Women of the Year named at annual banquet

Intermountain Catholic

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The Women of the Year are honored for their service and leadership at the annual DCCW convention banquet April 29.

SALT LAKE CITY — Monsignor J. Terence Fitzgerald, vicar general of the Diocese of Salt Lake City was honored along with women from parishes throughout the diocese at the 83rd Annual Woman of the Year banquet April 29.

The honors banquet is held annually during the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (DCCW) Convention, held this year at the Sheraton City Center April 29 through May 1.

"Msgr. Fitzgerald has been working for the DCCW for many years," said Michael O’Shea, DCCW president regarding the award to the vicar general, who is retiring in June.

The DCCW gave Msgr. Fitzgerald a token of appreciation and made him an honorary member. Also given an honorary membership was Msgr. Robert Servatius, who has served as the DCCW moderator for 20 years, and served as a National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) moderator for two terms. Both priests graduated from Judge Memorial Catholic High School in the 1950s and then entered the seminary.

Msgr. Fitzgerald brought greetings to the women and their guests from the Most Rev. John C. Wester, bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City and said he had the privilege of attending the banquet in the bishop’s absence. "The DCCW is a group of people that makes things happen," he said. "I keep track of you through your newsletter. Over the years, you have been very supportive of me and all the priests and religious. Your support for vocations has been tremendous. As I look back over my years, I can say it’s exciting to see where we’ve been and so exciting to look forward to see where we’re going."

Msgr. Fitzgerald and Msgr. Servatius then presented the Women of the Year awards. Each woman honored was given an Our Lady of Good Council medal.

Many of those awarded serve as lectors at Mass, are Extraordinary Ministers of Communion at Mass, directors of religious education and catechists, such as Cathy Paiz from the Cathedral of the Madeleine Parish, Mary Tolbert, Saint Martin de Porres Parish; Emma Jeanne Howland, Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish; JoAnn Torres, Saint Marguerite Parish, and Mary Donovan, Saint James the Greater Parish.

Dawn Bulhman, from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Magna, also implemented children’s liturgy, a Rosary Crusade for children, Vacation Bible School and an All Saints’ Day party for the youth.

The women are very active in their parishes and the diocese at large. Lois Fuehring welcomes newcomers to Saint Ann Parish, Margaret Cragin-Masarone from Saints Peter and Paul Parish visits the incarcerated, Mary (DeDe) Ogden of Saint Elizabeth Parish teaches weekly classes to inmates and Cece Holt serves as the hospitality chairwoman for the Catholic Woman’s League.

Many women hold leadership positions. Maureen Newman, Blessed Sacrament Parish, was the first woman to obtain rank of colonel in the United Air National Guard. Kathleen Pond from Saint Olaf Parish has served on all levels of council, including the 2003 NCCW nominating committee, and co-chaired the NCCW General Assembly in 2008. Anne Smith from Saint Thomas More Parish has served on her parish women’s council and the DCCW.

The women care for the environment. Carol Bergstrom from Saint Joseph the Worker Parish is a member of the Green Team that helps monitor recycling and helped implement ideas for xeriscaping.

The women are also talented. Barbara Wohlitz, Immaculate Conception Parish, is a trained concert pianist and brought the liturgical committee into the parish. Marie Suchyta, Saint Ambrose Parish, decorates the church with an artistic touch.

They also are devoted to their faith. Sue Murphy of Holy Family Parish has spent many years praying before the Blessed Sacrament in adoration.A complete list of recipients follows.