What women want Faith and Fellowship

Sep 13, 2005

During his homily at the World Youth Day in August, Pope Benedict XVI urged the young faithful to “form communities based on faith!”  He explained that “in recent decades, movements and communities have come to birth in which the power of the Gospel is keenly felt.”  These words regarding faith and fellowship have lingered in my mind since my return from Cologne a few weeks ago. 

As a Catholic woman, I’m aware of my calling to love, serve, and unrelentingly give myself away to others.  I’m also aware that, when relying solely on my own strength, I do not possess the grace to successfully live my vocation to the fullest. 

 

For example, there are times when I convince myself that I can be the perfect wife, loving sister, gracious daughter, attentive friend, and most efficient employee that walked the face of the earth.  However, in trying to be everything to everyone, I end up multi-tasking myself into a mess of chaos, weariness, and ultimately failure.  

 

Only after the inevitable “meltdown” that follows do I realize my weakness and lack of faith.  In humility, I re-surrender myself to God’s plan and admit that I cannot do His work alone.  I need Him!  With this submission, comes deeper trust in the Lord and I am reminded that “I have strength for everything through Him who empowers me” (Phil. 4:13). 

 

What a blessing that God strengthens us when we cannot sufficiently strengthen ourselves.  We see this when Christ feeds us with His Word through the Scriptures and also at His table in the Eucharist.  However, God also sends us strength and vitality when we willingly share our mission and vocation with others. 

 

In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we are taught that “[we] cannot believe without being carried by the faith of others, and by [our] faith [we] help support others in the faith” (#166).  There is strength in fellowship.

 

On my path to holiness, I have come across an organization that provides this fellowship, support, and encouragement for women in all walks of life: ENDOW.

Just as the acronym explains, ENDOW (Educating of the Nature and Dignity of Women) is a non-profit organization that educates women about their dignity using the writings of Pope John Paul II and the teachings of the Catholic Church.  They promote Pope John Paul II’s New Feminism by offering study curriculum, quarterly lectures, and training seminars written for the typical “woman in the pew.”  In these forums, women deepen their relationship with Christ and discover what it means to be truly feminine.  Moreover, through small study circles, women personalize their faith by sharing their faith.  

As a Board Member of ENDOW, I’ve realized that faith and fellowship are integral to our formation as Catholic women.  Terry Polakovic, Executive Director of ENDOW, shared that “faith draws us together and fellowship keeps us together.”  Terry unlocked the truth about community. 

Faith-filled interaction with others points us toward our Creator and offers the opportunity to see Christ working in and among us.  Through fellowship, we experience Christ’s message that, “wherever two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them.” (Mt. 2:3).

In reiterating this truth, the Holy Father concluded his World Youth Day homily asking the faithful to “Seek communion in faith, like fellow travelers who continue together to follow the path of the great pilgrimage that the Magi from the East first pointed out to us.”

On this earthly pilgrimage towards our heavenly home, we, too, must prioritize fellowship and surround ourselves with other pilgrims who will encourage, support, and challenge us in service to the family, community, and Church.

For more information on ENDOW, please visit www.endowonline.com

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