Archived News
New ACCW President is installed at Convention - May 5, 2011
“Rejoice and Renew” was the theme for the ACCW 79th Biennial Convention Thursday, May 5 at Church of the Risen Savior in Burnsville/Apple Valley. Highlights of the convention were the installation of Rose Anne Hallgren as new ACCW president and the election and installation of Dianne Krueger as ACCW secretary and Debbie Keller at second vice president. New deanery presidents were also affirmed at the Mass.
The convention business meeting included updates to the ACCW bylaws and the adoption of resolutions for 2011-13. Resolutions, one presented by each commission, form a blueprint or “plan of action” for CCW groups at all rings of council in the Archdiocese. To read the new resolutions adopted by the assembly at the convention, click here.
The main celebrant at the Convention Mass was Bishop Lee Piche’. The luncheon speaker was Patty Johnson, president of the National Council of Catholic Women, who spoke on the topic “Love Opens Your Eyes.” Outgoing President Theresa Cermak gave her parting remarks and new President Rose Anne Hallgren spoke to the ACCW for the first time following the luncheon.
The Mass collection was divided half to the NCCW annual Annual Giving Fund and one-quarter each to the Casa Guadalupana program and to the Risen Savior Emergency Fund.
Convention - May 5, 2011 - NCCW President Patty Johnson to speak
St. Paul and Minneapolis Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women invite you to attend the 79th Biennial Convention Thursday, May 5, 2011 at the Church of the Risen Savior, Burnsville, MN.
ACCW has an exciting and faith-filled Convention planned and ALL women of the Archdiocese are invited to attend. The day will begin at 8 a.m. with registration and refreshments followed by a General Assembly meeting at 8:45 a.m. Many exhibits will be open all day allowing an opportunity for all to browse and purchase. The luncheon speaker will by Patty Johnson, president of the National Council of Catholic Women. The day will adjourn at 2:30 p.m.
During the business meeting, Rose Anne Hallgren, who has been appointed ACCW President by the Archbishop for the term of 2011 – 2013, will be introduced. Also, the election of 2nd Vice-President and Secretary will be held and voting on Resolutions and Bylaws Amendments will take place.
The assembly will be dismissed at 11:00 a.m. to celebrate Mass with Archbishop John C. Nienstedt.Following Mass, the newly appointed ACCW President and elected 2nd Vice President and Secretary will be installed. Greetings will be heard from past and incoming presidents.
Following lunch, our Keynote Speaker is Patty Johnson, President of the National Council of Catholic Women. She has an interesting story to tell about her journey through CCW that eventually led to her leadership at the national level and the spiritual benefits she has received from her ongoing love for service to the church and community.
Cost for the day is $25 if registered by April 26, 2011. Cost after April 26 will be $30. The traveling “Madonna” statue will be presented to the CCW having the largest representation in attendance. Please plan to attend. We look forward to seeing you there.
Having the ACCW Convention in Burnsville, which is located in the Southwest Deanery of CCW, follows the ACCW plan of providing all areas of the Archdiocese with the privilege of hosting the ACCW Conference or Convention. Plans are to hold the 2012 Conference in the Minneapolis area. For more information regarding the ACCW Convention, please call the ACCW Office, 291-4545, or Shirley Willenbring, Convention Chair, 651-453-0770.
ACCW Hosts Women’s Day of Discovery - March 10, 2011
ACCW invites you and women in your parish to a special day you will not forget - an opportunity to change the way you look at change, discover how you already make a difference, redefine the meaning of the word leadership, and leave with ideas on how to bring energy to your CCW organizations. The Day of Discovery will take place at St. Odilia’s Parish in Shoreview, 3495 No. Victoria St., ½ mile south of Interstate 694 - Victoria St. Exit.
Dr. Frankie Poplau, the featured speaker, is a favorite of ACCW, Deaneries, and parish members. She is well known for her workshops and presentations on generational traits and their importance in understanding each other. On March 10th, Dr. Frankie will move us into several other areas that can make a difference in your personal life, the workplace and volunteer ministry.
We hope all who read this will consider this a special invitation, plan to attend, will invite friends, and spread the word to other women.
With many challenges facing CCW organizations these days, we also hope that your CCW will welcome the opportunity to “discover” ways to address some of those challenges.
