Welcome to The April Effect
Love is, just like Christ himself showed with his death, the greatest gift.

~ St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta~

President's Message
Easter Blessings –
As we quickly approach the end of Lent and prepare for Easter, please participate in your parishes Holy Week services. In addition to Lent, the Holy Week services allow us to walk the road to Calvary with Jesus. Please watch the movie ‘The Passion of the Christ’ during Holy Week if you have access to the DVD.
A powerful version of the Way of the Cross ‘Mary’s Way of the Cross’ will open the LDCCW Spring Full Board Meeting on Saturday, April 13 th . Please join us at St. Mary’s in Aurora on the 13 th at 8:30 a.m. Email ldccwpresident@gmail.com if you plan to attend.
The NCCW has provided you an opportunity to remember your Mother and/or other women in your life with a Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. on Mother’s Day weekend. A minimum donation of $20 per name is requested. Please download and complete the Request form’ mailing directly to NCCW by May 1 st . If you wish to let those you are honoring know of your special remembrance, please be sure to include their name(s) and address(s) and an acknowledgement will be sent to them noting that a donation has been made in their honor by you.
In Christ –
Kay Wessel, LDCCW President
Please download copies of the upcoming meeting agendas and minutes from the symposium.


Spirituality Commission - Ellen Jirovsky
Divine Mercy is the Sunday after Easter on April 28
On Good Friday, 1937, Jesus requested that St. Faustina make a special novena before the Feast of Divine Mercy, from Good Friday through the following Saturday. He, Himself, dictated the intentions for each day. “By this novena, I will grant every possible grace to souls. Encourage souls to say the chaplet which I have given you. …Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death…When they say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge but as the Merciful Savior. Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation…through the Chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask is compatible with My will. “ Novena Intentions- From The Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska
  1. First Day— Good Friday All Mankind, Especially All Sinners;
  2. Second Day—The Souls of Priests and Religious; 
  3. Third Day—All Devout and Faithful Souls
  4. Fourth Day—Those Who Do Not Believe in God, and Those Who Do Not Yet Know Me
  5. Fifth Day—The Souls Who Have Separated Themselves From My Church
  6. Sixth Day—The Meek and Humble Souls, and The Souls of Little Children
  7. Seventh Day—The Souls Who Especially Venerate and Glorify My Merc
  8. Eighth Day—The Souls Who Are Detained In Purgatory
  9. Ninth Day (Saturday)—Souls Who Have Become Lukewarm.
“My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, especially for poor sinners. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. It is my desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy. I demand from you deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere.”    
To order Divine Mercy materials: contact the Marians of the Immaculate Conception, Association of Marian Helpers, Stockbridge, MA. 01263-0004  www.marian.org   (For materials orders: Ph. 800-462-7426) (Prayer Intentions call: 1-800-804-3823.)   

Pi Alpha Chi (PAX) Women’s Sorority of the UNL Campus, located at the Newman Center, had representatives attend the LDCCW Winter Symposium and spoke on their current organization updates with slides and talks on membership. They have grown from 16 to 44 young Catholic women, in their 6 th year. In October, the ladies held their annual fall philanthropy, A Chili Night with Pi Chi, serving delicious chili and cinnamon rolls outside at the Newman Center. The next philanthropy was held on March 14, “Pie with Pi Alpha Chi”, serving apple, pecan, pumpkin and french silk pies at the UNL Ballroom. The proceeds of both philanthropies will benefit Project Rachel and St. Gianna Women’s Home.
The annual St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Scholarship Dinner was held on March 11. There were 8 Pi Alpha Chi members who received Merit Awards (scholarships) from LDCCW. This event was a special night to honor our young sisters in Christ. Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, April 16. Everyone is invited to attend Mass at 5:30 pm (Newman Center) followed by Sister Holy Hour and then snacks with the PAX members. This will be a great opportunity to meet the young ladies, learn and share with each other on life, their passions, the sorority and spiritual growth.

