NCCW AFFILIATE HAPPENINGS

The South Jacksonville Deanery of the Diocese of St. Augustine met at Christ The King Catholic Parish for our Mass, meeting and dinner on March 21. We had a wonderful group of women in attendance, and are very excited for the future of our Diocesan council.

St. John’s CCW took up a collection in January 2024 for the residents of the local nursing home. At the February meeting CCW members assembled the gallon zip-lock bags filled with toiletries, writing materials, greeting cards, crayons, Slipper socks, tissue packs and candy. The bags were given to the 130 residents at their Valentine Party. St. John’s began this project in 2021 and with the generosity of our members and parishioners, the residents have benefitted.

The Rosary with Adoration was prayed at St. John the Baptist parish on January 27, 2024. Following our time in the chapel, donuts and coffee were enjoyed and attendees visited with our pastor, Rev. Christopher Lankford, KHS. Fr. Chris offered this idea and we appreciated praying and reflecting together as well as visiting and sharing ideas. About 35 women and men prayed and socialized afterwards. We used the Pray the Rosary with NCCW as a guideline with the Joyful Mysteries – A New Beginning prayed at the beginning of each decade.

The St. Jude’s CCW in New Lenox, Illinois painted rocks at the March meeting.

The Council of Catholic Women of Our Lady of Fatima in Alcoa, TN welcomed Mother Gabrielle Marie and the Benedictine Daughters of Divine Will to their General Meeting on March 11, 2024. For our Lenten reflection, they shared their spiritual journey and what it means to live in the Divine Will.  

On Saturday, March 9, the Savannah Deanery CCW enjoyed lunch hosted by St. Frances Cabrini CCW. The program was presented by LaToya Scott from Tharros Place located in Pooler, GA. Its mission is to cultivate a culture of courage for adolescent survivors of human trafficking through compassionate and safe residential care, empowered and respected staff, and collaborative community outreach. Ms. Scott said their goal is to house 12 young women who have been abused. In addition to learning about Tharros Place, attendees also learned about a program entitled “Walking Through Grief” which is being sponsored by St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church on Wilmington Island – located east of Savannah.

The Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (LDCCW) held its annual Winter Symposium February 16 and 17, 2024 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat Center in Waverly, Nebraska.  This year’s event theme was “Magnify Our Lord…With Beauty and Truth”.

In January, Jane Bernhardt celebrated her 100th birthday. In addition to being an active member of her parish CCW at St. Charles Borromeo in Cassville, Wisconsin, she has served as a past Grant Vicariate CCW President  from 1972-1974 and a past Madison Diocesan CCW President from 1991-1992. She attended the Grant Vicariate meeting in May of 2022 and, at 98, was the oldest member in attendance. Jane spends a lot of time with family and friends and is not able to attend all of our meetings, but studies all of our reports at each meeting she attends.

The Holy Spirit Council of Catholic Women Macon, GA hosted Stations and Soup. Members of our affiliate led The Way of the Cross from The Eyes of Mary Stations of the Cross for our parish. After the Stations, we provided a dinner of 10 different kinds of soups and bread.