DCCW members learn about necessities, more on Mary

By Cathy Tilzey

At the Helena Diocesan Council of Catholic Women convention last month, dynamic speakers gave a clear picture of what is needed to help people survive and thrive throughout the world, in biblical times and now.
Two necessities at all times are water and food, said James L. DeHarpporte, director for Catholic Relief Services’ western region. Based in San Diego, Calif., he has served in more than 10 countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas.
“What we’re doing is making a tremendous difference,” he told about 50 women gathered in Butte for DCCW’s annual convention.
CRS representatives don’t give away water and wells. They try to develop local capacities, said the former Peace Corps member, and teach locals how to plan and build. In one village, they wanted to meet with the men – but they had died from lack of food and water.
DeHarpporte, whose job was created five years ago to work with U.S. Catholics and bishops, gave the Montanans examples of CRS’ work and showed “Water for Life,” a video about Malawi, where women walked two to three hours for water, and about Brazil, where people have the same struggle. Long cisterns built in both places give people access to safe and clean water.
The video was made possible by National Council of Catholic Women, with which DCCWs are affiliated.
CRS also realized that they need to do more than relief work, DeHarpporte said. “We feel we have to build peace. We have 68 million Catholics in the U.S. Think of what we can do if we put our minds to it.”
In another session, he talked about CRS’ partnerships with NCCW and other organizations throughout the world. He suggested ways to help CRS – by praying; donating money, materials or collecting used clothes; passing on the stories he told; learning and raising awareness; volunteering, and encouraging high school graduates to go on missions.
DeHarpporte also encouraged the women to buy fair-trade coffee and other products. In the late 1990s, coffee prices dropped. Growers wanted a fair price for it, but couldn’t get it, or feed their families.
For Mary Dumm of Detroit, Mich., being truthful, adhering to the law and caring for their families was vital to women of biblical times. Part of her Saturday morning talk was about the genealogy of Mary. Why not learn her family tree, she said.
Mary’s ancestors included widows who had to care for themselves and their families, such as Tamar, a survivor and non-Jew; Rahab, who acknowledged Yahweh as the god of all, and Ruth, a Moabite and non-Jew who cared for her mother-in-law. Dumm included Bathsheba, whom she called a secondary character used by David, in this group.
A pastoral associate at St. Blasé Parish after ministering in the Detroit Archdiocese for 20 years, she recently completed her doctorate in ministry at the Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit.
“I’ve wanted to do what I’m doing since I was 14,” she said. Everyone needs to nurture talents and realize what each one is called to do, she added.
Dumm went into detail about Mary’s reaction to the angel, who told her that God wanted her to bear his son. In Luke’s gospel, which offers more information about Mary than other gospels, she knows the facts of life and that she could talk to God about it. She also realized God was asking her for trusting obedience, and she gave it.
Betty Koch, NCCW’s director for the province of Portland, Ore., urged the Montana women to become individual members and encourage others to do the same. Each woman to sign up 20 new members can attend the next NCCW convention without paying the registration.
Monsignor Kevin O’Neill, pastor/rector of the Cathedral of St. Helena, was the guest speaker at Saturday evening’s banquet. He talked about his mother, and the lessons he learned from her and his sisters, who taught by example and by nurturing.
“There are great gifts in our lives,” he said. “I think the parables Jesus told came from Mary and Joseph in a spirit-filled home and spirit-filled womb. Now it’s our turn to tell the stories.”
Elections were held during a business meeting, with Millie Mitchke of Bigfork becoming president.
Other new DCCW officers include Judy Hansen of Whitefish, president-elect; Antoinette Alexander of Bonner, secretary; Marge Schwede of West Glacier, parliamentarian; Ann Wohl of Bigfork, treasurer. Father John Miller of Columbia Falls succeeded Father Stan Popowski as moderator.
Commission chairwomen are Heidi Gjefel of Missoula, family/church; Susan Porrovecchio of Bigfork, international affairs; Kathy Bush of Hungry Horse, legislative information; Connie McCubbins of Columbia Falls, organization services, and Ellen Ries of Kalispell, community affairs.
Lillian Judge of Whitefish volunteered to be historian.

Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 23, No. 7, July 20, 2007.