The annual Ash Wednesday Retreat was held at Waverly, Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat Center, on March 6 th . Caroline Helget reports 66 men & women attended. Fr. Nicholas Kipper presented talks for the Day: Growing our Faith; Through Faith, Hope & Love. Six priests heard Confessions: Fr. Kipper, Fr. James Meysenberg, Fr. Christopher Kubat, Fr. Sean Kilkawley, Fr. Evan Winter, and Fr. Christopher Goodwin. Thank you, Priests and Caroline, for your time and effort!
Sutton St. Mary’s hosted the LDCCW Day of Recollection on March 8th for the first time (formerly at Hastings St. Michael’s). Fr. Thomas Schultes presented a talk about the Stations of the Cross and differences between the booklets. Three other priests, Fr. Daniel Seiker of St. Gregory Seminary & Exeter/Milligan parishes, Fr. Jeremy Hazuka of St. Michael the Archangel in Hastings, and Fr. Harlan Waskowiak of Geneva/Shickley parishes, all helped with Confessions. Delicious meatless salads were enjoyed by the 28 men & women who attended the Day. Jennifer Johnson was chairman of this Day of Recollection at Sutton. Thank you, Priests and Jennifer, for your time and work!
Service Commission - Kathy Rentschler
We’ve been hearing more frequency the slogan ‘Nebraska Strong’ especially with all the flooding in Nebraska. The assistance provided by Nebraskans has been amazing – showing their true heart. The recovery from the effects of the flooding will be felt for months (years) to come. Please assist however you can, whether that be materially or financially but most importantly with your prayers. Our assistance allows us to perform these Corporal Works of Mercy: to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked and to shelter the homeless. God Bless You!
You can still donate by going to Catholic Social Services and click on the donate button.
Leadership Commission - Judy Weston
I found myself in a time warp of wondering if we were still in Terri Sullivan's term or Kay Wessel. We have struggled all winter with snow and as the anniversary of Kay's first year dawns I wonder if we aren't back in the same place where we started! Wake up! Spring is around the corner and we are moving forward with exciting ideas!
  • April 17 is a Member call for all NCCW members.
  • Making Co-Presidency work for you!
  • Sue Koch and Ellen Martin talk about what they did in their diocese to make this happen and how it worked for them. I you have any experience with this please call in and share!
  • Call in number for all calls: (515)739-1261
  • Access Code: 703993#
  • Times: 7 pm CT
  • If you are join the call after the start time, please do not announce yourself despite the instruction to do so.
  • When you join the call, please mute your phone by pressing *6. You can take the off off of mute by pressing *6 again.

Featured Deanery of the Month, St. Monica prayer - Wahoo and York Deaneries
Saint of the Month
Our Lady of Good Counsel
According to tradition, over time the old Augustinian church of Santa Maria in Genazzano fell into disrepair. A local widow undertook to renovate the church but ran out of funds, for which she was heartily mocked for her lack of foresight. In the year 1467, in the midst of the festivities for the Feast of Saint Mark, the townfolk suddenly heard "exquisite music." A mysterious cloud was then said to have descended and obliterated an unfinished wall of the parish church. In front of the populace, the cloud dissipated and a beautiful fresco, no thicker than a carte-de-visite and no more than eighteen inches square, of the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child was revealed. It was widely believed that it had been miraculously transported from a church in Scutari, Albania, when that area was besieged by the Turks.
The picture of Our Lady was at first called "La Madonna del Paradiso" and now better known as "Madonna del Buon Consiglio" (Our Lady of Good Counsel).
Such was the holy image's reputation that Pope Urban VIII made a "glittering" pilgrimage there in 1630, invoking the protection of the Queen of Heaven, as did Pope Pius IX in 1864. On November 17, 1682, Pope Innocent XI had the picture solemnly crowned. Among her noted clients have been St Aloysius Gonzaga, St Alphonsus Liguori, St John Bosco, and Blessed Stephen Bellesini. (wikipedia.com)
Pope Francis April Prayer Intention: Doctors and their collaborators in war torn areas
 
Upcoming events
April 12 – LDCCW Spring Executive Board Meeting, St. Mary’s Aurora, NE
April 13 – LDCCW Spring Full Board Meeting, St. Mary’s Aurora, NE
April 16 – 5:30 Mass, Holy Hour and snacks with Pi Alpha Chi – Newman Center
April 21 – Easter Sunday
April 26 – Our Lady of Good Counsel Feast Day
April 28 – Divine Mercy Sunday
May 24, 7 pm - Deaconate Ordination
May 25, 11 am - Priesthood Ordination
Information for the next NewsNotes, due June 10 to email/mail July 1
Province Meeting – July 15, 2019 – Blessed Sacrament, Grand Island
August 16, 2019 – LDCCW Executive Board Meeting, St. Joseph Church, Beatrice
August 17, 2019 – LDCCW Full Board Meeting, St. Joseph Church, Beatrice
NCCW Convention – August 21 – Aug 24, 2019, Atlanta, GA
KVSS Fall Care-a-Thon – Sept 2019 – specific dates to be announced
Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women| 402-794-5285
ldcccwpresident@gmail.com