Diocesan Council of Catholic Women convention coming

SALT LAKE CITY — The Diocese of Salt Lake City Council of Catholic Women invites all women in the diocese to attend its 84th annual convention April 21-22, at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center, 255 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City.

The Wasatch Deanery will host this year’s convention. The theme is "Campaign for Human Dignity – Love in Action," will be addressed by the Leadership and Legislative commissions.

Maria Suarez will present the keynote address on human trafficking. She is a victim of extreme violence, abuse and torture. Her case was described as "one of the most egregious instances of Battered Woman Syndrome ever investigated," by the Board of Prison Terms in California. Suarez’s story sheds light on the ways that immigrant women are used as slaves, as workers, as bodies to be bought and sold.

Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, vicar general emeritus of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, will speak Saturday morning and also celebrate Mass later that day. He and Monsignor Robert Servatius, DCCW moderator and pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish, will honor the Women of the Year at the annual banquet on Saturday night.

The DCCW Leadership Commission presentation will be given by Bobbie Hunt, National Council of Catholic Women past president and member of Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Layton. She will speak on pornography and its impact on American society.

The Legislative Commission presenter will be Jean Hill, government liaison for the Diocese of Salt Lake City and director of the Salt Lake City Diocese Peace and Justice Commission. She will speak about her program and efforts to promote human rights.

The April 22 session will include a prayer service and the installation of new officers.

Women can register for different packages for the convention. Package A is $99 and includes registration for both days and all meals. Package B is $45 and is registration for Saturday only, and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Package C is registration for the Woman of the Year Banquet only. Package D is registration for Sunday only and includes breakfast. There will be no on-site banquet registration.

Participants can make hotel reservations using the convention room rate of $99 per night for one to four person(s) per room.

Mail hotel registration to Martine Gordon at 1865 West 400 South, Lehi, UT 84043-3622. For more information on hotel registration, call Jami Brothers at 801-804-1018. To register for the convention, contact your parish council of women president. Registration for the convention must be submitted by each parish.