Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Springfield-Cape Girardeau
Prayer to Our Lady of Good Counsel
(Patroness of the National Council of Catholic Women)
God of Heavenly Wisdom. You have given us Mary, Mother of Jesus, to be our guide and counselor. Grant that we may always seek her motherly help in this life and so enjoy her blessed presence in the life to come. O, Mother of Good Counsel, Patroness of the National Council of Catholic Women, intercede for us that we may be wise, courageous, and loving leaders of the Church. Help us, Dear Mother, to know the mind of Jesus, your Son. May the Holy Spirit fill us with reverence for God’s creation, and compassion for all God’s children. May our labors of love on earth enhance the reign of God and may God’s gifts of faith and living hope prepare us for the fullness of the world to come. Amen.
MISSION & PURPOSE
Thank you so much for being interested in the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Springfield – Cape Girardeau, MO. We are a vibrant group of Catholic women ages 18+ and part of a larger membership of over four million Catholic women across the country.
We are mothers, daughters, sisters, cousins, wives, widows, aunts, friends, nuns, doctors, lawyers, teachers, and homemakers from all levels of society. We are today’s women who are passionate about social justice, legislation, current events, spirituality, the plight of the poor, women’s issues, the dignity of the human being, and so much more.
The Council’s role is to support, empower and educate all Catholic women in spirituality, leadership, and service. Its programs respond with gospel values to the need of the Church and society in the modern world.
With its diocesan councils, the National Council is a member of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations (WUCWO). The Holy See affirms WUCCWO as the “voice of women in the Church and as the voice of Church.” WUCCWO received from the Pontifical Council for the Laity the final decree of its canonical status as a public association of the faithful.
The objectives and purpose of DCCW shall be to unite the Catholic women’s organizations and individual Catholic women of this Diocese, develop their spiritual growth and leadership potential, and motivate and assist them to act upon current issues in the Church and society. DCCW shall be a medium through which the Catholic women of this Diocese may speak and act on matters of common interest. DCCW shall support, empower, and educate all Catholic women in Spirituality, Leadership, and Services. DCCW programs respond with Gospel values to the needs of the Church and society in the modern world. DCCW shall unite with the Church and its teachings.
We are an affiliate of the National Council of Catholic Women.
NCCW 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. NCCW programs respond with Gospel values to the needs of the Church and society in the modern world.
DCCW Photo Library
CLICK HERE to access the Google Drive link
DCCW Spring Assembly Video Archives
Find us at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKWqnr3QwarnJiXhMegw2Dw
Contact us
Find us on Facebook @DCCWSCGMO
The DCCWSCGMO is interested in your feedback. If you have any comments or questions regarding our organization, please contact us at DCCWConnectionsEditor@gmail.com, and we will get back to you in a timely fashion.
Upcoming Events
64th Annual DCCW Spring Assembly
Date: April 21 – 22, 2023
Location: DoubleTree Hotel, Springfield, MO
Bulletin Announcement
2023 Service Project
List of Needs:
-5 second flex tip thermometers
– Size 4 and 5 diapers and pull-ups
– Baby Wipes
– Assorted paintbrushes for the art room
– Lotions and other self-care goodies for the mothers
-Children’s coats size 12 months to size 6
– New convertible car seats
– Socks for infants – 3 years old
– Backpack diaper bags
– Digital baby scales
“Our Lady of Good Counsel” Award
2023 Our Lady of Good Counsel Award
Applications for nominations can be submitted from September 15, 2022 – March 30, 2023. Application PDF
Past Recipients
2022, Theresa Elfrink, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau
2021, Helen Sanders
2020, Norma Parker
2019, Rose Pobst
Programs
The Mission of the NCCW and the DCCWSCGMO is carried out through the work of its commissions. Under the direction of a Commission Chair, each Commission works to educate about issues of concerns of Catholic women and empower women to respond in faith and with justice and compassion.
The Commission works to provide the opportunity for women without any prior organizational experience to develop confidence, organizational competence, sensitivity to the needs of others, and opportunities to know and use the resources of the Church and society.
Each year the Commissions provide an awareness workshop session for all Catholic women to learn about specific issues.
Nominations for 2023-2025 Positions for DCCW Springfield-Cape Girardeau
Positions Open: President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer
These days women are working from home, and many are homeschooling kids too. We all have careers, jobs, or two and much work already to do. Think of a way to serve your Church and your community: Serve with us for two years; we, the nominating committee, are asking all of you to join us in directing the DCCW in the years to come and give of your time, talents, and treasure to make our organization grow. Assist the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) in pursuing the different programs that support women’s needs around the country. The gift of your time and talents is invaluable to us all. Prayerfully consider this volunteer position and contact us for more information.
Application for DCCW Board Positions PDF
Download the PDF application form below, fill out and return it to:
Judy Carley – nine4nana@hotmail.com
Norma Parker – NormaParker57@gmail.com
President Report
Welcome, Catholic Women, to the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau!
On behalf of DCCW, we are glad you are here! Our catholic women are all a part of a bigger family. Each one of us is a member of a parish/mission. Each parish/mission is a member of a Deanery. Each Deanery is a member of our Diocese. And together, we are all members of the Catholic Church created to love and serve God. In the words of St. Teresa of Avila, “Christ has no body on earth but ours, no hands but ours, no feet but ours. Ours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ looks out upon the world; ours are the feet with which he goes about doing good; ours are the hands with which he blesses his people.” We are called to be Christ to the world. Let us begin with our own family and parish/mission. Let us unite as an organized group of Catholic Women within our parishes/mission, our Deanery, and our Diocese.
