The Council of Catholic Women Archdiocese of Detroit is proud to present the winner of the CCW/AD Essay Contest , Miss Orlagh O’Donohue!
In early summer 2020, CCW invited our Golden Rose recipients to enter the CCW Essay Contest. The topic was to describe how the pandemic of 2020 was shaping their life today. The essays were judged by Caroline Wallis from the Young Catholic Professionals.
In early summer 2020, CCW invited our Golden Rose recipients to enter the CCW Essay Contest. The topic was to describe how the pandemic of 2020 was shaping their life today. The essays were judged by Caroline Wallis from the Young Catholic Professionals.
How the 2020 Pandemic is Shaping My Life
by Orlagh O’Donohue
The 2020 pandemic has had devastating effects on most of the world; there has been tremendous loss of life, people are out of work with loss of income, and many people are forced to spend their days alone, unable to see their loved ones. Churches are closed. Thus, the sacraments, which are a source of comfort and strength in times of hardship, have been rendered unavailable. Many people have suffered and continue to suffer today. I am grateful and blessed that I emerged from the stay-at-home time, not only healthy and safe, but with a much deeper appreciation of certain aspects of life. I was given a chance to spend much time with my family during the lockdown. I learned, also, how crucial and central to life the sacraments truly are and how blessed we are to have such frequent access to them.
During the lockdown, I spent all my time, much more time than I would have thought possible, with my family. While our days were usually filled with work, school, sports and other activities, quite suddenly we found ourselves with no commitments. Because of this, we had time to do more together. We started baking together, going on runs together, making home movies together—activities we had done together before, but not regularly, and certainly not every day. Despite the world conditions, I am immensely grateful to have had this opportunity to spend time with my family before moving on to the next phase of my life, starting college in the fall. I have been given the gift of quality time in communion with my family which resulted in us growing even closer and creating beautiful (and funny) memories which I will carry with me always. Remarkably, I was also able to grow closer to the family members that I was not able to physically see. Every day my extended family would meet over a video call to pray the rosary together. It was such a beautiful experience to “see” and pray with my whole family each day. I was strengthened and renewed by this—to grow in my faith with my family as we all put our hope in Christ and trusted that He would provide for and protect us in this most difficult of times.
The greatest impact that the pandemic has had on me is a deep and lasting understanding and appreciation of just how crucial the sacraments are. I had taken the sacraments for granted. It was in being unable to received Our Lord in the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist that I grasped the depth of this gift. Before the stay-at-home orders, I would often attend and celebrate Mass and receive Holy Communion every day. I, thankfully, knew I was blessed to receive Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist, but I did not understand I was blessed to be able to receive Our Lord. After much time without physically attending Mass and receiving Our Lord, I realized I am completely dependent on Jesus in the Eucharist and that with receiving Jesus, I am strengthened and loved and can love. How easy it is to attribute the strength, love for others, and joy that the Eucharist instills in us to our own selves!
When, however, I was unable to receive the Eucharist, I discovered how helpless I am without the strength that Christ so freely and completely gives. Christ’s gift of the Eucharist is incredibly merciful, loving, and generous and we cannot understand its true beauty. This pandemic has shown me how necessary the sacraments are to grow in holiness and I have become abundantly thankful that I am able to so frequently receive them.
This pandemic has been truly devastating. So many have fallen sick and died, and their families, in most cases, were unable to comfort them when they were sick or to have a funeral upon death. This has also been a time of great economic hardship and uncertainty, with many people struggling to provide for their families. I am earnestly praying for a swift end to this dreadful virus and for comfort for all who are suffering so greatly. I am grateful that my family and I have remained healthy and safe. Despite having devasted and disrupted our lives in numerous ways, the 2020 pandemic has brought about a growth in my faith alongside my family. It has instilled in me a deeper love for my family and a deeper appreciation for the sacraments which I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
by Orlagh O’Donohue
The 2020 pandemic has had devastating effects on most of the world; there has been tremendous loss of life, people are out of work with loss of income, and many people are forced to spend their days alone, unable to see their loved ones. Churches are closed. Thus, the sacraments, which are a source of comfort and strength in times of hardship, have been rendered unavailable. Many people have suffered and continue to suffer today. I am grateful and blessed that I emerged from the stay-at-home time, not only healthy and safe, but with a much deeper appreciation of certain aspects of life. I was given a chance to spend much time with my family during the lockdown. I learned, also, how crucial and central to life the sacraments truly are and how blessed we are to have such frequent access to them.
