Debbie Keller was installed as President of the ACCW on Friday, April 21st, at the 85th ACCW Convention. Read her testimonial below about this experience and the good work of these women in our Archdiocese!
“The Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women recently held its 85th ACCW Convention at St. Odilia’s in Shoreview. The theme, “Catholic Women Telling Our Stories”, was evidenced throughout the scope of the two-day convention. One of the many highlights was a PowerPoint presentation portraying the beautiful array of ministerial works performed by women of all ages. The love, concern and conviction they have to aid the poor, the marginalized and the voiceless in our society is both inspiring and life-giving.
Such faithful and dedicated action is born from our national mission statement: “The National Council of Catholic Women acts through its members to support, empower and educate all Catholic women in Spirituality, Leadership and Service. Our programs respond with Gospel values to the needs of the church and society in the modern world.”
The women who comprise our membership are mindful, fun-loving and filled with contagious joy. They have grit, grace and generous hearts. It is a privilege to serve with them!
All Catholic Women’s groups as well as individual women are encouraged to affiliate with the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women. Through our combined efforts, we can and indeed have made a difference for the common good of society—locally, nationally and internationally.
We thank the Catholic Services Appeal Foundation for supporting us! If you would like further information on the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women, call 651-291-4545 or go to accwarchspm.org.”
Our Lady of Good Counsel, patroness of the National Council of Catholic Women, pray for us!
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Think, Pray, and Act
“My name is Cathy and I have belonged to the Council of Catholic Women (CCW) for four years. I have been a part of the Appalachia Christmas Gift Project of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (ACCW) at Saint Pius X during those years, and a donor of gifts for many years before that.
We collect several gifts at the Parish several times a year, it is such a blessing that most people opt to go on the plantwear site to get some presents. There are three chairwomen from ACCW that oversee the Appalachia Project effort! We also have special collections for certain items, and this year, we focused on collecting bedding and winter jackets, miscellaneous clothing, and toys.
During our packing this year, we had 40 plus helpers. In early November, we used two trucks, trailers, and several cars to deliver the boxes to the Hupf family farm for loading onto the semi-truck. Barb from St. Pius X and our current CCW president have been involved in the Appalachia Project for over 15 years. In the first year, they collected 10 boxes and this year, we collected 91 boxes!
I have visited the mission churches of Appalachia where these gifts are distributed. Barb kept wanting to go there to see what happened to everything so we decided to go! We saw the Camton and Beattyville distribution centers. There were about six people setting things up so we just started to pitch in and help for a few days. I sure was surprised that they had everything under control. It’s a wonderful project with hardworking people. The need is so great.
All Catholic women should belong to CCW and ACCW because we can ‘think, pray, and act’ and we can also have a voice in our Church.”
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Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (ACCW): Appalachia Christmas Gift Program
I am Olive and I have been a member of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (ACCW) for over 30 years. About 15 years ago I got involved in ACCW’s Appalachia Project, which delivers Christmas gifts to the poor at two sister parishes in Appalachia; Queen of All Saints and Saint Francis of Assisi.
The ACCW has conducted the annual Appalachia drive for 35 years. We estimate that Appalachia drive has delivered over 250,000 Christmas gifts over those 35 years, probably more. About five years ago I took over the leadership of the Appalachia project from Elaine. I live on a farm near Randolph and Hampton Minnesota, and every year in the fall the planning for the Appalachia begins. We have over 50 parishes in the Archdiocese participating, getting the word out to their parishioners, asking them to donate gifts for children and adults. Parish volunteers then gather up those gifts in late fall. The Terminal Transport Trucking Company donates the use of a semi, which is brought to my farm at the beginning of November. For three weeks, the parishes deliver gifts to our farm, which becomes quite a hubbub of activity! ACCW volunteers load them into the semi. This year the semi was driven by the Terminal Company to Kentucky on November 15. The gifts were delivered to the parish distribution centers mid November and they will be given to the families close to Christmas. We estimate that between the parishes and ACCW at our farm, that there were over 300 volunteers on this project. We don’t keep an exact count of gifts, but we estimate we loaded some 20,000 gifts large and small onto that semi this year.
Part of Appalachia is the Papal Footprints/Shoe Box mission, which began in 2013. Every year over 1,000 shoeboxes are filled with something fun – a toy item, as well as hygiene items, school supplies, something warm such as gloves, a stocking hat, or a scarf, or socks, and finally a religious item. These shoe boxes are sent down with all the other gifts that we collect.
The volunteers who have gone down to Kentucky bring back so many stories about two things: the poverty and the gratitude. The parishes in Appalachia are in coal country, and the people served live in the areas surrounding the mountains. There are so many living in makeshift homes. Sister Nancy, who works at the parishes, was with Bob delivering gifts and as they were on a bumpy dirt road Sister said “we’re going to that tar papered place up the road.” Bob told his mom when he returned to Minnesota, “Mom you wouldn’t believe how these people have to live.” Elaine went down to Kentucky herself one year. When she came back she said “It was all worth the effort when you saw the joy and smiles. The gratitude for the food and for the children’s gifts, showed in every face.” That just about says it all.