NCCW AFFILIATE HAPPENINGS

Our Lady of Fatima Council of Catholic Women in Alcoa, TN  is gearing up for Boxes of Joy.  100 boxes were distribute after the weekend masses and 100 more were ordered to be distributed at our Welcome Back Gathering on 9/16/24. Our goal is to fill 200 Boxes of Joy this  year to be given to children in need. What’s your goal this year?

On August 4, 2024, The Council of Catholic Women of Our Lady of Fatima in Alcoa, TN, awarded two $500 scholarships at the graduation mass for 2024 high school seniors. Candidates had to write an essay, have a 3.0+ GPA , have plans to continue their education at a college or university, and be active members of Our Lady of Fatima parish. Selected applicants were chosen by the CCW officers.

The St. Mary’s Council of Catholic Women in Lowell MI teamed up in their church kitchen to make 50 two-person freezer meals for the church staff to hand out to those in immediate need. A mother of young children secured the recipes, ingredients, volunteers and donations. The Youth Group helped with cleanup and dishes. Not only did the CCW members experience working together on this project but while the food was in the oven they were able to chat and get to know each other better.  This successful project will be repeated in the fall.

We have a new bishop! After waiting for over a year, the Diocese of Knoxville, TN ordained its 4th bishop, Mark Beckman on July 26, 2024. While several CCW members attended his ordination, those who couldn’t be there, attended a watch party held in our social hall. In addition, Our Lady of Fatima hosted a bilingual deanery Mass with Bishop Beckman on July 31, 2024 with a Meet and Greet reception afterwards. Several CCW members of the Smoky Mountain Deanery attended, participated musically, baked for the reception, and helped with serving.  

Here in the Knoxville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (KDCCW), in combination with our KDCCW Service Commission, we chose a service project for the year that we have been promoting since December 2023.  It’s a combined project that both Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) have done for a number of years. They are the Madonna Plan and Water for Life.  The Madonna Plan focuses on maternal health through vaccinations for infants and children as well as breastfeeding support and education.  Water for Life focuses on building sustainable wells in areas that need clean and dependable water sources. Each parish, deanery, as well as individuals have donated monetarily to the project.  Some of the parishes used funds from Fish Fry’s or International Dinners to donate those funds to our Service Project.  We thank all for them for their service to God and others. We are proud to announce that we raised $6,250 for our 2024 Service Project!  We split this service project between Water for Life and The Madonna Plan and left it up to the donor how they wanted that donation to be applied. Of the total, $3,662.50 will be sent to Water for Life and the remaining $2,587.50 will be given to The Madonna Plan. Pictured are Karen Vacaliuc, KDCCW Service Commission Chair and Michelle Peckham, KDCCW President

Sowing Abundant Seeds: SDCCW 74th Annual Convention. Pictured are Jane Schiszik, Province Director for the Province of Milwaukee with Past P.D.’s: Lucille Brandner and Charlotte Snarski who were among the 120 attendees at this event. It was a convention filled with spirituality, celebration and fun. Recognized and honored were seven Golden Rose nominees,  five Pax Christi Deanery Finalists and nominees, and two Mary Jane Morancyk Hennessy Scholarship recipients. And of course, the best part of any gathering is getting together with one’s Council Sisters and renewing previous friendships.

Members of The Greater Meriden Council of Catholic Women recently held a bake sale at the Knights of Columbus Fried Dough and Fireworks at Holy Angels Campus of Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish in Meriden CT.  Lots of delectable treats were baked by our members and by the time the fireworks started both the Ladies and the KofC had sold out. Pictured are L-R, Pat Stasiewski, Brenda Wight, Sheila Maietta and Olga Brandl.

The Greater Meriden Council of Catholic Women recently held their annual Potluck Dinner at Holy Angels Campus of Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish in Meriden CT.  Despite the heat we enjoyed a delicious meal and we presented Fr. Dominic with a Spiritual Bouquet in thanks for being our wonderful Spiritual Advisor.

While the summer months are used for brainstorming for our next year,  The Council of Catholic Women of Our Lady of Fatima in Alcoa, TN is still active. For the month of June, we assisted in our church’s International dinner and distributed pocket rosary rings to the men of our parish, in honor of Father’s Day.