's inception.
Information regarding the Boxes of Joy campaign will be shared at the Fall Board Meeting.
Additionally, Trudy is developing outreach information and resources for individuals experiencing anxiety and seeking emotional and professional support services.
Commission Co-Chairs
Julie Rosenbaum & Trish Seidl
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Spirituality Commission
According to the LDCCW resource manual, the aim of the Spirituality Commission is to create a community that is educated and dynamic in their spiritual lives. Catholic women are called to discipleship and holiness, to respond with personal witness and service to the Church and to the world. The commission reinforces our Catholic faith and assists in meaningful work with other faiths. It offers a means to enhance public and private prayer, promotes sound liturgical practice that is sensitive to cultural diversity of the Church and provides resources for spiritual nourishment and development of the faith community.
As we begin the new two-year term for President Val Able, we plan to incorporate her theme, “Know Him, Love Him, and Serve Him” into our spiritual programs. President Able hopes to lead women closer to Christ through the Counsel, to support families as part of the domestic church, and to help us learn about the six religious orders in our Lincoln Diocese. Please refer to her President’s Handbook for more information about her goals. In the September 4, 2026, issue of the Southern Nebraska Register, Bishop Conley wrote a wonderful article, “Building Catholic Families will strengthen both the Church and the culture.” This article is a perfect guide to our 2026-27 goals of LDCCW to focus on the domestic church by supporting our families in our diocese. Please read it. It is available in the SNR archives on the diocesan website.
I would like to remind the women of the Council of a few important contact persons for our projects:
Bonnie Damrow is the Divine Mercy spokesperson and her number is 402-580-3673. She can answer all questions about Divine Mercy devotion
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Eileen Childreston is the Parent Educator Booklet contact, and she can be reached at 402-488-1316. She has Parent Educator Booklets, medals, and baptismal cards to be given to parents at baptisms in each parish. There are beautiful new cards available, signed by the bishop that are a great keepsake for each baptized child.
Theresa Koch, 402-239-9095; Donna Havlat, 402-826-9475; Michele Chambers, 402-613-9269; and Ellen Jirovsky, 402–643-4802 are the contact persons for Funds for Nuns. Financial assistance is available to young women who require assistance reducing outstanding debt which prohibits them from entering a religious order, or to complete continuing education while in the order.
Kay Portillo, 308-227-1231, is the contact person for Cursillo which is an encounter with Christ Movement.
Rhonda Litt, 402-525-6393 is the diocesan coordinator for Seven Sisters Apostolate in our diocese. She can also be reached by email at sevensisters@gmail.com.
A Seven Sisters retreat was recently held at the St. Gregory the Great Seminary with Janette Howe as keynote speaker. A key takeaway from the day was a quote shared by Rhonda LItt stating, “in strengthening the priest, you strengthen the whole Church.” There are still many priests in our diocese that do not have a Seven Sisters group praying for them so all PCCW’s are encouraged to consider forming a group. Groups can be officially registered at https://sevensistersapostolate.org/ .
A panel of priests shared their experiences and gratitude for the Seven Sisters movement in their lives. Father Barnhill talked about the importance of praying for the priest’s devotion to Mary. He referred to us the Schoenstatt movement and our local shrine in Crete which is the site of our September board meeting. One of the goals of the Schoenstatt Movement is, through the guidance of Mary, to help us connect our faith closely with our daily routines, family life, and modern work. This ties in so nicely to our LDCCW goal of supporting the domestic church. The Schoenstatt Shrine at 340 State Highway 103 is open daily to visitors from dawn to dusk.
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LEGISLATIVE & GOVERNMENT
REPORT
MOST LEGISLATIVE AND CONGRESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AT A STANDSTILL AWAITING THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION
The Fall General Election on November 3 is an important one for all of us. Congress and the Nebraska Legislature are both in recess. Congress will return after the General Election. The Nebraska Legislature will reconvene in early January of 2027. There are some clear choices for you this fall in many races. I encourage you to do the research on the candidates for Governor, Attorney General, the Congressional Districts and the U.S. Senate Race. You can find their positions on their websites in most cases.
One-half of Nebraska State Legislative positions will also appear on the ballot, as well as the State School Board and Board of Regents. I’m sure many of you also have other local elections. Amendments to the Constitution brought about by petitions include the “Protect Girls in Sports initiative, legalizing on-line sports betting and changing the Legislature from two, four-year terms to three terms. Please take the time to vote. It’s important.
