‘Why Keep a Spiritual Journal?’ evokes enthusiasm

Interview of the Week on DDCCW program, ‘Why Keep a Spiritual Journal’ with Dave Palmer and Carla LaCroix at GRN studios on 2-16-21 (photo by Phil Ward)

What a reception from the women of the Dallas Deanery of the Council of Catholic Women (DDCCW) at  their February 11 quarterly luncheon. They were ready and eager to know more about spiritual journaling, especially during Lent.

The publicity garnered from GRN Catholic radio drew the larger than usual crowd of sixty women. Dave Palmer, director of the Guadalupe Radio Network in North Texas, interviewed Carla LaCroix and me for the Feb 17 KATH 910 AM Interview of the Week. Special thanks to Phil Ward for his fine photography.

Carla, who Dave calls a “super volunteer for GRN,” gave the listening audience a clear picture of the structure, mission and scope of the National Council of Catholic Women. Then she shared her experiences in the Diocese of Dallas Council where she serves as chair for the Dallas Deanery Council of Catholic Women. She recalled a poignant era in her life when journaling with Scripture was comforting. In her current notebook, she journals as she keeps track of GRN events.

I talked about the blessings of keeping a spiritual journal and previewed five graces I’ve experienced while journaling over several decades.

By recording what God is doing in my life, I’ve been blessed with knowing myself, knowing God, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, healing and the gift of evangelizing through my publications and presentations.

Thank you, all!

Thank you, women leaders of the DDCCW, especially President Mary Clare Ciestewicz, First Vice-president Diane Hibbs and Second Vice-President Margo Larson, who introduced me, for your generosity to me and genuine love for these women.

The St. Bernard of Clairvaux Women’s Guild hosted the quarterly meeting. Thanks to the women of the parish, especially Diane Hibbs and Annette Rubio, President of St. Bernard’s Guild, who were instrumental in presenting us with a beautiful spread for both breakfast and lunch. Joanne Fitzgerald assisted me in every way as my personal angel.

They provided me with a long table to offer my Catholic Mom Prayer Companion books and Sharing Your Faith Story DVDs. The women responded by purchasing a few of these resources, and taking home flyers and business cards to promote my presentations in their parishes.

Sharing our experiences

They welcomed me as a NCCW member and listened attentively to my talk on keeping a spiritual journal during Lent. In the few extra minutes after my talk, they enthusiastically asked me questions to further the discussion and shared their experiences keeping a journal.

Martha Richmond, a CCW friend I met at my talk on “The Gift of Conversion” for the St. Philip’s Guild, gladly took a few photos to remember the great time we had. I’ll cherish these as a reminder of the spirit among the women, the sisterhood devoid of self-interest.

Compassionate service – and fun!

The activities of the many committees emphasized a wide range of caring for the elder generation and the poor, especially pregnant and new mothers. These women never stop serving by providing meals and making baby caps for pregnant and new mothers, and a myriad of other caring projects. Our parishes are enriched spiritually because these women give so generously of themselves to the lonely, poor and needy – no matter their belief or nationality.

And the fun! Their excitement for raffles and drawings didn’t depend on what the prize was. I saw them all as winners in their pure enjoyment of spending a few hours together.

When we had to say goodbye —for now, it was with an enhanced sense of sisterhood that grows with each event and project we share. These beautiful women have much to write about in their journals!

What graces and blessings do you receive by journaling?