Saint Cloud DCCW History
The first organizational meeting of the St. Cloud Council of Catholic Women was on the Feast of Christ the King, Oct. 25, 1953. The first meeting was a joint meeting of both the Council of Catholic Women and the Council of Catholic men. A diocesan-wide rally was held at St. Mary's Cathedral and delegates from every parish and deanery were in attendance. Bishop Peter W. Bartholome celebrated a Pontifical High Mass. Father Harold Kost was appointed moderator for the newly formed council.
Seven committees were set up following the example of the National Committees. Mrs. Patrick (Verena) Meagher of St. Cloud was the first president. One of the primary purposes of the council has been to train leaders among the women of the diocese.
The annual conventions grew from a comparatively small meeting in Sauk Centre on October 24, 1954 to a gathering of over 600 delegates at the convention. The largest convention was held on October 8, 1967 at St. Mary's in Melrose, when 850 women attended the gathering.
In 1957 an Open House was held at the Franciscan Convent in Little Falls and at St. Benedict's Convent in St. Joseph under the sponsorship of DCCW in the hopes of encouraging vocations among young girls.
In 1962, a workshop for presidents was added. At these workshops ideas that have worked successfully in individual parishes was presented by the deanery committee chairs. Later, the workshops were replaced by Spring Retreat. Also in 1962 a card file was set up to keep a record of women who have been active in DCCW work and leaders on all levels.
Guilds were set up in eight deaneries patterned after the Guild in St. Cloud. This project was a part of the Catholic Charities Program. The donations to the Bishop's Thanksgiving clothing drive, and donations to the office of the Propagation of the Faith (Mission Office) were reported with the Foreign Relief Committee reports. The Madonna Plan alone received more than $1,000 in 1964.
Bishop Bartholome made good use of DCCW organization by having each deanery set up informational meetings concerning the New Horizons Campaign. Nearly 10,000 delegates and guests gathered in Detroit for the thirty-first NCCWbiennial convention in November of 1962. The delegates represented over 14,000 organizations affiliated with the National Council of Catholic Women. At the tenth annual convention in 1963, Father Harold Kost was given special recognition as the Diocesan Moderator since its beginning. Father Kost was thanked for his great support and help in the 19 years of growth of the Council of Catholic Women.
In 1966 the committee system ended for the National Council of Catholic Women and in 1967 the Commission system began. In 1972, Bishop George Speltz suggested goals for the family life commission. "Our foremost consideration would be to create homes where love, respect and self- discipline are learned and practiced."
In April of 1975, The DCCW was asked to join in the diocesan planning of the Bicentennial Celebration. On Sept 12, 1976, a day-long celebration was held with over 20,000 people attending, filling the Sauk Centre fairgrounds.
The first Province Conference was held in the Crookston Diocese in June of 1980.
The first Fun, Food and Fund day was held June 12, 1991. It included music, a turkey dinner, and auction along with a humorous style show with door prizes.
In June 2000, Mary’s Garden in Washington DC was completed and dedicated. This project was paid for in 2 years with donations from the women in the parishes across the country.
The primary work of DCCW is to train women in all aspects of life, family, church, community, missions, and leadership. (See the Mission statement) The council always follows the precepts of the church and is loyal to the guidance of the Bishops (our own Bishop Kettler, the USCCB) and Pope Francis.
The first organizational meeting of the St. Cloud Council of Catholic Women was on the Feast of Christ the King, Oct. 25, 1953. The first meeting was a joint meeting of both the Council of Catholic Women and the Council of Catholic men. A diocesan-wide rally was held at St. Mary's Cathedral and delegates from every parish and deanery were in attendance. Bishop Peter W. Bartholome celebrated a Pontifical High Mass. Father Harold Kost was appointed moderator for the newly formed council.
Seven committees were set up following the example of the National Committees. Mrs. Patrick (Verena) Meagher of St. Cloud was the first president. One of the primary purposes of the council has been to train leaders among the women of the diocese.
The annual conventions grew from a comparatively small meeting in Sauk Centre on October 24, 1954 to a gathering of over 600 delegates at the convention. The largest convention was held on October 8, 1967 at St. Mary's in Melrose, when 850 women attended the gathering.
In 1957 an Open House was held at the Franciscan Convent in Little Falls and at St. Benedict's Convent in St. Joseph under the sponsorship of DCCW in the hopes of encouraging vocations among young girls.
In 1962, a workshop for presidents was added. At these workshops ideas that have worked successfully in individual parishes was presented by the deanery committee chairs. Later, the workshops were replaced by Spring Retreat. Also in 1962 a card file was set up to keep a record of women who have been active in DCCW work and leaders on all levels.
Guilds were set up in eight deaneries patterned after the Guild in St. Cloud. This project was a part of the Catholic Charities Program. The donations to the Bishop's Thanksgiving clothing drive, and donations to the office of the Propagation of the Faith (Mission Office) were reported with the Foreign Relief Committee reports. The Madonna Plan alone received more than $1,000 in 1964.
Bishop Bartholome made good use of DCCW organization by having each deanery set up informational meetings concerning the New Horizons Campaign. Nearly 10,000 delegates and guests gathered in Detroit for the thirty-first NCCWbiennial convention in November of 1962. The delegates represented over 14,000 organizations affiliated with the National Council of Catholic Women. At the tenth annual convention in 1963, Father Harold Kost was given special recognition as the Diocesan Moderator since its beginning. Father Kost was thanked for his great support and help in the 19 years of growth of the Council of Catholic Women.
In 1966 the committee system ended for the National Council of Catholic Women and in 1967 the Commission system began. In 1972, Bishop George Speltz suggested goals for the family life commission. "Our foremost consideration would be to create homes where love, respect and self- discipline are learned and practiced."
In April of 1975, The DCCW was asked to join in the diocesan planning of the Bicentennial Celebration. On Sept 12, 1976, a day-long celebration was held with over 20,000 people attending, filling the Sauk Centre fairgrounds.
The first Province Conference was held in the Crookston Diocese in June of 1980.
The first Fun, Food and Fund day was held June 12, 1991. It included music, a turkey dinner, and auction along with a humorous style show with door prizes.
In June 2000, Mary’s Garden in Washington DC was completed and dedicated. This project was paid for in 2 years with donations from the women in the parishes across the country.
The primary work of DCCW is to train women in all aspects of life, family, church, community, missions, and leadership. (See the Mission statement) The council always follows the precepts of the church and is loyal to the guidance of the Bishops (our own Bishop Kettler, the USCCB) and Pope Francis.
