EDWARDSVILLE — "Sharing Our Journey of Faith" is the theme for the 85th annual Springfield in Illinois Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Convention, hosted this year by the Alton deanery.
The convention will be held at St. Boniface Church, 110 N. Buchanan St. in Edwardsville and will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 8 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki will celebrate Mass at 11 a.m., followed by a luncheon.
The convention keynote speaker will be national and international speaker Theresa Shank Grentz. She will address the audience with a wealth of experience ranging from her days as captain of the history-making Mighty Macs of Immaculata University in Pennsylvania, her 33 years as a coach of women's collegiate basketball, coach of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team and her leadership positions in the corporate and financial world. Grentz says her goal is to impart to others the peace and joy that permeate her life and she promises to share methods that are simple and within easy reach of all.
Also speaking at the convention is Father Jeffrey Goeckner, pastor of St. Boniface Parish in Edwardsville. He was born in Effingham, raised on a farm near Bishop Creek and is the oldest of eight children. Father Goeckner was ordained in 1995 and has been serving at St. Boniface for six years. He is dean of the Alton deanery. Additionally, he serves on the board of directors for Father McGivney Catholic High School and was influential in opening the school in 2012.
During the luncheon 2013 SDCCW scholarship winners and their parents will be introduced. This year's recipients (and the schools they graduated from) are: Emily Schultz, St. Anthony High School, Effingham; Jessica Bowlin, Effingham High School, Effingham; Mallory Stimac, Bethalto Civic Memorial High School, Bethalto; and Ashley Garrett, Quincy Notre Dame High School, Quincy.
For registration forms or questions, call your parish office, parish CCW president or Joyce Knodle at (217) 538-2085 or email . The registration fee is $45 and registration forms are to be sent to Joyce Knodle, 20345 N. 13th Ave., Fillmore, IL 62032 before Sept. 24. Checks should be made payable to SDCCW. Late or on-site registration fee is $55. Clergy and religious can attend for $20.