National Council of Catholic Women at 200 North Glebe Road, Suite 725, Arlington, VA 22203 US - WUCWO REPRESENTATIVE'S REPORT TO CONVENTION

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. Our NCCW Mission Statement says the same thing albeit with different words, but it makes it easy for all of us to understand the vital role we play as women in the Church’s world mission.

There is much information regarding WUCWO on the website www.wucwo.org.,

including Pope Benedict’s Message for World Day of Peace, "The Human Person, the Heart of Peace." Also on the website is a bookmark with WUCWO information on one side and prayers for "Building a Culture of Peace" on the other. This year bookmark petitions included -famine victims, especially in Africa, -people in despair in the Holy Land, -the homeless people of the world -the victims of AIDS, especially orphans, -all women who suffer oppression, torture, or exploitation, -all the unborn and rejected babies. This is a way to continue to strengthen our Prayer Chain for Peace by inviting more people to unite their prayers with ours so that peace may encircle our world.

In April of this year, it was my privilege to be part of a Women’s Research Forum titled "Women, Church, and Society: Leadership and Justice." The Forum was sponsored by the Commission on Women, College of St. Catherine, and the University of St. Thomas. My topic was "Women’s Leadership in the Church: Novice to Mentor." An article regarding this presentation appeared in the June, 2007 issue of Women’s Voice, the official newsletter of WUCWO. This Forum tied in very nicely with my position as Chair of the Women in Church Committee on the WUCWO Board. I also had the opportunity to speak at four other CCW gatherings this past spring.

Another of my WUCWO Board responsibilities is as Chair of the Statutes and Procedures Committee. I have been in contact with the International Regent of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas who has requested information regarding Associate membership in WUCWO. I have also been in contact with the President General and Secretary General Gillian Badcock regarding other questions concerning membership in WUCWO. Obviously, Statutes & Procedures covers many areas and I will do my best to learn all that it entails.

Agnes Bedard, WUCWO North American Vice President, and I have talked and e-mailed many times since our first Board meeting together in Rome. Agnes is a beautiful, faith filled, and energetic woman who represents us well on the Executive Committee. Agnes explained to me that the Catholic Women’s League of Canada has five special "causes" that all members are encouraged to make donations to and one of these "causes" is WUCWO. She has started a newsletter to all the donors and invited me to submit information for it - which I did. She asked for my bio "About Joan McGrath" as well as information about "Friends of NCCW for WUCWO", and this NCCW Columbus Convention. It is my hope that you will have the chance to meet Agnes and the Catholic Women’s League of Canada President during this Convention.

Please mark your calendars for the North American Regional Conference to be held August 8, 9, 10, 2008 in Winnepeg. Agnes assured me that this will be a marvelous opportunity for women and men of WUCWO to meet and learn. This Conference will be in conjunction with the CWL Convention similar to our agenda in Minneapolis a few years ago.

The Friends of NCCW for WUCWO organization continues to thrive under the direction of its President, Maureen Willenbring. The membership of Friends consists of NCCW women and men who have an interest in WUCWO and want to support it with prayer and donations. Dues are $25 yearly and donations above that are most welcome. For 2006 - 2007, Friends have paid the NCCW dues to WUCWO and have provided $2,000 toward the support of the NCCW Representative’s expenses. There is a Friends booth at this Convention and everyone is invited to visit and hopefully join Friends. There is a new WUCWO pin available for $5 and they will be at the booth. This Representative is a founding member of Friends, serves on the Board of Directors, writes for the newsletter and continues to chair the Bylaws committee for this Convention.

Women’s Voice is the official newsletter of WUCWO and welcomes everyone to subscribe. The cost is $15 for one year and you make out your check to WUCWO-UMOFC and send it to Joann Hillebrand, 54 Derby Court, Oak Brook, Illinois, 60523. This newsletter will broaden your knowledge and understanding of the women of the world .

The next WUCWO Board meeting will be held in Rome, Italy, November 26 - 29, 2007. Our President General has chosen Rome again because of its central location and the more important reason is the access to the Vatican and the Dicasterias (Vatican Departments) that are of concern to WUCWO in carrying out its Mission and Resolutions. I will be taking copies of the May/June, 2007 CATHOLIC WOMAN magazine with me for all the WUCWO Board Members. This issue contains a WUCWO update since our General Assembly in Arlington by Karen Hurley, "Meeting Agnes Museli" from Kenya by Maureen Willenbring and a special report on the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering by Janice Pikal, Hartford Province Director.

It is an honor to be serving on the WUCWO Board with President General Karen Hurley and Treasurer General Joann Hillebrand. My thanks again to this NCCW Board and President Ellen Bachman for this opportunity and challenge. With the Grace of God and your prayers and support, I will continue to try and do my best for NCCW and WUCWO. God bless - Joan