Christmas Project Serves Poor of Appalachia - November 2010
The women of CCW in parishes throughout the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis again led a successful collection of Christmas gifts for the people of Appalachia. This year for the first time the semi-truck was parked at the Vern and Olive Hupf farm near Hampton, MN. When the collection ended early in November, at least 3/4 of a53 foot semi was packed to the top. Below is one of the reports and thank you's received after the holidays:
Dear Olive
The truck arrived this morning, Wednesday, 11/17 about 10:15. We got it all unloaded in less than 2 hours. One of the parishioners at St. Francis runs a business and he brought at least 20 men to help with unloading. He does it every year. This year he had to take them out of the field and off the drilling rigs because it came in later usual. I got all the packages for Paintsville into a U-Haul rental truck. We had a crew down here in Paintsville to help unload. It didn't take too long.
Thank you and all your helpers that took care of things on your end. We deeply appreciate all that you do and I know how much work there is involved having been doing this now for 40 years. Many children and families will have a blessed Christmas because of the generosity of so many people.
Our prayers are with you all and be assured of a special remembrance in our Christmas Masses.
In Jesus & Mary, Fr. Hop
ACCW Community Concerns Chair - Winter 2010 - Reflects on History of Commission System
Kay O’Keefe, ACCW’s Community Concerns Commission chair, and the first NCCW Community Affairs Commission chair, shared some of her reflections and memories:
“This past winter the Catholic Woman told of the new commission structure NCCW members voted into place at the Convention in September (2009.) There will now be three commissions: Spirituality, Leadership and Service, named for the three parts of the NCCW mission statement. The three new commissions will take in each of the six old commissions. Individual affiliates on all levels will be able to choose whether or not to adopt the new NCCW Commissions. Our ACCW will address this next year when we next update our bylaws.
“I believe that the Community Concerns Commission areas of Human Dignity, Conservation and Safety, Our Lady of Good Counsel Home, Prison Ministry and Rural Life tell the whole picture of who needs us.
“It was my privilege to be at the NCCW Convention when the Commission system was introduced.
I was appointed as the first Community Affairs commission chairman and continued to be the second Community Affairs chairmen under the next president. The commission program was set out to help people. It was my task to outline a program which would enable Council members to work in nine avenues to help Council women to help all. We were taught to see the face of God in each human being. Mother Theresa was with us (as an NCCW convention speaker) and helped us greatly. Little did we know she would become a saint.
We called ourselves the Commission of Love.
“I will never forget Mother Theresa. There was a heavenly aura about her. She was only five feet tall – and so kind in word and thoughts. Her humility was outstanding and her message powerful.
“Years passed and we Council women worked toward our goal “love they neighbor.” I believe the St. Paul & Minneapolis Council of Catholic Women was successful in giving NCCW great leaders as presidents, officers, commission chairmen and members.
“Karen Painter is our new Service Chairman. Soon we will be given our new direction. Her early message was “Follow the NCCW Mission Statement.”
“Until further discussion we will work in our old fashioned way of loving and giving. We are living Minnesota woman willing to serve and help our neighbor. We are the Commission of Love. It has been my further privilege to continue to serve ACCW all these years. Let’s keep on loving and giving. I believe it’s the best medicine to keep holy and happy.”
Poppy Day - May Yearly
Spring is the time of year when the Buddy Poppy is highly-promoted. They were originally assembled in France. In 1923 the idea resulted in the VFW Buddy Poppy fashioned by the disabled and needy veterans who were paid for their work. It is as traditional as the Memorial Day flower. The Veterans pay for the assembling. The VFW and Auxiliary do not get paid for selling poppies. The money is used for needy and disabled veterans and their widows and orphaned children.
So stop and get your Buddy Poppy on the annual Poppy Day – mid may May of each year – in remembrance for those who have defended our country.
Any donation is acceptable. Wear a VFW Buddy Poppy and be proud.
WUCWO - October 2010
Participants will arrive in Tel Aviv Oct. 5, 2010. The General Assembly will begin the next day and run through Oct. 11 with half-day tours that will take in the Old City of Jerusalem including the Church of St. Anne, the Pool of Bethesda and the Chapel of Flagellation; following the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Golgotha and the Tomb of Our Lord; Mt. Zion, King David’s Tomb, Dormition Abbey, the place where Peter denied Christ, the birthplace of John the Baptist and the site of the Visitation. Participants will depart on Oct. 12, 2010 or embark on an optional tour to Galilee Oct.12-14, 2010.
