By: By Jennifer Willems

“We couldn’t do what we do without you.”

Msgr. Dale Wellman offered those simple and heartfelt words to the 47 women who were honored at the Annual Appreciation Luncheon sponsored by the Peoria Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. The event drew the women, who came from 23 parishes throughout central Illinois, to the Spalding Pastoral Center in Peoria on May 4.

Accompanying them were their friends and the priests who serve in their parishes. Many of the clergy concelebrated Mass with Msgr. Wellman, DCCW moderator and pastor of Sacred Heart in Moline, at St. Mary’s Cathedral before the luncheon.

Nympha White of Grand Island, DCCW president, called each recipient’s name and Msgr. Wellman congratulated them as he handed them a certificate recognizing their service and commitment to the DCCW and the Diocese of Peoria.

In addition to the parish honorees, the organization singled out Pat Snell of Morton and Alice Vankerrebroeck of Geneseo, past DCCW leaders, for special awards.

Snell was quickly recruited to be an auditor when she joined the DCCW and would go on to serve as corresponding secretary when Betty Sullivan of Bradford was president. She is credited not only with coordinating the monthly mailings, but working with the U.S. Postal Service to obtain the best rate possible.

A member of the Secular Franciscan Order, Snell also volunteers with the sandwich program at St. Joseph’s in Peoria and participates in eucharistic adoration.

“She is a very strongly pro-life,” Sullivan told The Catholic Post. “She has been active in Central Illinois Right to Life for years, prays at the abortion clinic in Peoria, and goes to the March for Life in Washington every year.”

A longtime member of the DCCW, Vankerrebroeck was president of the women’s organization from 1978 to 1980. “She’s the hardest worker there ever was,” Maralyn Guthrie of Annawan, DCCW secretary, told The Post.

Guthrie was charged with bringing Vankerrebroeck to the luncheon without letting her know that she was being honored. Sullivan explained that the appreciation events hadn’t started until after Vankerrebroeck left the DCCW.

“She’s a very sweet person, very kind,” Sullivan said.

“YOU ARE EXEMPLARS”
In addition to the awards, the program included comments from Rebecca Woodhull of Springfield. The former director of the Chicago Province, which includes all six dioceses in Illinois, she is hoping to be the next president of the National Council of Catholic Women and asked the attendees for their votes — and their prayers.

“I love being Catholic. I love being a Catholic woman,” Woodhull told them. “I also love being part of the National Council of Catholic Women.”

She reminded them that the U.S. bishops created the NCCW in 1920 as an umbrella organization for all Catholic women’s groups in the United States.

“We need a national organization. We need it to do the things we can’t do alone locally,” Woodhull said. “We need a national office in Washington, D.C., so our representatives can be on Capitol Hill for testimony before Congress on issues that are near and dear to our hearts.”

Noting that there are 1.5 million Catholic women in Illinois, she asked them to imagine what they could do if they all use their voice on a single issue.

“You are the exemplars of why we have a Council of Catholic Women,” she said, encouraging them to keep up the good work they are doing in the Diocese of Peoria.

44 WOMEN RECOGNIZED
Following is a list of the women who were recognized for that work and a brief summary of their past and present areas of service.

— Barb DeRew, Sacred Heart, Annawan: Served as president of the Altar and Rosary Society, circle chairman and lector at church, helps with funeral dinners and various other projects as needed.

— Mary Kay Franks, St. Anthony’s, Atkinson: Has been chairman of the Altar and Rosary Society and sacristan at church and was president of the Atkinson Heritage Society.

— Shirley Cortelyou, St. Bernard’s, Bushnell: Those who nominated her said, “Shirley’s dedication and commitment to serving others through her music and leadership has made her a role model within our organization and parish. Her enthusiastic nature has provided our Women’s Guild with the basis for continued success in our endeavors.”

— Beatrice Holland, St. Bernard’s, Bushnell: She is known as a “bastion in our organization, leading and supporting our members in activities through her dedication and service.” Those who nominated her cited her “staunch devotion and meticulous example” and said she is an exemplary model.

— Eileen Niestradt, St. Bernard’s, Bushnell: Has held leadership roles in the parish and guided the Women’s Guild to the successful completion of numerous projects for the benefit of the parish. “Her quiet leadership and unpretentious mentoring has been an inspiration to all of us,” according to those who nominated her.

— Julie Dwyer, St. John Vianney, Cambridge: Past president of the Altar and Rosary Society, chairperson for church coffees, photographer for church events, school sports and summer sports programs, and CCD aide. In the community she serves as a 4-H leader and treasurer of the summer baseball program.

