In the absence of our president Eileen Foster, Anne Boyd opened the meeting by welcoming the 21 members present including newcomer Christine Sharp. A Hail Mary was said for the prayer requests offered by various ladies.
Thank you to Connie Latuszek and Dorothy Kociba for the February Valentine themed refreshment table and to Anne Boyd, Karen Adamcik, and Dorothy Kociba for the refreshments. Chris Sharp, Elaine White, Naomi Granum, and Connie Latuszek volunteered to bring refreshments to our March 7th meeting.
Secretary Elaine White read the 11/08/22 minutes of our last regular meeting.
Treasurer Tana Zemanek reported a current balance of $5667.71. In December 2022 we gifted a total of $10,000 to ten different non-profit agencies. We have already purchased the fleece for our 2023 blanket making because fleece was 70% off in January.
Thank you notes were circulated from Father Robb and many of the non-profits to which we gifted $1,000 each in 2022.
Anne Boyd encouraged everyone to come to our evening meeting on April 11th with special guest speaker Terri Stevenson. Terri’s topic will be “Coping Skills for Emotional Management”. There will be no afternoon meeting in April.
We wished a happy February birthday to Carol Landis, Diana Kosal, and Jan Natonski.
Everyone is welcome to attend the monthly Luncheon Series for Women at the Midland Country Club. This is sponsored by Midland Christian Women’s Connection Affiliated with Stonecroft Ministries. The next lunch is Wednesday, March 8th at 12 pm and the cost is $17. For more information, contact Carol Sweebe 989-631-4849 or cjsweebe@gmail.com.
Indira Oskvarek will be hosting a benefit dinner for Global Compassion on Saturday, March 4th at Blessed Sacrament. She needs help prepping food on Friday, March 3rd and serving and cleaning up on Saturday, March 4th. If you can help, please call Indira at 989-854-8584.
Ramona Lalka and Tana Zemanek are co-chairwomen of our June rummage sale. New this year is that items can be dropped off on Sunday, June 4th 1-4 pm. Donations accepted through Tuesday at 5 pm. Wednesday no donations, sort and price. Sale opens on Thursday, June 8th at 9 am. Saturday will be $3.00 bag day and 50% off all items that don’t fit in the bag.
Judy Kawiecki introduced our speaker, Patrick Regier, Business Manager of Blessed Sacrament. Patrick retired from Dow in 2015 and was hired by Blessed Sacrament the same year. Patrick shared with the ladies the mission of our parish and how we work in our community putting our faith into action. Currently Blessed Sacrament earmarks 10% of each weekend’s collection for Christian Service Ministry which includes Christian Service Funding, Emergency Assistance, and Special Assistance. Patrick explained these three ministries. Each year the Christian Service Committee receives 45 to 55 grant applications. Our church pays out annual grants totally $125,000 with grants ranging from $800 to $5,000. Requests for Emergency Assistance come to our parish through 211, Social Service agencies, and from people in our community. We are only able to help each client once per year with a maximum grant of $125. Payment is never made directly to the client but to the person/entity to which money is owed. Most requests are for rent assistance. Blessed Sacrament also provides $25,000 per year in assistance for rent, utilities, and car repairs. Requests are handled by dedicated volunteers who after follow up with the client, determine the need and send claim payment requests to the parish bookkeeper. Ladies of Blessed Sacrament contributed $1,000 to Blessed Sacrament Emergency Assistance in 2022.
We are grateful to Patrick Regier for his financial expertise and for taking time to talk to our group.
Judy Kawiecki closed our meeting with an inspirational reading encouraging us to fill our lives with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, and love for others.
Our next meeting will be Tuesday, March 7th. Please join us and bring a friend to hear our speaker from My Michigan on “Think First to Prevent Falls”.
Respectfully submitted,
Elaine White