Happy New Year to one and all! Belatedly, I admit. I hope this year will be filled with God’s blessings and consolation for you all.
We’re First Runner Up!
At the annual CMA meeting in Washington DC, our guild came in second place nationally for guild of the year. It was a great honor to receive this award for all the work we have done and continue to do.
Board Meeting
Our next board meeting is Monday January 30th at 7PM at San Camillo in the Rose Bengozzi room. An agenda will be sent out shortly.
However, our most pressing task at the next meeting will be boards elections. We have to open seats and our secretary, Dr. Andrew Brayer, will not be seeking re-election. I want to personally thank Andy for his work over the past years. All the other officers are up for election as well, so if anyone wants to jump in, please tell me.
To be on the board, one must be a member in good standing (that means pay your dues!) at both the local and national level.
Dues
And of course, if you haven’t paid your dues yet, please do. It is our main source of funding for most of our activities, including the ones mentioned below. You can go to our website mgcma.org
Dignity at the End of Life: From Suffering to Hope
As one of the directors of the Wisconsin Guild, I have been working on our next end of life conference. It will be Saturday March 4th from 9-4 at Wyndham Garden Hotel in Fitchburg near Madison. Cost is $100 with CME, $50 without and includes breakfast and lunch. The Madison guild is planning a White Mass afterwards with Bishop Morlino. Special hotel rates are also available for those who want to stay overnight.
We have some excellent speakers. Dr. Ramon Luzarraga will speak on the Catholic understanding of suffering. Julie Grimstad (who was a speaker at our last conference and asked to speak again to a wider audience) on the need for patient advocates and what that means. Mark Pickup will give a case study of someone who has had multiple sclerosis for many years, first diagnosed when there were not many treatment options, on his journey from despair to hope. In the afternoon, we have Kristen Krebs who will discuss hospice. Ed Weber who will talk about Loretto on the Plains, a community based home for the chronically ill and dying. Finally, Dr. Byron Calhoun will talk about perinatal hospice.
If you can’t make it, but know anyone who might be interested, please pass it on! I also have posters/brochures.
Lenten Spark Retreat
Our second annual Lenten Spark retreat will be Saturday March 25th at San Camillo from 8-1PM. The Topic: “Only Love: The Three Theresas Reflections on Sts Therese of Lisieux, Teresa of Avila, and Theresa of Calcutta. The talks will be given by Jennifer Christ who was one of the speakers at our last retreat. The cost is $10 and will include breakfast and lunch, a bargain!
White Mass 2017
Mark your calendars for our annual White Mass October Wednesday October 18th and pass the word on to anyone who might be interested. More details to follow.
Other Retreat Opportunities
I just sent everyone who might be interested in doing a retreat up in Appleton with the Green Bay guild. Also, Mary Kuehl is interested in setting up a weekend retreat for women in health care in this state which I will be passing on.
Continue to do all the good work that you do!
Your president
Cindy Jones-Nosacek