A Message from Father Joe, Our Spiritual Moderator:

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In the latter part of July I looked forward to and participated in our annual Family Reunion at Shadehill Lake in Northeastern South Dakota.  While doing so, I “caught up” with many of the changes with my siblings and their families since the last reunion a year ago.  The changes that rose to the top of noteworthiness included the fact of several siblings who had either recently become grandparents or were awaiting their first grandchild.  Each, in a new way, was anxious to pass along to their next generation testimony of the abundant grace received within the family.  Each, too, displayed an irreversible joy that the fruit of their love and sacrifice multiplied before their very eyes.

The Solemn Feast of the Assumption of Mary into heaven gives me pause to think similarly of our Blessed Mother.  Having lived a life serving the Word Made Flesh in the mystery of the Incarnation, of course Mary would rejoice to see the fruit of her love and sacrifice multiplied in the life and love of her son in Church’s next generation!  As the first and most perfect disciple, (according to Father Raymond E. Brown, S.S.,) she shared the first fruit of Christ’s resurrection.  She gave her all for the sake of her Son.  Accordingly, how can she not participate in the raising of the next generation of believers?

To all the beloved women and spouses in the armed forces, on and near this Feast of the Assumption of Mary, may both Mary’s example and intercession spur your “yes” to make every sacrifice needed to pass along to those you love the gift of Christ’s love.  She is the model and the vector of all you hope to ever become.  Give another “yes” today.

“Women of Action”

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Welcome to all our women who are meeting us at THE WELL on this Feast of our Blessed Mother in honor of her Assumption.

I pray everyone has arrived their duty stations and have had PCS moves that have outcomed well since we all know the stress-and sometimes surprises-we receive once we arrive and begin to make our houses the homes we need them to be.

MCCW Worldwide is happy and humbled to share the memories we have had over the last several months and to include the future forward planning that we have had resulting in a  ‘spirit of collaboration’ in generating ownership, understanding and support that have led to spiritual and life changing retreats, days of reflection, leadership training and development and providing many opportunities in being an outlet and channel for grace and all will come to fruition April 2018 at the MCCW WORLDWIDE FORUM in San Diego.

We as MCCW Worldwide have felt so blessed to have been able to encounter so many of our sisters in Christ in the many regions we have visited so far and establishing relationships over our social media that I could not help myself but to share how much we have in common with  our blessed mother  as active duty women, military spouses and retirees. Our Blessed Mother was and currently still is a “woman of action,” much like all of us.

Mary set out and travelled to the hill country in haste, well that is exactly where we are in present time, our board has prayerfully followed the prompting of the holy spirit and has sent many of our leadership to convocations and gatherings of networks that are very instrumental in furthering the kingdom of God. MCCW Worldwide understands the importance of action and stepping out in faith and not losing momentum in bringing Christ to others especially our military catholic communities of women.

As “women of action” much like our Blessed Mother we as CWOC/MCCW women understand the continual journey, constantly by necessity on the move, rarely sitting still or staying in one place, we are missionary.

Missionary discipleship is our call at this time and ENCUENTRO (encounter) is what we are definitely doing. Mary was a missionary-the first missionary, a woman who travelled and carried Christ to the world!  Hmm?? Am I describing anyone YOU know?  Maybe YOU!!! She is the primary example in showing us that she met another woman, we set out in haste for our women!

All of us, like Mary, are on a journey, traveling to places and destinations we may not understand, or even enjoy for that matter, but as military women, military spouses and retirees we know this is part of our life, our mission. Missionary Disciples-“women in action” could not describe MCCW WORLDWIDE members and it’s leadership any better!

In His Service Joyfully,

Michelle Nash

MCCW President 2016-18

Cast Out Your Nets

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Greetings my Sisters who have joined me at the WELL! Our 2016-2018 MCCW Worldwide board has had several conference calls, and our first in person board meeting in the beautiful ‘Mission” city of San Diego. We gathered for three full days of prayer, work, and recreation to be led by the Holy Spirit.

All this to ensure that our WOMEN around the WORLD will be transformed through our Journey of Faith Encounters and Regional Retreats. We will also provide a 2018 Worldwide Faith Formation Forum that will be nothing less than a meeting with Christ through Sacramental Support and Key Note Speakers. This intentionality will excite all our disciples to lead by love and become apostles of action. We are very blessed to have had Fr. Joe Deichert and Bishop Buckon with us for the entirety of the board planning meeting. “Blessed are they among women!”

“Blessed are they among women!”

The reality has sunk in now, and I am so very humbled and honored by the support and prayers, and trust and confidence, that I personally have received, and that our entire board has received over these very critical months. Please be assured that as President and Servant Leader, I will do my best to live up to this trust. It is my prayer and hope to fulfill my own FIAT to the Lord where I will strive to continue to be a CHEERFUL GIVER always. I will work to provide a spirit of Unity, Charity, and Prayerfulness to the members and priests around the globe. I cannot do this alone, but only with your added prayers as WELL.

The tasks ahead of us are very clear. We are committed to “casting out our nets” where we have not tread before, to increase our visibility as a presence of Christ for our military chaplains in all branches. WE are ready to undertake this task with the Tools of our Mission by providing the Journey of Faith Encounters to all military installations and Regional Retreats, and to promote ‘witnesses” for Christ and NOT just speakers. Our Website and The Well will be changed to be more accessible and provide easier access to enhance the mission we have been commissioned with. Change is never easy, but as a Catholic Christian it is inevitable. The First thing as a board we were reminded of, is that in order to be SUPERNATURAL LEADERS we must be SUPERNATURAL FOLLOWERS of CHRIST, which implies we must MOVE Forward, no looking back.

As “Women at the Well” we are all about conversion, change and transformation. Please be assured of our prayers for all of you with renewed energy and hopeful guidance. We are so excited about the upcoming future of MCCW Worldwide and the positive potential changes in the future. With your prayers, the decisions of the board will be fulfilled to GLORIFY our LORD!

In His Service Always,

Michelle Nash

President ~ MCCW Worldwide