— Rita Taylor, St. John Vianney, Cambridge: Chairperson for church coffees, helps to coordinate the Annual Diocesan Appeal, church money counter, served as CCD teacher, caretaker of flowers on the church grounds.

— Dorothy Reay, St. Patrick’s, Camp Grove: Co-president of the Altar and Rosary Society, helps with the annual corned beef and cabbage dinner and works on church decorations.

— Chris Sullivan, St. Patrick’s, Camp Grove: Co-president of the Altar and Rosary Society, helps with the parish books, works on the annual corned beef and cabbage dinner and funeral lunches.

— Caroline Gladwell, Sacre Coeur, Creve Coeur: Circle chairman since 1999, works on rummage sale and the fall festival, counts the weekend collection once a month.

— Joan Henry, Sacre Coeur, Creve Coeur: Sacristan at church for 12 years, cleans the brass on the altar and washes the priest’s albs. While living in Georgia she made altar linens for her church was active in Habitat for Humanity.

— Cynthia Edmonson, Corpus Christi, Galesburg: Has coordinated RCIA for 25 years, served as extraordinary minister of holy Communion, CCD teacher and lector, trained altar servers, leads the rosary before Mass, April chairman of the Altar and Rosary Society. She has also worked as a sacristan, typed the parish bulletin, been a member of the planning committee for the Diocesan Summer Institute, secretary of the parish council, member of Knox County Right to Life.

— Lois Holmstrom, Corpus Christi, Galesburg: Takes care of server vestments and cleans, repairs, makes alterations and sews for the priests, helps with flowers and seasonal decorations, past president of the Altar and Rosary Society, past member of the parish council, helps with all the fundraisers, is a substitute teacher at Costa Catholic Academy.

— Susan Bruns, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Galesburg: Has chaired the altar flowers committee of the Ladies of Mary since its inception and served as president and adviser for the group. She also has helped with diocesan fundraising projects for the parish.

— Judy Peck, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Galesburg: She is part of the bereavement committee, social committee and funeral luncheon committee for the Ladies of Mary, teaches CCD, volunteers at the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, assists with counting the collection every other month.

— Pam Bates, St. John’s, Galva: Current vice president and former president and treasurer of the Altar and Rosary Society, youth group leader for a number of years, and money counter.

— Sharon George, St. John’s, Galva: Treasurer of the Altar and Rosary Society and helps with all parish events and projects.

— Jeanne Anderson, St. Malachy’s, Geneseo: She was instrumental in organizing the folk choir at church and continues to sing and fill in as director, organized the first liturgy committee and is a member of Circle 4.

— Darlene Gramling, St. Malachy’s, Geneseo: An extraordinary minister of holy Communion, she has also worked in pastoral care and as publicity chairperson of Winterfest, played piano and organ for the school and church choir, been involved in Cursillo and leadership for Circle 2 of the Altar and Rosary Society, and a member of several other ministries at St. Malachy’s.

— Susan Busenbark, St. Mary’s, Kewanee: A retired special education teacher, she is sacristan for daily Masses, an extraordinary minister of holy Communion, lector, former CCD teacher, cooks for the priests once a week, and is a pre-school aide at Visitation School. She chaired the parish’s capital campaign in 2008 and the Annual Diocesan Appeal at St. Mary’s in 2010.

— Rosemary Paxton, St. Mary’s, Kewanee: A member of the parish pastoral care ministry, schedules First Friday visits for the priests and deacons, takes Communion to the nursing home weekly, money counter, former RCIA coordinator, active in Christ Renews His Parish and WATCH, CCD teacher and an associate of the Sinsinawa Dominicans.

— Marsha Moroni, St. John’s, Lostant: Secretary for the Women of St. John’s and collection counter at church. She has also chaired Lostant’s garage sale and food stand.

— Joan Morse, St. John’s, Lostant: Lector, coordinator and teacher for the R.E.A.D.Y. program, home-schooler.

— Raedene DeVooght, Sacred Heart, Moline: Lifetime member of the parish, extraordinary minister of holy Communion for 30 years, parish nurse for three years, facilitator of a grief support group for eight years with her husband, Deacon Denny DeVooght, pastoral care ministry for five years and chair of that ministry for three years.

— Judy Hourigan, Sacred Heart, Moline: Co-chairs pastoral care ministry, member of the New Spirit Singers choir, extraordinary minister of holy Communion, funeral greeter, prayer shawl contributor, member of the Legion of Mary and RCIA, participates in JustFaith.

— Carma Lou Campbell, St. Joseph’s, Pekin: She has worked with the RCIA process and chaired the country store at the parish bazaar for 17 years, and assists with CCD and the annual cookie sale.

