A Note from the Regent

May is the month for mothers.  We celebrate and honor both our biological mothers as well as our Spiritual Mother Mary.  Thru the May crowning celebration we honor the Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth and we reflect upon the divine mystery of Her assumption of body and soul into Heaven.   We also honor our own mothers with gifts and prayers whether they are here on earth or if they are with the Lord.

The State convention will be over when this news reaches the members and we will have a new slate of state officers.  Let us continue to pray for their spiritual guidance in leading us for the next 2 years.  Read a synopsis of the events which took place for 2 days in McAllen, Texas.

Our big fund raiser is fast approaching and we need the help of everyone to reach our goal.  We are trying to start a yearly tradition of combining a “Shrimp and Fish Fry” with the raffle to augment our operating budget.  We wish to thank the Knights of Columbus No. 2801 for helping us in this endeavor.                                                                   

                                                                                   Norma N. Locker

                                                                                    Worthy Regent

“…In Him we live, and move and have our being” 

Acts 17:28

Local News

78^th Biennial Convention of  GH -Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (ACCW)

Northwest Deanery was the host for the convention which was held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Community Life Center, Houston, Texas on April 17 and 18, 2009.  Here are some of the highlights of the convention:

• Pre-convention board meeting was held presided by the Minnie Licea, President.  
• Treasurer’s Report showed a balance of $6,402.49 as of April 17, 2009
• There are nine Deaneries in the Greater Houston ACCW.  Holy Rosary church belongs to the Western Deanery.
• Commission Reports were read by the various Commission chairs.
• Catholic Clerical Student Fund (CCSF) is a special committee presided by Marie Walsh,.  She is also the chair for the banquet honoring the top 5 Deaneries and top 5 CDA courts.  Court Holy Rosary 1476 received 2^nd place with a contribution of $799.00 for 2008.
• Next meeting will be May 19, 2009 at 10:00AM at St. Dominic chancery.
• At the banquet the following burses were awarded to Rev Brandan Cahill, Rev John Nields Morfin and Rev Msgr. James L. Golasinski.
• Most Reverend Jose S. Vasquez, Auxillary Bishop accepted the check for $155,000 from CCSF in support of the seminarians at St Mary’s Seminary.
• The new officers of ACCW for 2009-2011 are:  Beverly Green, President;  Donna Yanowski, 1^st Vice President;  Mary Jane Felix, 2^nd Vice President;  Barbara Hadjik, Recording Secretary;  Carole Updyke, Treasurer;  Kathy Strader, Auditor.

Ed’s Note:  More information about the  ACCW biennial convention is in the Texas Catholic Herald, Vol 45, No. 23, April 24, 2009 issue.

4^th  Annual Fund Raiser-  Raffle, Dinner, Silent Auction and Games; at the KC Hall, May 31, 2009

Tickets are available for our major fund raiser from Jeanette Rehak and Norma Locker for $12.00 per person. (see page 1 for telephone numbers).  We are serving Fried Fish and Shrimp, buttered potatoes, hush puppies, cole slaw and pinto beans with tea.  Desserts will be sold separately.  There will be games (flags-up) with wonderful baskets to win.  A silent auction will also be held.  Come one, come all and enjoy in the fun.  Remember it is a FUNd raising event.  The Knights of Columbus Council 2801 will help in cooking the fish and shrimp and hush puppies.

All members are requested to help make this fund raising a success.  Please say ‘yes’ when asked to help.

 Scholarship and Education Contest Winners

2009 Mary Parson’s Scholarship Winners: (Doris Gurecky, Chair)          

            Katelyn Sulak

            Kylie Dorman

2009 National Education Contest Winners: (Patti Kocich, Chair)

DIVISION II COMPUTER

1. Alex Brents               
2. David Marlin
3. Megan Haas

DIVISION II ESSAY

1. Gina Escandon
2. Megan Haas
3. John Weesner

DIVISON II POETRY

1. David Marlin
2. Haley Morrison
3. John Georges

DIVISION IV ADULT POETRY

1. Judy Shimek Janecka

All first place winners will move on to the State Contest

This and That….

Joyce Bartos is selling some cookbooks from the Province of Galveston-Houston Council of Catholic Women for $10.00.  Cookbooks can be reordered from Kathy Strader, GH-ACCW if more copies are needed.  The Province of Galveston-Houston includes the Archdiocese/Diocese of Austin, Beaumont, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Galveston-Houston, Tyler, and Victori.

