2023 DCCW Women of the Year honored

IC photo/Marie Mischel

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The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women's 2023 Women of the Year were recognized at a banquet on April 22.

SALT LAKE CITY — Twenty-nine women from parishes throughout the diocese were honored during the 2023 Diocese of Salt Lake City Council of Catholic Women banquet, held April 22.

The women who are honored are nominated by their parish.

Each Woman of the Year offers unique contributions to her parish. Many of them are lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Eucharist and serve on parish councils and in CCW positions. They also often organize special projects in their parishes. For example, Maureen Gardner of the Cathedral of the Madeleine Parish is leading an effort to provide an outdoor prayer and reflection area in the cathedral plaza.

Many of this year’s Women of the Year teach religious education classes, regularly going above and beyond in this stewardship. An example is Nelda Troyer of Holy Family Parish, who has been teaching in the parish’s religious education and RCIA programs since 2012.

“In 2019, Nelda was commissioned by Bishop [Oscar A.] Solis to serve as a lay ecclesial minister and master catechist. Nelda has certified hundreds of catechists in faith formation. In addition to her RCIA duties, Nelda heads up a new parish ministry that serves our homebound members,” her nomination form reads.

Similarly, Diane Stroka of St. Helen Parish has taught First Communion and Confirmation classes for 20 years as well as serving as religious education director and teaching RCIA classes. She regularly hosts Confirmation retreats where the students spend a weekend before their Confirmation studying, completing service projects, and participating in crafts and fun activities.

The participation of these faithful women helps parish organizations flourish. At St. John the Baptist Parish, Ruth Penderghast has volunteered in several capacities, including as a Scout leader for Girl, Cub and Boy Scouts; as a religious education volunteer; and as a Vacation Bible School volunteer. Currently, she serves the parish as a sacristan, lector and Extraordinary Minister of the Holy Eucharist. She is involved with the ACTS Community as a member of the retreat team and has also supported the parish’s hospitality ministry, as well as assisting with the newly formed St. John the Baptist Council of Catholic Women. “Ruth believes that it is through service to others we can bring Christ to places he would not otherwise be able to go,” her nomination form states.

Some of these women have moved to Utah from other states but began to help and support their parish as soon as they arrived. One of them is Jan Balota of San Andres Parish, who moved to Utah from Florida just over a year ago and brought 30 years of experience in the running of a church/administration and youth programs with her. “Jan started as a lector shortly after she arrived, and then brought the women together to have three separate retreats successfully joining the [Anglo] and Hispanic women. She has been part of many other areas including teaching RCIA, assisting with youth retreats and recently helping the youth create a beautiful program for the Stations of the Cross,” her nomination form reads.

In addition to being deeply involved in the life of their parishes, many of these women reach out and serve the greater community. For example, Sharon Paetzke of St. George Parish tutored Shivwits Paiute children for seven years and now assists the New Promise Lutheran Church women’s annual retreat committee.

The 2023 DCCW Women of the Year

Southwest Deanery

Luz Elena Garcia, Christ the King Parish, Cedar City

Sharon Paetzke, St. George Parish, St. George

Eastern Deanery

Lavonna Robirts, Notre Dame de Lourdes Parish, Price

Linda Haycock, St. Anthony de Padua Parish, Helper

Diana Sroka, St. Helen Parish, Roosevelt

Maria Zubel, St. James the Greater Parish, Vernal

Northern Deanery

Nelda Troyer, Holy Family Parish, South Ogden

Margret Sanchez, St Mary Parish, West Haven

Irma Barbazo, St. Rose of Lima Parish, Layton

Salt Lake Deanery

Maureen Gardner, Cathedral of the Madeleine, SLC

Jenny Maffuccio, Catholic Woman’s League

Jackie Rivera, Our Lady of Lourdes, Magna

Jane Hall, St. Ambrose Parish, SLC

Susan Gonzales, St. Ann Parish, SLC

Patricia Bernot-Vargas, St. Marguerite Parish, Tooele

Tammy Tonnesen, St. Olaf Parish, Bountiful

Helen E. Gallegos, St. Patrick Parish, SLC

Susan Vaughn, St. Vincent de Paul Parish, SLC

Wasatch Deanery

Kim Matus, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Sandy

Jan Balota, San Andres Parish, Payson

Yolanda Stewart, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Orem

Erin Stephens, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Kearns

Ruth Penderghast, St. John the Baptist Parish, Draper

Sandra S. Moliter, St. Joseph the Worker Parish, West Jordan

Cabrini Riddle, St. Martin de Porres Parish, Taylorsville

Robyn Costello, St. Peter Parish, American Fork

Norma Aguilera, Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, West Valley City

Liz Potts, St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, Midvale

Margaret Horvath, St. Thomas More Parish, Sandy