The optional tour will visit Jericho, Elisha’s Fountain, the Mt. of Temptation, the Jordan River Valley, Sea of Galilee, Capernaum (for a visit to the synagogue where Jesus taught,) the site of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, the Mt. of the Beatitudes, Cana, Nazareth, and the site of the Transfiguration.
Cost of the tour is $1,700 per person, double occupancy, for the Jerusalem portion of the tour and $500 per person, double occupancy, for the optional tour to Galilee. The price includes General Assembly registration fees, hotel accommodations, all meals, hotel taxes, land transportation for tours and professional guides. Airfare is not included. For further information, please contact Joann Hillebrand, WUCWO Treasurer General, 54 Derby Court, Oakbrook, IL 60523 USA, 630-789-8460.
ACCW Conference honors Lay Women, Priests - May 6, 2010
ACCW’s 78th Biennial Conference May 6th,with more than 300 in attendance, honored eight Lay Women Award winners and noted the Year for Priests following Mass celebrated by Archbishop John Nienstedt. The Archbishop also installed new ACCW Board officers and affirmed new Deanery Presidents. Attendees also heard a number of special presentations at the six commission workshops and were addressed by new Auxiliary Bishop Lee Piche`.
The eight women recognized as Lay Women Award winners were Joan Connolly, Holy Childhood, St. Paul; Victoria Dzieweczynski, St. Mark, St. Paul; Rosealice Hayes, St. Francis Xavier, Buffalo; Jean Kottemann, St. George, Long Lake; Philipa Lindquist, St. Odilia, St. Paul; Kathleen Olson, St Mark, St. Paul; Marge Sowa, St. Patrick of Shieldsville, Faribault; and Agnes Wind, St. Pius X, White Bear Lake. Look for photos of the Conference, under the Galleries Tab.
New ACCW officers installed were Marcia Simon, St. Dominic Church, Northfield as First Vice President and Elaine Monitor, St. John the Baptist, Hugo,treasurer. Deanery presidents who were reaffirmed after Mass included Mary Gunderson, Minneapolis; Olive Hupf, Southeast; Judy Beaudry and Mary Helen Swartzer, Northwest, and Carol Shukle, West.
Commission workshop speakers were Church, Fr. Erich Rutten who spoke on keeping the faith alive in our youth and young adults; Community Concerns, Sr. Fran Donnelly, BVM, on the Sunset of Life; Family Concerns, Peggy Reagan on Autism and Mary Ann Maggi on Veterans services; International Concerns, Deacon Mickey Freisen on the Venezuela Mission; Legislation, Christopher Leifeld on voting the Catholic Faith, and Fr. Paul Fruth on changes for parishes with mergers, closings and clustering.
Bishop Piche` in his remarks after lunch, spoke with warmth and humor about the role of women in the church from the early church to the present. Speaking of the women who went to Christ’s tomb on Easter morning to find it empty, he said “The holy women who had been recreated in hope and joy were the first to announce to us the resurrection.”
Religious Awards Presented at “Scouter”
Mass - March 27, 2010
More than 150 youth and adults connected with the Boy and Girls Scouts received religious awards at the annual Scouter Mass at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis March 27. A total of 139 youth – 131 Boy Scouts and 8 Girl Scouts – were recognized along with 21 adults. Auxiliary Bishop Lee Piche' was celebrant for the Mass.
Theresa Cermak, ACCW president and long-time Religious Awards Coordinator, was awarded the Saint Anne Medal for adults who work with youth. Religious awards for Girl Scouts is a program supported and promoted in the Archdiocese by the ACCW.
Membership Committee
Most organizations operate with dues from individual members rather than from affiliated organizations which enable them to operate with a fuller staff. The NCCW is one of the largest women's organizations in the United States and also one of the most under-published and under-financed groups of its size.
The Church and NCCW need our affiliates. The ACCW annual report to NCCW reflect the many and varied projects performed by our members. Think of the void in service there would be across the country without us!
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION- Any Catholic woman may become an individual member of NCCW by paying annual dues of $25.00. You may or may not be a member of an affiliated group to do this. ACCW has a membership committee,whose members are available to help affiliates with their concerns or questions. You may call Barbara Ericson, 952-471-9560, Membership Vice Chair, or the ACCW Office, 651-291-4545, for further information.