For the June Salad Supper, it has been proposed  to invite the students who won in the Education Contest together with their parents.  This will be a good opportunity to get to know them and for them to learn about the CDA.   As always, the winners of the Mary Parson’s scholarship will also be invited together with their parents.

We need a Chair for the Cake Spin Booth at the Church Bazaar which will be held on August 23, 2009.  The Bazaar Chair needs to be informed of this Chair.

“I expect to pass through this world but once.  Any good thing therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow human being let me do it now.  Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

                            William Penn

Local News continued

A Synopsis of the State Convention in McAllen, April 23-26, 2009

A windy McAllen greeted the attendees to the 46^th Biennial state Convention.  There was a liturgy celebrated every day but the opening mass at the Shrine of San Juan del Valle tops it all.  The business meetings were handled expeditiously especially the election of officers and nominating committee. 

There were some proposed bylaws amendments passed e.g.  amendments to certain sections of the bylaws to accommodate the Campus Courts; the resolution regarding the change in election of local officers to coincide with the State Officers’ election; increasing the number of members from 15 to 20 for a newly formed court.  All these and other amendments will be sent to National Bylaws committee.  They will decide on whether there is merit to these amendments for consideration at the National Convention in 2011 in Buffalo New York.

The announcement of awards by Sheila Martinka, State Regent Elect was most exciting.  We garnered the following awards in Division IV (Courts with more than 180 members):

• Outstanding Recognition, Leadership, Circle of Love
• First place, National projects, Circle of Love
• First place, Newsletter
• Outstanding Recognition, Website
• 3^rd place, Scrapbook
• 2 Certificates for participating in the Read Across America, 2008 and 2009

More reports at the meeting from the delegates.

Cut - Save

By Jacque Holchak & Dorothy Pospisil

Get your scissors ready and cut the front off all your greeting cards.  Put them in a bag and bring them to the meeting.  Jacque and Dorothy will collect them.

When they get several bags, they take them to the Richmond State School.  The residents use them in some of their projects.  Let’s help them out.

Member News

Pray For the Sick

Donald Rejsek, Grace Guidry, Kathleen Lindsey, Georgia Krejci, Jacque Holchak, Pete Collette, Charlotte Carlson, Julius Nowak, Hattie Ries, Agnes Dziedzic, Harry Wolff, Edward Bartniski, Ron Hollas, Dorothy & Herman Pospisil, Clarence Myers, and for all those who have lingering illness.

Our Sympathy to the family of

Agnes Dziedzic on the death of her sister Gertrude Groth

May Birthdays

Get out and vote on May 12 election.  

Exercise your right as an American citizen.

Next Meeting

Tuesday May 5, 2009

Marian Hall

Refreshments 6:30 pm

7:15 pm  Meeting

Hospitality

May-August: Helen Torres

The Volunteer Services Council of the Richmond State School (RSS) held the Annual Volunteer & Donor Appreciation Luncheon on April 22, 2009 at the RSS Forever Young Program and Center.

Chairman of this committee are Jacque Holchak and Dorothy Pospisil.  N Locker was invited to attend on Dorothy's behalf.  The court contributes face cards and magazines to this project. 

Jacque with Claire Chipma

Kempner High school honored

Mr. Barrera, Supt., Richmond State School

With Richmond State School Staff

Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (ACCW) Biennial Convention held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, April 17-18, 2009.  Norma Locker represented the Western Deanery.

ACCW convention 2009 Officers

Carole Updyke

Norma Locker and Kris Hamby, Chairman of ACCW convention

Norma Locker with attendees of ACCW convention

Rev John Neilds Morfin, Guest Speaker

State Convention, McAllen Texas, April 2009

Court 1476 delegates with DD # 10

Alma Slawinski, District Deputy 10

Alma Slawinski, District Deputy 10

R Pederson, P Schimara and N Locker with Memorial cross

Red flowers on the cross represented the deceased members

Carolyn Bachman State Regent presiding with Father Ruppert, State Chaplain

Carolyn Malik and Peggy Rosales

N Locker, R. Pederson and Pat Schimara seated for the mass

Olga Samaniego and Duchess Collins

Rev Raymundo J. Pena, Bishop of the Diocese of Brownsville with N. Locker