Photo Caption: Twenty-nine women from 18 parishes were honored at the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women’s annual Appreciation Luncheon.

By: By Jennifer Willems

Without the women who volunteer so many hours to their parish communities, “the diocese would come to a screeching halt,” according to Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC.

On Tuesday, April 21, the bishop risked taking them away from their parishes just long enough to recognize 29 women at the Peoria Diocesan Council of Catholic Women’s annual Appreciation Luncheon. The day began with Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral for the honorees and their guests, who then assembled at the nearby Spalding Pastoral Center for lunch and the program.

The bishop said the women who were being honored are “the hands of the Lord” in the parishes and organizations of the diocese.

They also represent “an army of folks in our parishes who serve the Lord, serve their neighbor,” he said.

“The people who are being honored today deserve those honors, but they represent literally thousands and thousands of devout Catholic women who serve, pray, support, and serve as trustees and on parish councils,” Bishop Jenky told the 115 people who attended the DCCW luncheon.

“They are at perpetual adoration. They are at prayer groups. They are working for life. They are teaching the young. They are visiting the sick. They’re doing the work of Christ,” he said, adding that the women demonstrate in a real way what it means to be the body of Christ.

“He is the head, he is our priest. The Holy Spirit is the soul of the church,” Bishop Jenky said. “But all of you are members of the body of Christ and we continue his work on earth until he comes in glory.”

Msgr. Dale Wellman, moderator of the DCCW and pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Moline, added his words of praise and blessing to those of Bishop Jenky.

“As pastors we really rely on you ladies to do so much. I know in the past in parishes I’ve been in and in my present parish there are women who have been at their jobs ad infinitum — from the very beginning,” he said. “We just presume everything will be done. It’s so nice to have you there.”

Msgr. Wellman said that if he listed everything the honorees and the women in their parishes do, “we’d be here all afternoon and evening.”

“On behalf of the pastors of the diocese I want to thank you ladies, who also represent the parishes who could not be with us. Thank you for that help and dedication,” he said.

Joan Weber, DCCW president, said she had recently sent a mailing to the women’s clubs and organizations in the diocese and included a questionnaire regarding the number of hours the women of the parish had donated in the past year.

“So far, we’ve just received responses from six parishes and they have logged over 26,000 volunteer hours — just those six parishes,” she reported.

In the midst of the applause, there were also moments of celebration as the group sang “Happy Birthday” to honoree Bernice Haake of St. John the Apostle Parish in Woodhull. In return, she wished all of them a “happy birthday” when their time came.

And a new parish was represented this year, with St. Jude’s in Peoria recognizing the service of Jackie Kirchgessner.

There was also a sobering note, as Mary Krumdieck of Sacred Heart Parish in Moline accepted not only her certificate but that of her longtime friend, Mardelle Hayes. The parish’s Altar and Rosary Society nominated Hayes for the award, but she died on March 31 after a long battle with lung cancer.

In addition to the honorees, Weber thanked the pastors who were able to join them for lunch.

“We’re very grateful for your support and encouragement, especially when you take the time to be with us,” she said. “We truly appreciate that.”

Following is a list of the honorees and their parishes:

Adrianna Kleckner, Sacred Heart Parish, Annawan
Helen Claeys, St. Anthony’s Parish, Atkinson
Mary Saylor, St. Anthony’s Parish, Atkinson
Mary Bowman, St. John Vianney Mission, Cambridge
Mary Grant, St. John Vianney Mission, Cambridge
Mary Alice Brinkley, Sacre Coeur Parish, Creve Coeur
Kathy Ensley, Corpus Christi Parish, Galesburg
Mary Anne Haworth, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Galesburg
Pat Lee, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Galesburg
Donna Clark, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Galva
Michelle Craig, St. Malachy’s Parish, Geneseo
Rita Williams, St. Malachy’s Parish, Geneseo
Barbara Morrison, St. Mary’s Parish, Kewanee
Rebecca Zetterberg, St. Mary’s Parish, Kewanee
Anna Mae Flecker, St. John the Baptist Parish, Lostant
Norma Moroni, St. John the Baptist Parish, Lostant
Mardelle Hayes, Sacred Heart Parish, Moline
Mary Krumdieck, Sacred Heart Parish, Moline
Julie Haronik, St. Mary’s Parish, Moline
Christine Massey, St. Joseph’s Parish, Pekin
Jennifer Plante, St. Joseph’s Parish, Pekin
Jackie Kirchgessner, St. Jude’s Parish, Peoria
Shari Paris, St. Mary’s Parish, Pontiac
Marie Rice-Haab, St. Mary’s Parish, Pontiac
Mary Magana, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Silvis
Kathleen Pulford, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Silvis
Kris Klieber, St. Mary’s Parish, Wenona
Bernice Haake, St. John the Apostle Parish, Woodhull
Donna Johnson, St. John the Apostle Parish, Woodhull