NCCW AFFILIATE HAPPENINGS

Members of the Greater Meriden Council of Catholic Women were proud to participate in Corpus Christi on June 11th carrying the flag of Our Lady of Good Council.  We walked from Holy Trinity Church to St Faustina Parish, SS Peter & Paul Church, both in Wallingford.  Pictured are L-R, Olga Brandl, Pat Stasiewski and Sheila Maietta.

St. Mary’s Visitation Parish in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee held their annual Salad Supper. Paper purse bags on the tables netted $725 in donations for the NCCW Purse Club. 146 women ages 20 – 95 attended and there were over 100 salads to choose from! Lydia LoCoco from the archdiocese spoke on the women friends in your life.

Our incoming president, Paulette Ciesynski, proposed we celebrate Pentecost in a different way this year. In thanksgiving for all of the new 400+ members who joined our parish this past year, she urged the affiliate to shower the altar with a red flower for each new parishioner. We think the outcome was quite beautiful.

The ladies of  St. Charles Borromeo went above and beyond this Memorial Day for the veterans in their community. A remembrance book was signed, stars signed, and a white tree with lights honored the Veterans who had died through crosses and the Veterans who were not able to be there in person were included by stars signed by the Veterans at the event. A table setting was decorated with poppy petals for the Veterans, a symbol of remembrance and hope for the future. Remembering our Veterans on this Memorial Day.

At the 84th Savannah Diocesan Council of Catholic Women convention held in Savannah, GA from April 28-30,  Rev. David A. Koetter, Diocesan Spiritual Advisor, was given the NCCW 100 Year History Book in appreciation of the more than 10 years he has served as Spiritual Advisor for SDCCW.  Fr. Koetter is Pastor at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Savannah which was the host church for the convention.  At the Saturday evening Mass, Bishop Stephen D. Parkes, Bishop of Savannah, acknowledged Fr. Koetter’s many years of service to CCW with the words “Blessed are you among women, Fr. Koetter”.

CCW of VA/TN draws membership from southwest VA and northeast TN and uses the facilities at St. Anne Church in Bristol, VA for our meetings. We join together each month for spiritual reflection, fellowship, and outreach. In March, the CCW members joined together for our Lenten reflection. Nineteen members met to pray the Stations of the Cross. As part of our commitment to outreach members donated cleaning supplies to Bristol Faith in Action, a local ministerial organization.  This organization serves the community by providing help with utility bills, rent, and household commodities.

Mrs. Barbara Scott, a member of St. Boniface CCW in Springfield, GA, spoke about the history of Effingham County.  Barbara is a direct descendant of settlers to the county and is also a member of the Effingham Historical Society. She wore a traditional German dirndl. Effingham County was  developed in 1733 under the Treaty of Savannah and was originally established as St. Matthew Parish. One of the charities that St. Boniface CCW regularly contributes to is The Truetlen House – a non-profit home named after John Adam Truetlen (Georgia’s first Governor) that provides services for boys ages 10-21 in the Georgia Foster Care System.

Southwest Minnesota has a council of Catholic women (CCW) sponsored event that draws people from a three state area. Starting in 2015, the Tracy CCW began hosting a unique event that combines gardening and quilts. The event allows people to view beautiful gardens and quilts within a short driving distance from each other and end the afternoon with homemade pie from St. Mary’s. The pie project started 21 years ago and their pies are sold year-round. The event has been a huge success and the 2022 garden and quilt tour was even featured on an episode of Pioneer PBS’ “Prairie Yard and Garden”.

As long-time members found it difficult to attend meetings, we wanted to keep connected and honor them. Thus, the once-a-month Serendipity gatherings began. Held in members’ homes, each attendee brings a dish to the luncheon. They share life and are brought up to date on CCW Doings. This is a form of thank you, mentoring, and support to our members who have been supportive of CCW for years. The bonus is it is keeping them involved and young!   Submitted by Mary Ann Scotchie