Next year’s event at the Governor’s Mansion is all booked for Tuesday, April 6. The event will be held the day before the Catholics at the Capitol Day. Registration will be limited to the first 60 people. The registration information will be emailed on January 15. Attendance is based on a first-come-first-served basis. If you know of someone who does not receive email, please consider registering for them if they want to attend.
It was nice to see so many of you at the recent LDCCW Fall Conference in Crete. Enjoy the Fall Season.
Till next month,
Alice Licht-Anderson
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Leadership Commission
Last month I mentioned the “Training” aspect of our Leadership Commission Bucket List. This month is “Love/Joy/Social/Fun”. This “Pail” should also be included in our meetings on the PCCW, Deanery and Council level. On the Council level, our Legislative Chair, Alice Licht-Anderson is organizing an event at the Governor’ s Mansion on April 6, 2027. This fun event will be the day before the Catholics at the Capitol. Look for more information on this in the future.
Not only are our Board Meetings informative and spiritual, but they are also “social”. We have just finished our Fall Board Meeting. Our next meeting will be in Waverly at the Retreat House on January 15-16, 2027. This is not only a meeting but a retreat. It checks all the boxes of “Love, Joy, Social and Fun” ! If you were to attend one LDCCW function, this is the one to go to.
At the PCCW level, Sacred Heart in Hebron is having a breakfast for a woman in our parish that is moving. We are celebrating everything she has given to our parish family. So many times, we work together as a PCCW but do we ever just enjoy each other’s company? It doesn’t take much to organize an outing or a gathering. Our LDCCW meetings and retreats are already planned. Invite other PCCW’s to come!
At the Deanery level, we go to a restaurant after our meeting. It is simple and effective. It gives us a chance to catch up on our families and life. We also get to eat without having to make it!
Consider planning something social with your PCCW and/or Deanery. LDCCW has events planned. Ask a parishioner to attend an LDCCW event with you.
“Love/Joy/Social/Fun” is the “Pail” that makes life interesting!
Carlece Kenner
Leadership Commission Chair
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Service Commission
Boxes of Joy—have you heard of it?
Admittedly, I only knew about it at a high level initially, but learning about its real purpose and impact gave me the kind of full-body goosebumps that come with overwhelming pride and a deep sense of service and purpose.
The LDCCW Service Commission has participated in Boxes of Joy for many years. The core purpose of this initiative is to help us grow in our faith as participants, share Christ’s love, and unite those in common faith to bring joy in the form of Christmas gifts to children in impoverished countries.
For the Diocese of Lincoln, Boxes of Joy represent a Catholic work of mercy that unites parishes, schools, and families. The program serves as a beautiful blend of evangelization and charity, helping participants grow in their own faith while providing children with toys, clothing, hygiene items, and a rosary accompanied by the beautiful story of Jesus.
You may drop off your completed Boxes of Joy at North American Martyrs Church (1101 Isaac Drive, Lincoln, NE) on Sunday, November 1, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Narthex (front entrance) of the church. Volunteers will be there to receive your boxes and assist with drop-off as needed.
if you’d like to participate in Boxes Of Joy, reach out to your parish PCCW for further details and more information can be found on
https://crosscatholic.org/box-of-joy/ and a list of needed items for boxes can be found here:
https://crosscatholic.org/blogs/2025/02/a-joyful-celebration-of-gods-love/
Julie Rosenbaum & Trish Seidl
Service Commission Co-Chairs
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Ladies, the LDCCW thanks you for consenting to coordinate the donated diapers for your Deanery. The diaper drive pick up schedule is below and would not be a success without you. Please contact me if you have any questions.
God Bless, Kay Wessel, 402-817-8842 or jkwessel@navix.net
Pick up Deanery Location of Diapers Pickup date Anticipated time
Beatrice Fairbury St. Joseph, Beatrice 11/10/2026 9:00 a.m. Wahoo Wahoo St. Wenceslaus, Wahoo 11/12/2026 1:30 - 2:00 p.m.
David City David City Camile's house 11/12/2026 2:30 - 3:00 p.m.
York York St. Joseph, York 11/12/2026 4:15 -4:45 p.m.
Wilber Crete 306 4th St, Swanton 11/13/2026 7:20 -7:50 a.m.
