ROCKFORD—The Catholic Women’s League held its annual Mass for Peace on May 13 at the Poor Clare’s Corpus Christi Monastery, here.
Bishop David Malloy celebrated the Mass and installed the organization’s officers to serve in the coming year. They are President Mary Jo Keffer of Holy Family Parish, Vice President Jacque Bolger of St. James Parish, Secretary Angie Cash of St. James Parish, and Treasurer Mary Kay Tapp of St. Peter Parish in South Beloit.
Members of the CWL hail from many area parishes and serve the community in a multitude of ways with special and with ongoing projects and service.
Bishop Malloy said the group is an example of “not just how to have faith, but how to live faith.”
In his homily, the bishop spoke of peace and how God’s gift of peace is “first and foremost that deep peace of heart that comes from our union with God” that continues “even in times of trouble.”
He provided a few suggestions for prayers for peace, including for God’s peace of heart for the Nepal earthquake victims and survivors, the Middle East Christians at risk of martyrdom, for people who face health crises, for prisoners, and for the four women installed as CWL leaders this year.
“Let us not miss the widest context as possible as we pray for that gift of peace,” he said of the peace of God given by Jesus after His resurrection.
— Amanda Hudson