The Gaylord Diocesan Council of Catholic Women serve the women of the Diocese of Gaylord by providing opportunities for involvement in fulfilling the mission of the church as well as opportunities for individual and collective sharing, networking, learning and growing.
- What is the Gaylord Diocesan Council of Catholic Women?
The Gaylord Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (GDCCW) is a federation of Catholic lay women’s organizations offering programs related to every Catholic Woman in the Gaylord Diocese. The GDCCW offers assistance to its many members representing the 75 parishes currently in our six regions throughout the diocese.
The GDCCW offers practical programming and organizational materials that can help establish a foundation of truly Christian community within a given group so that women of mind and heart can work together to achieve meaningful group goals. It supplies suggestions for action, in a variety of ways, in areas of concern to the Church and community.
The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Board serves as an umbrella over the six Regional DCCW Boards. Each Regional DCCW President and Delegate at Large is invited to be a member on the Diocesan Boards.
The Regional DCCW Board representatives serve as liaisons between the Diocesan Board and the women’s organizations, usually at the parish level with their region.
- Purpose
A. To unite the women’s Catholic organizations of the diocese to develop their spiritual growth and leadership potential. To motivate, assist and to act upon current issues in the Church and society.
B. To serve as a medium through which the Catholic women of the diocese may speak and act on all matters of common interest.
C. To further spiritual and material undertakings recommended to the Council by our Bishop or Spiritual Advisor. To work as a part of the NCCW in the interest of the USCCB.
D. The GDCCW shall in no way interfere with the autonomy of any organization affiliated with it.
- Structure of the National Organization
An organization for all groups of Catholic Women uniting, strengthening and inspiring them:
NCCW – National Council of Catholic Women
GDCCW – Gaylord Diocesan Council of Catholic Women
RDCCW – Regional Diocesan Council of Catholic Women
PCCW – Parish Councils of Catholic Women- History of the Gaylord DCCW
Our history begins with the history of the National Council of Catholic Women which was founded in March of 1920 under the auspices of the U.S. Catholic Bishops. During World War I, the bishops witnessed the important work done by the Catholic Women’s organizations. The bishops hoped to strengthen their effect by uniting these groups, coordinating their efforts and giving national scope to their work and influence.
The goals of the council were: To give Catholic Women a common voice and an instrument for united action; to ensure proper Catholic representation in national committees and movements; and to stimulate the work of existing Catholic organizations to greater service in meeting the needs of the times.
The Gaylord DCCW was formed in 1971 from the northern part of the Grand Rapids and Saginaw dioceses.
The United States is divided into three regional provinces. Michigan is in the Detroit Province of Region 1. The Detroit province comprises the dioceses of Detroit, Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette and Saginaw.
The Gaylord Diocese is made up of six diocesan regions: East, North, Southeast, Southwest, West, and Central. All of the parishes in the Gaylord Diocese belong to one of these diocesan regions. (At this time, not all regions are organized.) Each region and parish council of Catholic women operates under their own bylaws.
Each year, the Gaylord DCCW sponsors a Fall Workshop and a May Convention for all of Catholic women. Every three years, the Detroit Province has a convention. At the National level, a convention and an assembly are held on alternating years. The conventions are open to all Catholic women.
The Gaylord DCCW board meets four times a year - June, September, January and March. At this time, voting membership is restricted to a representative from each parish council of Catholic women who are affiliated and whose dues are paid. Each region assesses its own dues to the parishes but welcomes all women to the meetings which occur four times a year.
The Catholic women of the diocese may be affiliated with the NCCW in several ways. Individual memberships are available which include voting rights at the convention and a subscription to the Catholic Woman magazine. Parish councils of Catholic women may be affiliated in several ways too, either through dues to NCCW or they may be affiliated at just the regional level through dues. Each diocese pays dues to the NCCW and to the Province. The Gaylord DCCW is funded through CSA and dues from affiliated parishes and region
- Officers
Ruth Munger, President
Blinda Baker, Vice President
Sharon Gracik, Secretary
JoAnn Bryant, Treasurer
Rev. T. Patrick Maher, Spiritual Advisor