Lawrence Lawrence Sacred Heart Lawrence 11/13/2026 9:15 - 9:45 a.m.
McCook Indianola 1611 East I St, McCook 11/13/2026 12:30 - 1:00 p.m.
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50 Days for 50 States
As our Nation prepares for the 2026 Mid-term Elections, LDCCW would like to invite everyone to a special time of prayer for our Country.
We will began on
Monday, September 14, 2026 and concludes on Monday, November 2, 2026.
Each day during these 50-days a different State will be offer up in prayer.
The prayers can be done privately, with groups, by families, or even as a Church activity. The prayers can be formal like the Rosary or a Chaplet. One may use a map of the United States each day while touching the day’s State offer an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be. One may pray to a favorite Saint asking them to pray along throughout the 50 days. These are all just simple examples, what is important is committing to praying for the whole 50 days.
Below is the list of the States divided into 7 weeks plus one day. We hope that Parishes will put the weekly lists of States into their Sunday Bulletins. A great use of one’s social media is to do a posting of the different daily State thought out the 50 days. Let us storm the heavens on behalf of our Nation. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God promises “and if My people, upon whom My name has been pronounced, humble themselves and pray, and seek my presence and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and pardon their sins and revive their land.”.
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Please join us in this special time of prayer for our Nation.
List of States by weeks:
Week Three: Monday, 28, 2026 to Sunday, October 4, 2026
Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts
Week Four: Monday, October 5, 2026 to Sunday, October 11, 2026
Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada
Week Five: Monday, October 12, 2026 to Sunday, October 18, 2026
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio
Week Six: Monday, October 19, 2026 to Sunday, October 25, 2026
Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee
Week Seven: Monday, October 26, 2026 to Monday, November 2, 2026
Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
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Keep sending pictures of PCCW events in your parishes! Social Media is spreading the word of our organization and reaching more women across the diocese! Please send to ldccwsocialmedia@gmail.com
Be sure to like and follow our Pages at Facebook Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and Instagram--instagram @ldccw.catholicwomen
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The 2026-2028
LDCCW Executive Board Members
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2026-2028 Officers:
PRESIDENT: Valerie Able
PRESIDENT ELECT:
Kathy Rentschler
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT: Donna Havlat
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT: Barbara Kadlec
THIRD VICE PRESIDENT: Michele Chambers
RECORDING SECRETARY: Joyce Reich
TREASURER: Carrie Magorian
FINANCIAL SECRETARY: Teresa Koch
AUDITOR: Karen Dey
SPIRITUAL ADVISORS:
Fr. Thomas Lux and
Fr. Thomas McGuire
To get to know more about them, please click HERE to find out all the details!
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Prayer to Our Lady of Good Counsel
God of heavenly wisdom, You have given us Mary, Mother of Jesus, to be our guide and counselor. Grant that we may always seek her motherly help in this life and so enjoy her blessed presence in the life to come. O Mother of Good Counsel, patroness of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, intercede for us, that we may be wise, courageous, and loving leaders of the Church. Help us, dear mother, to know the mind of Jesus, your God’s children. May our labors of love on earth enhance the reign of God and may God’s gifts of faith and living hope prepare us for the fullness of the world to come. Amen
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LDCCW Mission Statement
The Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, under the authority of the Bishop, seeks to grow in holiness and to live out our faith through the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy in the service of God and His Church.
SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY:
To admonish the sinner
To instruct the ignorant
To counsel the doubtful
To comfort the sorrowful
To bear wrongs patiently
To forgive all injuries
To pray for the living and the dead
CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY:
To feed the hungry
To give drink to the thirsty
To clothe the naked
To visit the imprisoned
To shelter the homeless
To visit the sick
To bury the dead
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Upcoming Events
October - Hastings Deanery—St. Monica Prayers
October - Month of the Holy Rosary
October 1 - St. Terese of the Child Jesus
October 2 - Guardian Angels
October 4 - St. Francis of Assisi AND Life Chain
October 5 - St. Faustina Kowalska
October 7 - Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
October 18 - World Mission Sunday
October 25 - LDCCW Sunday
Pope’s Intentions for October - For the Mental Health Ministry
Let us pray that the mental health ministry be established throughout the Church, helping to overcome the stigma and discrimination of persons with mental illnesses.
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