The Catholic Church is sometimes called “a man’s church.” 

 

I would not disagree that the Catholic Church has a male hierarchy.  But as far as the everyday, keep-the-lights-on running of the church, that has women written all over it. It’s like a computer. It might be a Dell brand, but it’s powered by Intel.  

 

There have always been women powering the church so to speak. Important women. Strong women. 

 

Look at Mary, the Blessed Mother. She had it all. Mary was key to our faith and our church. Her acceptance, support and even instruction for her Son Jesus (remember, she had Jesus get busy and do something about the wine at Cana) is a profound tool for teaching us the faith and evangelizing others. 

 

I met a permanent deacon once at the Eternal Word Network Studios who credited the Virgin Mary with not only his conversion to the Catholic Faith, but also to his call to the permanent diaconate. If that’s not the power of a woman, I don’t know what is. 

 

There are hundreds of thousands of stories like this. Many of our own diocesan priests credit the rosary and reflecting on Mary as part of what called them to a vocation. But that’s not my point today. 

 

The reason I write about the power of women in the Church was ignited by attending, once again, the annual Women of the Year Banquet sponsored by the Rockford Deanery Council of Catholic Women. This year was the 26th time the RDCCW honored women from 17 parishes. They also invited former women of the year to be recognized as well. In all, there have been 436 women receiving the designation as Catholic women of the year ... just in the Rockford Deanery.

 

This year, over 600 people gathered for dinner on a cold January evening to honor all these women who have the hands of a biblical Martha guided by the mind of our Mother Mary. 

 

If you have never attended this event, each parish writes a little paragraph snouy why iyd candidate was chosen as “woman of the year.” Not only are they chosen for their contributions to their parishes but many times they are also leaders in their careers, schools and communities. As I sat and listened to the contributions of all the 17 women, I started thinking what the Church and our communities might look like if these women had just said, “Oh well, it’s a man’s church. I don’t have a place.”  The thought was of nightmarish proportion. 

 

I am not just talking about the thought of who would take care of the church dinners or altar linens. What about the business end of the church? The capital campaigns, the pastoral and finance councils, school commissions, bookkeeping and scheduling? What about the choirs, music and education ministries?

 

These women have careers, children, grandchildren; they care for their homes, their families, their schools, their communities, their churches; they help other churches, help the homeless, do political action work, make charitable contributions in the way of time, talent and treasure to scores of outreaches and ministries and still find time to create, organize and lead new activities and pray. Yes the contributions are many. Behind it all is the driving force of faith. 

 

I truly believe, in the example of our Blessed Mother, that women have been equipped by God as the consummate multi-taskers.

 

Bishop David Malloy who gave out the honors, and Father Kenneth Stachyra, who said the final prayer at the banquet, both recognized the fact that a strong Church stands on the shoulders of hundreds of active, faith-filled women. 

 

Are you one of them? If you aren’t you can be. Church ministries always need volunteers. The need was expressed both by diocesan Council of Catholic Women President Cathy Vendemia and Bishop Malloy.

 

 You don’t need experience, you don’t need a specialized talent or degree, you just need heart and commitment. Many of the 2018 women of the year didn’t wait for an invitation — they stepped up. They did what Mary did, they said “yes” on faith. They didn’t wait for assurances or until all their questions were answered, they just saw a need and filled it.  Right now the Rockford Deanery and the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women are looking for a few good women to help keep the faith moving forward. 

 

If you want to be one of the women who helps uplift our Church and our faith, talk to someone from your local parish women’s group or send an email to Nancy Farrell, president of the Rockford Deanery Council of Catholic Women, at nancyfarrell2@aol.com