ICCW celebrates 79th biennial convention with theme of mercy

 ICCW officers applaud outgoing President Mary Glenn (at podium). Seated, from left, Vice President Lou Brown, Secretary Tracy Janis and Treasurer Kathryn Venable. (ICR photos/Emily Woodham)

By Emily Woodham

Staff Writer

Imagine temporal things, like food, arriving anew each day, without ever running out. Just as never needing to go grocery shopping because fresh food arrives each morning would cause excitement and jubilation, said Bobbi Dominick, we have something far better that never runs out: God’s mercy.

“Each day we have a fresh start in His mercy,” Dominck said in her keynote talk at the Idaho Council of Catholic Women’s (ICCW) 79th Biennial Convention at St. Mark’s Parish in Boise. “Every morning, God demonstrates new grace, a new begin­ning in which gloom must flee.”

Dominick is an attorney who spe­cializes in human resources, especial­ly in creating spaces of respect and safety. She developed the first safe environment program for the Diocese of Boise in the early 2000s. Her work for the Church also includes 10 years as pastoral associate at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise. She and her husband, Deacon Tom Dominick, transferred to St. Mary’s in Boise shortly after Deacon Dominick retired a few years ago.

The theme for the convention was “Follow the Son! His mercies are new every morning (Lam 3:22-23).”

 Bobbi Dominick, ICCW keynote speaker.

More than 50 women attended from across southern Idaho. Dominick encouraged them to think of the verse from Lamentations each morning, especially “if you ever get up on the wrong side of the bed.”

It’s not enough to consider the mes­sage of God’s mercy as something we receive, she continued. “We need to determine what this verse means for our lives and our journey. How does He want us to bring mercy and com­passion to others? The answer may be different at many times in our lives, but every morning we have a chance to try and figure it out.”

In discerning where she should vol­unteer in this next phase of her life, she found herself meditating on the triptych behind the altar of St. Mary’s. The work of art features the Blessed Virgin Mary and other women of faith from the Old and New Testaments, as well as those in the centuries follow­ing. Each woman of faith, Dominick said, courageously sought to bring the mercy of God to others.

“God doesn’t expect all of us to be like Mary or Mother Teresa, but He grants us mercy each and every day so that we, in turn, can shower that mercy and compassion upon others with whom we interact. God’s abun­dant mercy allows us to love people just as He asks us to, and love them just as they are,” she said.

Through contemplating these exam­ples of mercy, she decided to become a Vincentian, working directly with people in need. She reiterated that where and how God calls someone to bring His mercy to others will be different in each stage of life.

“Take inspiration from the saints and role models, and with the mercies that God grants you new every morn­ing, go and do likewise.”

Deacon Scott Pearhill spoke twice at the convention about the life of Pope Francis, who had passed away less than a week prior. Deacon Pear­hill is the communications director for the Diocese of Boise and the editor of the Idaho Catholic Register. In mid-June, he is leaving to teach pastoral studies and homiletics at Mt. Angel Seminary in Oregon.

 Deacon Scott Pearhill, keynote speaker.

“Pastoral Theology is taking the theology of the library and applying it to the daily life of the Church,” Pearhill said. “Pope Francis is a great mentor for that. He taught that Chris­tianity needed to be out in the streets, ministering to the people. Pope Fran­cis wanted us to live out that mercy of God every day. He wanted the joy of the Gospel to be apparent.”

Pearhill shared stories about Pope Francis and his compassion for oth­ers. “He didn’t change any doctrines of the Church. What did he change? I’d say attitude,” Pearhill explained. “He changed the style in which we present those doctrines; he asked us to lead with love, not with law.”

It’s important to help people under­stand why they should be attached to Christ, he said. “First, I have to know why I want to follow the Messiah. And then when I’m following the Messiah, I’ll probably want to live in the way that the Messiah would want.” Discipleship through mercy exemplified Pope Francis’s teaching.

 ICCW 2025 Convention participants enjoy a fun dance exercise.

The ICCW convention included time for socializing, prayer, meals and also an auction dinner. New officers were elected for the following two years. Mary Glen, parishioner at St. Mark’s, ended her term as president. Kelli Hall, parishioner at Holy Spirit Catholic Community in Pocatello, took the office of president until the next convention in 2027.

“My favorite thing about my two-year presidency is interacting with some of the nicest, most loving and supportive people,” Glen said. “I’ve always liked to volunteer, but until I joined St Mark’s CCW, I didn’t really make any lasting friendships.”

Her hope for the next two years is that ICCW will expand its efforts to help the people of Idaho, as well as through the National Council, to ben­efit our nation and the world. “One CCW unit can do a lot, but working together, we can do greater things,” she said.

In June of next year, ICCW will host a statewide women’s retreat. The date and venue will be announced later this year. For more information about ICCW, visit idahoccw.org.

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