NCCW opening Mass draws 650 to cathedral

Intermountain Catholic

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Bishop John C. Wester says the Eucharistic Prayer.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Most Reverend John C. Wester, bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, welcomed more than 650 members of the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) to Salt Lake City and the Cathedral of the Madeleine at the opening Mass of the organization’s annual general assembly. The women filled the Cathedral of the Madeleine, and the Mass featured the voices of the choristers of the Madeleine Choir School. Nearly 60 priests from across the United States attended the Mass.

Bishop Wester praised the women from dioceses all across the country for all the work they do in supporting each other, in their commitment to the education of women, and in their work in the area of spirituality, which he called, "inspiring."

In his homily, the bishop spoke of his niece and nephews who often complain, even in this era of technology: "‘Mommy, I’m bored.’ "I know it is risky to compare one generation with another, but I think I hear that complaint about being bored more today than when we were growing up. I notice that when you give young people very expensive gifts, they often tear the wrapping paper off, set the gift aside, and play with the cardboard.

"In the readings today we hear about people who are bored," the bishop said. "In the Gospel of Luke we hear that Herod is bored in the midst of all of his power. Certainly his life is not fulfilled and he is looking for something. Still, there is something about this Jesus that fascinates him. He could have been engaged by God if he’d known Jesus. It’s tragic, though, that he finally meets Christ only when Jesus has been condemned to die."

The bishop said our lives can be boring. It can seem like we’re going nowhere. "But we can be engaged by God who gives us life and passion. We can have a relationship with Christ, and only Christ gives real meaning to our lives, for it is him in whom and through whom and for whom all things exist. We don’t want to be like the bored king, unable to engage in anything.

"You and I are called to enter into a relationship with God, so life for us is never boring. We don’t grow stagnate in our relationship with Christ.

"Living in relationship with Christ gives us purpose, meaning. There is no boredom for us, and there is no boredom for you."

The bishop said his experience with the Diocesan Councils of Catholic women in both Utah and San Francisco have been so positive.

"You are women who pray," he said. "And Christ is the center of all you do. You are women who clearly are in relationship with Christ. He is at the center of all your gatherings and he is clearly part of your lives."

Bishop Wester told the story of seeing a woman in an airport the day before. She was wearing a shirt that said, "10 reasons why I’m glad to be Catholic." As tempting as it was to walk over and ask her if she was on her way to the general assembly in Salt Lake City, the bishop refrained.

"But she was obviously excited and passionate about being a Catholic, and she wanted others to know it."

He recognized that most of the women of the NCCW are active on the parish level, "but there are those active on the diocesan level as well," he said.

"You are well defined by your mission statement: The National Council of Catholic Women acts through its membership to support, empower, and educate all Catholic women in spirituality, leadership, and service. NCCW programs respond with Gospel values to the needs of the Church and society in the modern world."

In more practical words, the bishop said, you in the NCCW are a voice for Catholic women today; you are transforming the world through prayer and action; the NCCW unites more than 5,000 affiliated Catholic women’s groups in the United States; you support social action through Gospel values; you train Catholic women to become leaders at the intersection of Church and society; you provide a forum for Catholic women to speak and act on matters of mutual interest, and you are one with the Church...

"Wow, how do you do all that you do?

"The NCCW is the perfect antidote to boredom."