MCHENRY—The McHenry Deanery Council of Catholic Women hosted its fifth annual Women’s Lenten Day of Reflection on March 23 at Church of Holy Apostles.

 

About 70 women from the deanery and beyond gathered for fellowship, food and faith to enjoy “a really important time ... to get back on track with God,” deanery council president, Barbara Russell, said as she introduced the day. 

 

The annual day, she added, has been growing in size every year.

 

This year’s event featured Msgr. Martin Heinz, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Richmond, as guest speaker. His topic was “Temptation — There is a Way Out!”

 

Temptations can come through the flesh, the devil and the world, Msgr. Heinz said. God allows temptations “so in overcoming (them), we are edified for the next challenge,” he explained. “A temptation allows us to be strengthened ... none are allowed that we can’t overcome” with God.

 

“God provides a way out ... we always can find a way,” he added. “Remember, you have been built for victory.”

 

Even so, we should not presume God’s mercy, he said, “but you can always depend on it.”

 

Msgr. Heinz encouraged his listeners to ask themselves, “What is going on in my life spiritually?” and added that “you can’t resist any temptation without prayer,” which he defined as “your relationship with God.”

 

He concluded by cheering his audience with “I can’t stress enough that we matter to God ... from the moment of conception, God has a plan for you ... we are the children of God.”

 

An afternoon session of “Stump the Priest” had Msgr. Heinz answering a wide variety of questions from a stack of written queries.

 

The remainder of the day consisted of faith — rosary, confessions, music and time to peruse the parish bookstore; fellowship — lunch; and fun — basket raffles and an ending social time with wine, cheese and a choice of hand painted wine glasses for each participant.