Springfield resident in training to head national Catholic women's group

Springfield resident Rebecca Woodhull was recently installed as the president-elect of the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) at their ChIicago convention. She will serve in that capacity until September 2013, when she will be installed and serve as president for two years. Finally, she will serve two more years after that as past-president.

"So, really it is a six-year commitment," says Woodhull, who grew up in Little Flower Parish but is now a member of Cathedral Parish. She says the first two years will help her "get more acquainted with the women's groups."

She describes NCCW, which was created in 1920 by the Catholic bishops of the United States, as "a great organization of dedicated, faith-filled women."

"All women are part of our diocesan council by virtue of being Catholic women and parishes are encouraged to have affiliated women's groups belong to the DCCW," she says.

Woodhull first became involved in DCCW when she and her husband joined Cathedral Parish in the 1990s. "I wanted the camaraderie of being with other Catholic women," she says. "I needed that relationship of doing things that were spiritually uplifting and doing good things for people in need."

Since the beginning of her history with DCCW, Woodhull has served in leadership on the diocesan, state and national levels. In addition to her new NCCW designation she is currently president of the Springfield DCCW and that term ends in September.

"With NCCW, the organization represents all Catholic women at the United Nations and on USCCB and other policy-making bodies on topics of interest to Catholic women such as human trafficking and legislation affecting the poor and our families," Woodhull says. "The NCCW has a Campaign for Human Dignity under which these and other topics fall.

"We also have partnerships with Catholic Relief Services and Cross International," she says. "Our mission is to empower, educate and support Catholic women in spirituality, leadership and service."

Woodhull says parishes may belong to NCCW and the NCCW individual membership is "what makes the organization come into the home and heart of the Catholic woman to keep up on what NCCW is doing and resources it provides for the ladies and their parish groups."

NCCW is important, she says. "We need to focus on the types of 'good works of holy women' that can only be done by a national organization," she says. NCCW leaders have involvement with the United Nations, testify at Congress, participate in World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations and take part in campaigns on issues that are "dear to Catholic hearts."

"For example, the whole executive committee of NCCW will be in Washington, D.C., at the upcoming March for Life," Woodhull says.

Woodhull will be the fifth woman from Illinois to be the president of NCCW. Her mentor Rita Greenwald, also of Cathedral, was the NCCW president when Woodhull joined Cathedral Parish.

Now retired from full-time employment — she was most recently director of a statewide research and development center serving teachers, counselors and administrators called the Illinois Office of Educational Services — Woodhull holds a doctorate in education. She and her husband have six children and a number of grandchildren who live not only in Springfield but in several other states. She remains involved with her parish, serving as a eucharistic minister, lector and a Cathedral tour guide.

"We must remind people of the tremendous work Catholic women do, why we take a moral stand on issues for the good of all and make our voice heard where it is most effective," Woodhull says. "I want to give back and contribute to growing our NCCW."

Editor's note: For more information on the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW), or for membership forms, go to www.nccw.org.