NCCW AFFILIATE HAPPENINGS

For our November gathering, the Council of Catholic Women of Our Lady of Fatima, Alcoa, TN, welcomed speaker Cindy Chandler, Blount County’s program Director for Isaiah 117 House. They provide emotional and physical support for those awaiting foster care. Members generously supported their wish list and prayed for Isaiah 117 House to continue their mission. We Are Many Parts, We Are All One Body!

Members of the Greater Meriden Council of Catholic Women recently enjoyed a 10-day trip to Italy for the Padre Pio celebration.  Pictured in front of the Statue of Padre Pio are, L to R:  Olga Brandl, Susanne Sagaites, Fr David, Gloria Lopez, Wilma Ramos, and Elena Jones.

  For our General Meeting on October 10, 2023, we invited the Executive Director of Haven House as our speaker for Domestic Violence Awareness month. On their wish list were paper towels and laundry detergent in which CCW members generously donated. Patricia Forde, President of the Smoky Mt. Deanery also joined us for our gathering of food, prayers, fellowship, and a brief meeting.

On September 14th the Greater Meriden Council of Catholic Women sponsored a dinner to honor our new Spiritual Advisor, Father Dominic Anaeto, Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish, and to present him with his Spiritual Advisor pin.  Pictured is Dr. Loretta Tomasiello, Co-President and Province Director of Hartford, Pat Stasiewski, Co-President and Fr. Dominic, showing his pin to the those attending.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist CCW hosted an all day  retreat on Saturday, August 19 in the Basilica’s Regina Coeli Hall. The retreat was called “Filling Your Life with God’s Love”. The retreat’s director was Carl McColman – a contemplative writer, retreat director and spiritual director. Mr.  McColman shared the many ways to pray and reflect on the many blessings in our life. Women from all over Georgia attended the retreat which was advertised in local church bulletins. It was a sold out event which proves that everyone who was able to attend wanted to fill their life with God’s love.  It was very well organized with prayer time, table discussions and delicious refreshments.

CCW Ladies and Spiritual Advisors attending the Province of Omaha annual meeting, July 2023. Blessed to have previous Province Directors participate in the 2023 annual Province meeting as well.

The pregnancy centers of our deanery were the recipients for this year’s service project.  The ladies from eleven counties and thirty-five parishes raised $2,100.00.  We presented a ceremonial check to Sue Sharon of Choices on August 3, 2023, at St. Mary’s Church in Paris, IL.  We divided this sum of money to Choices, Family Life Center in Effingham, IL and LightHouse in Vandalia, IL.  Each facility received a check for $700.00.  We concluded our meeting with our famous “White Elephant” auction which raised $1,445.00 for the Seminary Fund.

On Friday, July 7th, the Greater Meriden Council of Catholic Women held a bake sale at the Knights of Columbus Fried Dough and Fireworks event. This is the second year we have baked for this event, which was very well attended.  In the picture, standing L-R is Wilma Ramos, Olga Brandl, Susanne Sagaitis, and seated is Pat Stasiewki.

A Mass honoring the recipients of the Bishop Blanchette Scholarship and the Father John M. Sebhar Servant Leadership Award was geld June 1st at the Blanchette Catholic Center in Crest Hill, IL. Mass was celebrated by the Most Rev. Ronald Hicks, Rev. James Antiporek, Rev John M Sebhar, and Rev John Peeters. The BBSF was established by the Joliet Diocesan Council of Catholic Women in 1982 in honor of Bishop Romeo Blanchette. The Father John M Sebhar Servant Leadership Award was established in 2016 by the JDCCW as a tribute of gratitude to Fr Sebhar.