Head of NCCW says group must find new ways to meet needs of women

Published: 2004-09-27

AUSTIN, Texas (CNS) -- Austin's St. Mary Cathedral was a fitting symbol for the National Council of Catholic Women as its members gathered for the organization's 2004 biennial general assembly. The cathedral, nearly 150 years old, is undergoing a restoration that is taking longer than anticipated. Likewise, the NCCW, which has been in existence since the 1920s, finds itself rebuilding, evaluating how to thrive in changing demographics and lifestyles. Women from across the country who came to Austin for the assembly found themselves on folding chairs, surrounded by scaffolding, in the cathedral for the opening Mass, or in the nearby Bishop's Hall, if they couldn't find a seat in the cathedral. While this year's general assembly drew approximately 650 participants, the largest number ever, President Margaret Gray reported to them that the organization lost 321 affiliates -- primarily parish women's organizations -- in the last year. She warned the women that the national organization, which says on its Web site that it has "over 5,000 affiliated Catholic women's groups," cannot survive if the dramatic loss of affiliates continues.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .