DCCW honors 2024 Women of the Year

IC photo/Marie Mischel

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Prior to the Women of the Year banquet on April 28, many of the honorees attended the vigil Mass at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. Shown with them are Bishop Oscar A. Solis and Father Ariel Durian, spiritual advisor to the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, which sponsors the banquet.

SALT LAKE CITY — Recipients of the 2024 Woman of the Year award, given by their parish or mission, were recognized by the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women during a banquet on April 28. They received their awards from Bishop Oscar A. Solis and Father Ariel Durian, the DCCW’s spiritual advisor.

Many of the women have been volunteering in the Church for decades and have undertaken many ministries. For example, for 48 years Christy Young has been a parishioner at St. James the Greater Parish in Vernal, where she is the director of religious education, a member of the parish council and serves on the events committee, among other efforts. In addition, “With her family, she has decorated the church with beautiful flowers for over five years,” according to her nomination form.  

Similarly, Judy Mellott of Holy Family Parish in South Ogden has served in various capacities for 37 years, including as president of the Council of Catholic Women and as a member of the Parish Council. She also helped with the capital campaigns to build the church. “Her service to the community is also demonstrated in the hours spent in her granddaughters’ classrooms … as well as a Girl Scout Troop leader,” her nomination form reads.

Likewise, Paula Veenstra’s service to St. Ambrose Parish in Salt Lake City “is measured in decades, not years: three decades teaching religious education classes (for which she received the Pius X award) two decades of leadership in our Boy Scout Troop, and two decades in homebound ministry as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist,” her nomination states.

Perhaps the longest-serving Woman of the Year this year is Sophie Romero, who has ministered at Our Lady of Lourdes (Magna) Parish for 62 years. She volunteers at the annual spaghetti dinner, creates handmade items to include the basket raffle, serves on the funeral luncheon committee, plants flowers and pulls weeds, and helps clean the church, according to her nomination.

Mary Francis of St. Patrick Parish in Salt Lake City came to the United States from South Sudan 25 years ago, and now “serves in all the various parish activities, including the Parish Council, fundraisers and prayer groups,” her nomination states. “She was instrumental in bringing the monthly African Mass to the parish, and sings in the African Community Choir; she also sings where there is a Healing Mass.”

At St. Peter Parish in American Fork, Maria Maciel “has served for many years as a Eucharistic minister alongside her husband,” and as a high school student began serving on the Parish Council, according to her nomination. She also “has been a strong link to the Latina community and encourages her sisters to join in the work of the Council (of Catholic Women).”

The Woman of the Year for Christ the King Parish in Cedar City was Cheryl Heyborne, who was recognized in memoriam; she died in January. Heyborne “spent over 25 years coordinating the music for Mass” even though she was blind from birth, her nomination states. She also “served as the communications chairperson for our Women’s Council, Parish and Prayer Chain.”

The Intermountain Catholic congratulates all the recipients of the 2024 Woman of the Year award.

2024 Women of the Year 

Michelle Beasley, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Sandy

Kristy Candelaria, Good Shepherd Parish, East Carbon

Audrey Clare, St. Joseph the Worker Parish, West Jordan

Patricia Colosimo-Guarasico, Notre Dame de Lourdes Parish, Price

Melissa Corcoran, St. Thomas More Parish

Jeri Costanzo, St. Marguerite Parish, Tooele 

Lauren Forster, St. Helen Parish, Roosevelt

Mary Francis, St. Patrick Parish, Salt Lake City

Gabby Gauchay, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Orem

Cheryl Heyborne, Christ the King Parish, Cedar City 

Karina Izarraraz, Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, West Valley City

Korey Llewelyn, Cathedral of the Madeleine, Salt Lake City

Louise Lochhead, St. Olaf Parish, Bountiful

Maria Maciel, St. Peter Parish, American Fork

Valerie Manzanares, St. Martin de Porres Parish, Taylorsville

Gina Medina, St. Mary Parish, West Haven

Judy Mellott, Holy Family Parish, South Ogden

Evangelina Mendoza, St. Rose of Lima Parish, Layton

Judith Puhr, St. John the Baptist Parish, Draper

Sophie Romero, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Magna

Delaine Sacco, St. Ann Parish, Salt Lake City

Madalyn Seaman, Catholic Woman’s League

Hollie Hatch Stapley, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Helper

Kimberly Tosti, St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Park City

Paula Veenstra, St. Ambrose Parish, Salt Lake City

Patricia Voorhes, St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Salt Lake City

Mary Ann Whitlock, St. George Parish, St. George

Christy Young, St. James the Greater Parish, Vernal