NCCW Meets in Jacksonville, Elects New Officers

Whereas, Rose Hawthorne was a woman of heroic virtue, a humble servant to the poorest of the poor, and a model of respect for the dignity and sanctity of life;

Whereas, This daughter of author Nathaniel Hawthorne gave up her life of wealth and privilege to care for the neediest of Christ’s poor; and

Whereas, Rose Hawthorne converted to Catholicism and founded the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, who started caring for poor people who were suffering from terminal cancer in the slums of lower Manhattan, New York, and whose compassionate ministry is carried on today in five additional free cancer homes in the United States; Resolved, That members of the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) pray for and promote the cause of beatification and canonization of Rose Hawthorne, Mother Mary Alphonsa, O.P.

Whereas, The Mohawk maiden, Kateri Tekakwitha was born of a Christian mother in 1656, was baptized at the age of 20, and did make a vow of perpetual virginity in 1679;

Whereas, Kateri Tekakwitha spent her short young life in prayer and service to her people, especially the sick and the youth, in what is now the northeast region of the United States and of Canada; and

Whereas, Kateri Tekakwitha’s life was shortened by her death at age 24, she is a constant example of what the love of Christ means to all lay people of all cultures and was beatified by Pope John Paul II on June 22, 1980;

Resolved, That the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) recognize Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha as a humble and virtuous woman who still promotes the voice, presence, and identity of Native American Catholics today;

Resolved, That NCCW supports all efforts toward the cause of canonization of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha with prayers for a first-class miracle.

Whereas, Pope John Paul II, in his Encyclical Letter, Ecclesisia de Eucharistia encouraged us to "cultivate in our hearts a constant desire for the Sacrament of the Eucharist";

Whereas, Pope John Paul II recognized Mary as a "Woman of the Eucharist" in her whole life; and "the Church, which looks to Mary as a model, is also called to imitate her in her relationship with this holy mystery" (Ecclesisia de Eucharistia); and

Whereas, The National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) acknowledges Mary as our patroness, guide, and role model;

Resolved, That the membership of NCCW imitate Mary by developing a deeper devotion to and a greater reverence for the Eucharist;

Resolved, That the membership of NCCW, fed at the Table of the Lord, will work to continue the spirit of the Year of the Eucharist by spreading the gospel message of peace and harmony through the programs of NCCW.

Whereas, "Marriage, as instituted by God, is a faithful, exclusive, lifelong union of a man and a woman joined in an intimate community of life and love" (Between Man and Woman: Questions and Answers About Marriage and Same-Sex Unions, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops [USCCB], 2003);

Whereas, "Marriage is both a natural institution and a sacred union because it is rooted in the divine plan for creation," and in order to uphold God’s intent for marriage, in which sexual relations have their proper and exclusive place (Between Man and Woman: Questions and Answers About Marriage and Same-Sex Unions); and

Whereas, This defense of the sanctity of marriage offers no form of discrimination to nor a denial of the fundamental human rights for homosexual persons but proclaims as immoral sexual relations outside of the marriage of a man and a woman;

Resolved, That the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) encourages married couples to uphold the dignity of marriage and by the witness of their faithful, life-giving love be the best advocates for marriage;

Resolved, That NCCW encourages member participation in their states and communities by voice and vote to defend marriage as defined by the USCCB in their statement Between Man and Woman: Questions and Answers About Marriage and Same-Sex Unions.

Whereas, Military men and women defend our nation here and abroad;

Whereas, When military men and women are deployed, their families are sometimes in need of physical and/or emotional support;

Resolved, That members of the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) pray for our troops and their families;

Resolved, That members of NCCW offer support to all military families.

Whereas, The National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) was founded on March 4, 1920 "to give Catholic women of the country a common voice and an instrument for united action in all matters affecting Catholic or national welfare, to ensure proper Catholic representation on, and the proper recognition of Catholic principles in national committees and national movements affecting the religious, moral and material well-being of the country and to stimulate the work of existing Catholic women’s organizations to greater service and usefulness in meeting the needs of our times" (National Council of Catholic Women: The First 75 Years, Ruth L. O’Halloran); Whereas, NCCW has continued to carry this vision forth in its work;

Resolved, That in celebration of the 85th anniversary of NCCW’s founding, the membership will renew their commitment to NCCW’s Mission Statement to "act through its membership to support, empower and educate all Catholic women in spirituality, leadership and service" and that "NCCW programs respond with Gospel values to the needs of the Church and society in the modern world" (NCCW Mission Statement).

Whereas, The Associates of NCCW, Inc., founded in 1970, is an individual membership organization designed for Catholic women and moderators who wish to strengthen their support of the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW);

Whereas, It was founded to support and encourage religious, educational, civic, and charitable projects within the NCCW framework; and

Whereas, For thirty-five years, the Associates of NCCW, Inc. have provided grants totaling more than $190,000 to NCCW in order to help provide programs that support, empower, and educate our Catholic Women in spirituality, leadership and service;

Resolved, That NCCW recognizes and congratulates the Associates of NCCW, Inc. on the 35th anniversary of its founding and acknowledges its history of dedication and generosity to NCCW.

Whereas, The United Nations has declared 2005 as the beginning of the "Water for Life Decade" to meet the internationally agreed targets for water and sanitation by 2015, and has drafted a "Treaty on the Human Right to Water";

Whereas, The National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) has a longstanding partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) through the "Water for Life" project to promote health, nutrition, environmental sanitation education, and potable water development;

Resolved, That NCCW continue to increase awareness of and promote participation in NCCW/CRS "Water for Life" projects;

Resolved, That NCCW support efforts calling for the international recognition of water as a basic human right.

Whereas, The World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations (WUCWO) founded in 1910, now includes 100 member organizations representing all continents and is recognized by the Holy See as an International Catholic Organization (ICO);

Whereas, The aim of WUCWO is to promote the presence, participation, and co-responsibility of Catholic women in Church and Society, in order to enable them to fulfill their mission of evangelization and to work for human development; and

Whereas, The National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW), a member organization of WUCWO, has invited WUCWO to hold their 2006 General Assembly in Arlington, VA, from May 31 to June 7 focusing on the theme: Women Peacemakers: United in Faith and Action, "Blessed are the Peacemakers: (Matthew 5:9);

Resolved, That NCCW encourage all members to join in welcoming the WUCWO General Assembly to the United States of America for the first time and support this great endeavor with prayers as well as time, talent and treasure;

Resolved, That NCCW continue to collaborate with WUCWO to serve the Church and the World.

In Recognition of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI

Whereas, Pope John Paul II was Vicar of Christ and pastor to over l.1 billion Catholics world-wide, traveling to 130 countries and territories as evangelist and pilgrim of peace; Whereas, Pope John Paul II, after 26 years in the seat of Peter, was called home to the Lord, leaving a rich theological legacy; and

Whereas, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Dean of the College of Cardinals, and President of the Commission for the Preparation of the 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church, was elected the 265th Pope on April 19, 2005 and is now known as Pope Benedict XVI;

Resolved, That the members of the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) pray to God, our Heavenly Father, for the repose of the soul of Pope John Paul II as we remember his exemplary life in service to others;

Resolved, That the members of NCCW pray daily for Pope Benedict XVI as he shepherds the people of God, guided by the Holy Spirit.