April 8, 2009

2009 ENDOW gala to honor the family

By Julie Filby

Celebrating the theme “Into the Heart of the Family,” this year’s Evening of Enchantment Gala will honor a woman whose children are all faith-filled evangelists for the Catholic Church.

The Evening of Enchantment is an annual event to celebrate and support the mission of the nonprofit Catholic women’s group ENDOW (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women). At this year’s gala, the Julia Greeley Award will be presented to Jane Eusterman, who according to her nomination letter is “a gentle teacher...who concentrates on small things that have a great impact.”

The award, named after a former slave and Catholic convert who cared for the poor and for struggling mothers, is given to an individual who demonstrates the “genius of women” in the following areas: religious/spiritual, family, professional, parish and civic involvement. The committee also considered the theme of this year’s gala when making their decision.

Eusterman is a member of Our Lady of Loreto Parish in Foxfield. She was nominated by her ENDOW study group who wrote, “She believes that the ‘little ways’ are women’s feminine genius and we all have the opportunity to make a difference, one small act at a time.”

Eusterman, like Greeley, converted to Catholicism as an adult. She has been married to Vince for 28 years and they have three young adult children: Matthew, Laura and Daniel. Matthew, 24, works as a peer minister for the Newman Center.  Laura, 20, is involved in with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students. Daniel, 18, is in his first year at St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul, Minn.

“I’m so happy ENDOW picked me—someone who hasn’t done anything particularly ‘great,’” said Eusterman. “It sends the message that everyone can answer the call they hear from God every day.”

Eusterman is an active parish and community volunteer. She is an ENDOW group facilitator, volunteer medical coordinator for the Aurora sites of the 9 Cares Health Fairs and works at The Life Closet (donated clothing) ministry at Our Lady of Loreto. She is also in her third year of Catholic Biblical School.

“Jane’s nomination letter, describing her family and her simple, yet strong, impact on others stood out,” said Kate Sweeney, associate director of ENDOW. “She exemplifies ‘the woman in the pew’ who lives out the feminine genius. She is truly living out the mission of ENDOW.”

The term “feminine genius” was coined by Pope John Paul II to describe women’s remarkable capacity for empathy.

The Evening of Enchantment is set for April 18 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in downtown Denver. The evening begins at 5 p.m. with Mass celebrated by San Antonio Archbishop Jose Gomez, S.T.D., followed by cocktails, dinner, entertainment and the award ceremony.