GREENSBORO — The Greensboro Area Council of Catholic Women recently held its annual Lenten Day of Reflection at St. Pius X Church. Karen Dyer, Ph.D., a parishioner of St. Paul the Apostle Church, led the retreat. Dyer has worked in faith formation for many years, was the group director of education and the profit sector for the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro and is a member of the diocesan school board.
Dyer’s presentation, “Discerning Your Gifts or Charisms,” took each participant through a series of questions requiring the women to reflect on their life experiences until now. The questions were designed to winnow away much of the baggage that can surround a person’s perceived gifts to reveal the actual, lived gifts that each person has been given, she noted.
Once this inventory was completed, the answers were scored to reveal charisms. The women were encouraged to refer to Scripture and along with the results of the inventory, asked to reflect on what they learned to help them in identifying and using their gifts for the Church.
Shirley Kinlaw, president of the Greensboro Area Council of Catholic Women, found Dyer’s assessment method extremely valuable. “Some of mine (in terms of charisms) were administration, leadership, giving, faith and mercy,” she said.
The program gave everyone a lot to think about, Kinlaw added, and a lot of areas for reflection during the remaining days of Lent – all with the aim of better understanding how people can most effectively use the gifts God has given them.
After the event, the feedback Kinlaw and Dyer received from the council members was extremely positive. Members appreciated not just the personal insights themselves but also the future merit the member parishes will enjoy from their ability to use their gifts more effectively for the good of the Church.
The Greensboro Area Council of Catholic Women was founded in 1971 by Agnes Hughes, who is still an active member.
At a time when Catholic women often felt isolated from each other, Hughes wanted to bring Catholic women together for fellowship and find ways to serve their community. Some 40 years later, the council’s mission remains the same.
The members hold raffles and events throughout the year that enable them to donate to various organizations. The council also hosts a memorial Mass in November, a potluck lunch with a speaker, a Lenten retreat with a speaker, and other events throughout the year. Membership is open to any practicing Catholic woman, and annual dues are $15.
Their next event, a May 23 spring luncheon, will feature local Catholic author and speaker Virginia Lieto. For details, email Shirley Kinlaw at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
— Annette K. Tenny, correspondent