Written by Barb Mendralla
Photo by Marilyn Anzelmo
I knew the Council of Catholic Women (CCW) was active at St. Isidore,
but after speaking with their President, Margaret Leabru, I have a new appreciation for the generosity and vitality of these faithful women.
Margaret has been a member of CCW for six years and shared that one of the benefits of being a member is the many delightful people she has met. She said while the women come from diverse marital, working and motherhood statuses, they all have one thing in common – working hard to enhance the reign of God, while having a boatload of fun.
Fr. Jim Murphy congratulates the newly installed officers of the St. Isidore Council of Catholic Women: President Margaret Leabru, Vice President Marisol Glaser, Recording Secretary Valerie Calvente, Treasurer Michele Miller, Corresponding Secretary Sharon Zappa
The CCW holds monthly meetings, typically on the third Thursday of the month, and has fundraisers during the year to support several charitable organizations.
Here is a list of the CCW’s monthly meetings: September 12 – Welcome Dinner and First General Meeting
October 17 – Ladies Night Out (See Just for the Gals article)
- November 21 – General Meeting
- December 19 – Christmas Meeting with pizza and salad
- January 16 – Dinner and a movie at a restaurant February 20 – Inspirational or educational speaker
- March 13 – General Meeting
- April 10 – General Meeting, Game Night and white elephant
- May 19 – Installation of new officers
CCW raises more than $10,000 in a year through the craft fair in November, St. Joseph Table in March and Cookies for Kids bake sale in April 26-27. Some of the organizations which benefit from the CCW’s generosity are PADS, Neighborhood Food Pantries, the We Care Fund, the Bishop Blanchette Scholarship Fund, the Catholic Charities Back to School Fair and the Nuymbani Children’s Home, which is Kenya’s largest orphanage for HIV+ children. The CCW also sponsors a family for the Adopt- a-Family program at Christmas and awards a $500 scholarship to a St. Isidore School student in the spring.
One of the members’ favorite events is the Christmas Party on Dec. 16, they host for the residents of the West Suburban Nursing Home in Bloomingdale. Bingo, Santa, musical entertainment and gift bags are all a part of this holiday celebration. The CCW is thankful for the help of religious education students and parishioners who donate items for the residents’ gift bags and the Confirmation students who often donate their time to assist the CCW during the party.
I owe these women a thank-you, as does any parishioner who has had a child baptized at St. Isidore, because these blessed women also make the Baptismal bibs. Watch the bulletin for ways you can support the CCW.