— Mary Jane Glass, St. Joseph’s, Pekin: She has helped with the parish bazaar, is involved in nursing home ministry, helps with CCD and annual cookie sale for Christmas and Easter. She is a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

— Nannette Cooper, St. Joseph’s, Pekin: She is in charge of the ministry to parishioners who are homebound or in nursing homes, oversees perpetual adoration and “is always ready to help out.”

— Jackie Scott, St. Jude’s, Peoria: She served as president of the Women of St. Jude for two years, organized the parish picnic and chaired or co-chaired the Women of St. Jude Basket Raffle for many years, instituted a program for adult faith formation that included several Bible study programs throughout the week, coordinated a lecture series with guest speakers to focus on specific topics as well as parish missions, and helped to organize marriage ministry at the parish.

— Mary Snyder, St. Jude’s, Peoria: She has served on the parish council as well as the committee overseeing the addition at St. Jude’s, counted money from Sunday collections, one of three chairs for the funeral luncheon committee, chairs the grief ministry and is a member of the transportation ministry.

— Carol Lacanski, St. Vincent de Paul, Peoria: Leader of the Tuesday morning prayer group, attends Mass and prays the rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy each day, writes cards for those who are sick or celebrating birthdays or anniversaries, vacuums the church with her husband, Steve, weekly.

— Pat Mishur, St. Mary’s, Pontiac: She is active in the Women’s Guild, volunteers at the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry and Good Samaritan Nursing Home, and is involved in the parish’s adoration program.

— Connie Triplett, St. Mary’s, Pontiac: A member of the Women’s Guild, she also chairs the funeral dinner committee and volunteers at St. Mary’s School.

— Joyce Conley, St. Mary of the Woods, Princeville: She has been involved in the quilting group, which raises funds for the Altar and Rosary Society, and is part of the funeral luncheon committee. She has been active in the Altar and Rosary Society and helps with parish functions, and serves as the church historian.

— Wilma Duckworth, St. Mary of the Woods, Princeville: She also has been involved in the quilting group and encouraged those who were learning. Active in the Altar and Rosary Society, she has helped to prepare and clean up after funeral luncheons. She makes the baptismal gowns for the parish children.

— Marilyn Damm, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Silvis: An active member of the women’s group for many years, she has served as secretary. She is also known as a faithful funeral luncheon caller and donor, and has had a regular hour in the adoration chapel since it opened.

–l Frances Doxsee, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Silvis: Not only is she active in the women’s group, but Fran is on the prayer chain, serves funeral lunches and brings food, and works at the annual parish fiesta. She also helps her two daughters with their CCD classes.

— Brenda Monier, St. John the Evangelist, Walnut: She is a CCD teacher, assists with the youth group and Summer Bible School, and serves as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion.

— Marietta Peve, St. John the Evangelist, Walnut: A former CCD teacher, she assists in arranging flowers for the altar and helps with altar cloths, is a member of the quilters, co-chairs the funeral committee and works at the annual parish bazaar.

— Pam Testin, St. Mary’s, Wenona: She is a pre-kindergarten catechist, a lector, secretary for the Altar and Rosary Society, and a money counter at church.

— Mary Ann Hughes, St. Mary’s, Westville: President of the Altar and Rosary Society for 20 years, works at all parish events, serves as a lector and extraordinary minister of holy Communion, is a substitute teacher for CCD, helps to coordinate church cleaning and decorating, co-chairs the church bazaar and co-chair of the cookbook committee.

— Jackie Shadden, St. Mary’s, Westville: Has co-chaired the parish’s Annual Diocesan Appeal efforts for three years, is an extraordinary minister of holy Communion, served as lector, sings in the choir, co-chairs the Christmas bazaar, volunteers for the Labor Day Weekend food festival sponsored by St. Mary’s, cleans the church and maintains the grounds.

— Bobbi Brady, St. John the Apostle, Woodhull: She has worked at the annual chicken dinner for 27 years, was religious education coordinator for seven years, is a song leader for Mass and lector. A member of the Altar and Rosary Society for 27 years, she currently serves as secretary. She is also involved in Cursillo and TEC, and has hosted the National Evangelization Team (NET).

— Shirley Norberg, St. John the Apostle, Woodhull: Shirley has been or is involved as a lector, money counter, CCD teacher, and rosary leader, cooked the priest’s dinner, chaired the chicken dinner, helped with funeral dinners and served as an officer of the Altar and Rosary Society. She also volunteers for the bloodmobile, and makes and donates food to Meals on Wheels.