During the lockdown, I spent all my time, much more time than I would have thought possible, with my family. While our days were usually filled with work, school, sports and other activities, quite suddenly we found ourselves with no commitments. Because of this, we had time to do more together. We started baking together, going on runs together, making home movies together—activities we had done together before, but not regularly, and certainly not every day. Despite the world conditions, I am immensely grateful to have had this opportunity to spend time with my family before moving on to the next phase of my life, starting college in the fall. I have been given the gift of quality time in communion with my family which resulted in us growing even closer and creating beautiful (and funny) memories which I will carry with me always. Remarkably, I was also able to grow closer to the family members that I was not able to physically see. Every day my extended family would meet over a video call to pray the rosary together. It was such a beautiful experience to “see” and pray with my whole family each day. I was strengthened and renewed by this—to grow in my faith with my family as we all put our hope in Christ and trusted that He would provide for and protect us in this most difficult of times.
The greatest impact that the pandemic has had on me is a deep and lasting understanding and appreciation of just how crucial the sacraments are. I had taken the sacraments for granted. It was in being unable to received Our Lord in the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist that I grasped the depth of this gift. Before the stay-at-home orders, I would often attend and celebrate Mass and receive Holy Communion every day. I, thankfully, knew I was blessed to receive Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist, but I did not understand I was blessed to be able to receive Our Lord. After much time without physically attending Mass and receiving Our Lord, I realized I am completely dependent on Jesus in the Eucharist and that with receiving Jesus, I am strengthened and loved and can love. How easy it is to attribute the strength, love for others, and joy that the Eucharist instills in us to our own selves!
When, however, I was unable to receive the Eucharist, I discovered how helpless I am without the strength that Christ so freely and completely gives. Christ’s gift of the Eucharist is incredibly merciful, loving, and generous and we cannot understand its true beauty. This pandemic has shown me how necessary the sacraments are to grow in holiness and I have become abundantly thankful that I am able to so frequently receive them.
This pandemic has been truly devastating. So many have fallen sick and died, and their families, in most cases, were unable to comfort them when they were sick or to have a funeral upon death. This has also been a time of great economic hardship and uncertainty, with many people struggling to provide for their families. I am earnestly praying for a swift end to this dreadful virus and for comfort for all who are suffering so greatly. I am grateful that my family and I have remained healthy and safe. Despite having devasted and disrupted our lives in numerous ways, the 2020 pandemic has brought about a growth in my faith alongside my family. It has instilled in me a deeper love for my family and a deeper appreciation for the sacraments which I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Orlagh is the oldest of 6 children. She enjoys reading, playing the tin whistle, playing Gaelic football, acting in plays, and time with family and friends. She is a parishioner at Old St. Mary’s and enjoys helping the altar guild decorate for big feast days. She was homeschooled and is now studying at Hillsdale College!
NCCW RESOLUTION
Building our Future Purpose:
To build the future of the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) by promoting high school and college membership around the country. WHEREAS, NCCW’s Mission states that all Catholic women will be provided spirituality, leadership, and service opportunities through membership in the NCCW, therefore, it is incumbent upon the NCCW to offer membership to young women to ensure their access to the NCCW prayers and programs; and WHEREAS, the NCCW has a program to enroll young women as members through the NCCW High School and College membership program;
therefore, be it
RESOLVED that NCCW will support, empower and educate high school and college women to grow their spirituality and service and become active leaders in our councils; and encourage member participation in the established NCCW High School and College program and its protocol; and RESOLVED that our local councils establish and maintain a link between current members and newly formed high school and college affiliates through encouragement and mentoring.
Golden Rose Award Program 2019 | |
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