The theme for the 2023 Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (DCCW) 64th Spring Assembly to be held at the DoubleTree in Springfield on April 21 & 22, 2023, is “We are the Body of Christ.” Make plans to attend! Please bring a friend or two and share in the gathering of Catholic Women from across our diocese. May Our Lady of Good Counsel ask her Divine Son to bless you, your families, and our Councils of Catholic Women with wisdom, joy, and peace! Together we can respond with Catholic teachings to the needs of the Church and our world.
— Deb Bader, DCCW President
Board of Directors
Bishop & Spiritual Advisors
The Most Rev. Edward Rice, Episcopal Chair
Fr. Joseph Kelly, Spiritual Advisor
Officers
Deb Bader, President
Elva Weber, President-Elect
Rita McClernon, Secretary
Nancy Slezak, Treasurer
Judy Carley, Director-at-Large
Rita Lueckenotte, Province Director, Province of St. Louis
Commissions & Standing Committees
Becca Kern, Spirituality Commission Chair
Donna Anderson, Service Commission Chair
Diane Hackmann, Leadership Commission Chair
Joyce Luten, Parliamentarian
Lydia Fellwock, Connections Editor, Website & Social Media Coordinator (ex-officio)
Deanery Members
Deanery 1 President –
Tina Giebel & Mary Poage
Deanery 2 President –
Liz Renkoski
Deanery 3 & 4 President –
Theresa Kral
Deanery 5 President –
Waynita Cahoj
Deanery 6 President –
Ruth Ann Hester
Deanery 7 President –
Mary Ann Taylor
Commissions
Learn about the SPIRITUALITY & LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION
Learn about the SERVICE COMMISSION
Learn about the LEADERSHIP COMMISSION
THE DIOCESAN COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC WOMEN SPRINGFIELD – CAPE GIRARDEAU, as a member of the National Council of Catholic Women, acts through its membership to support, empower, and educate all Catholic women in spirituality, leadership, and service. NCCW programs respond with Gospel values to the needs of the Church and society in the modern world.
The Mission of the Council is carried out through the work of three commissions that reflect the mission statement: SPIRITUALITY, LEADERSHIP, and SERVICE. Each Commission works to support and enhance the activity of the Council, educates about issues of concern to Catholic women, and empowers women to respond in faith with justice and compassion.
Commission Structure
Commission Structure:
Since 1995 NCCW’s program and advocacy initiatives have clustered around one or more of its six commissions. In 2009, the commission system was reorganized into three commissions to align more consistently with the mission statement of NCCW. The new commissions encompass the previous six. The following illustrates how the previous commissions “match up” with the current commissions:
SPIRITUALITY = Church and legislation
SERVICE = Family, Community, and international
LEADERSHIP = Organization
Commission Chairs are women knowledgeable in the specific program area of their particular Commission. Regardless of whether her commission position is in the national ring of Council, the arch/diocesan, or the local affiliate, each commission chair has the same general responsibilities:
- To provide leadership in her specific commission focus
- To continue to educate herself about the issues under her Commission
- To monitor parish, community, state, or national developments that relate to her Commission’s focus
- To stay informed about program activities on her ring of Council
- To share information with others, including new resources.
- Informational Resources for Commissions:
- Information for commission chairs comes from three important NCCW sources:
Written materials from the national office, including Catholic Woman and Bulletin Board
Ideas are generated during special meetings convened by the DCCW chairs and vice-chairs with their deanery/district chairs.
Resolutions adopted at previous DCCW Assemblies and the NCCW National Conventions.
Communication through the Rings of Council. The National Chair sends materials – inspiration, “how-to” descriptions, and current media coverage – to the DCCW chairs, who send them to deanery/district chairs and local chairs. Each chair at each ring uses the materials appropriate to her organization: for information, programs, project development, for publicity.
Local chairs report to the deanery/district what materials were used, how and with what results, and if not, why.
Deanery/District chairs report likewise to their DCCW chairs.
DCCW chair report to the national chair of her Commission annually using the Annual Report Form sent from the National Office.
National chairs report to the national president and board of directors about implementing their program suggestions and the results and significant programs developed by the affiliates. They also recommend future action.
Resources
Prayers for Vocations
DCCW Dues
DCCW 2023 DIOCESAN DUES AFFILIATION NOTICE – Download PDF 2023 letter
NCCW Membership
NCCW Membership
How can I join the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women as an individual member?
Log in to nccw.org, click Join Us, and complete the registration form to become an individual member.
The $50.00 registration fee for an individual of 12- months makes you a member of the National Council of Catholic Women and an affiliate of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organization (WUCWO). Membership helps you: Download: The membership Brochure
- Grow spiritually
- Understand Catholic Social Teaching
- Advocate for a culture of life
- Promote moral solutions to societal ills
- Nurture family, faith, and values
- Receive a copy of the bi/monthly magazine Catholic Woman
By-Laws and Standing Rules
History
On a September evening in 1957, in the Sacred Heart parish hall, Willow Springs, at the organizational meeting, Msgr. Walter J. McGrane was appointed Diocesan Moderator to the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women by the Rt. Msgr. Clarence D. White, Moderator of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women of St. Louis.
The Most Reverend Charles H. Helming, first Bishop of Springfield – Cape Girardeau, addressed the delegates, giving an outline of the work of the diocesan Federation patterned after the National Council of Catholic Women and dedicated the fledgling organization to Our Lady of Good Counsel. Mrs. Gorman Greeman of Mansfield was appointed temporary chairman to preside over the election of officers. Officers elected were Mrs. Henery Meeth of Springfield; Vice President, Mrs. George Dorr, of Dexter; Secretary, Mrs. Gorman Freeman, of Mansfield; Treasurer, Mrs. Con Eldringhoff, of Springfield, Pomane and Mrs. Leo Franken, of Springfield, Publicity Chairman.
Click here to continue reading about the History of DCCW in our diocese.