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Nov. 16, 2006
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Women’s convocation reaches diverse group |
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First-ever gathering at Cardinal Stritch attracts 160 |
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MILWAUKEE —About 160 women from across the archdiocese met Saturday, Oct. 28 at Cardinal Stritch University in a first of its kind women’s convocation.
Titled “Celebrating the Gifts Among Us: Gathering Women of Faith,” it drew an ethnically diverse group of women from all walks of life, according to Catherine O’Neill, parish consultant for Walworth, Racine, Waukesha and part of Kenosha counties, and one of the event’s organizers.
The day, co-sponsored by Cardinal Stritch University and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, opened with a keynote address by Rev. Trinette McCray, a Baptist minister and executive director of Cardinal Stritch University’s office of vocation development. Following her presentation, the women gathered in groups to discuss their roles within the church and how they respond to God’s call.
After lunch a “Conversation Café” was held in which participants could choose groups to discuss topics of interest. According to Jane Clare Ishiguro, pastoral associate at Good Shepherd Parish, Menomonee Falls, and another member of the organizing team, the women were asked to submit possible topics when they registered. Among the issues that surfaced were spirituality, single motherhood, how to begin a book discussion, retreats, bereavement, and mothering a soldier.
A major part of the day was allowing people to network, said Ishiguro, adding she expects the bonds that were created among the women at the convocation will continue.
The convocation developed after Ishiguro contacted Randy Nohl, director of Lifelong Faith Formation for the archdiocese. She had noticed there were several opportunities for spiritual renewal offered to men in the diocese, but nothing, she said, for women.
“The Archdiocesan Women’s Office was closed during the rearrangement (of departments) at the Cousins Center and I wondered what we are doing for the women of the archdiocese. There’s so much happening and we would like to share our resources,” Ishiguro said.
Because of her interest, Ishiguro was asked to be part of a core team to organize the event. In addition to Ishiguro and O’Neill, other organizers included Schauneille Allen, archdiocesan African American ministry consultant; Margaret Fohr, parish consultant administrative secretary and Alice Kramschuster and Bernie DeBoer, members of Good Shepherd Parish, Menomonee Falls.
Ishiguro said the core team set two goals for the day: to honor the diversity of women and to foster networking.
She said she could tell the first goal was accomplished just by looking at those gathered. There were Hmong, Laotian, Hispanic, African American, Caucasian women as well as three who were deaf.
“We had everything from moms with four kids who do adoration at church to people who have graduated from the seminary who have started in ministry. We had a great span of experience and training formation,” said Ishiguro. |
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