Women's Society

WOMEN’S SOCIETY for the ADORATION of the

MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

      The Women's Society was the first organization established at St. Joseph's Parish.  It started in 1908 and has been an essential part of the religious and social life of the parish for its members and the congregation as a whole.

Officers for the 2008 Term

President
Carol Murdzia from Milford

Vice President
Jean Macionus from Stratford

Recording Secretary
Darlene Kopka from Stratford

Financial Secretary
Janice Chernesky from Stratford

Treasurer
Dolores Smith from Stratford

Sunshine Secretary
Bertha Grabowski from Shelton

Auditors
Susan Lewandowski from Monroe

Kathleen Smith from Trumbull

News from the Women’s Society

          The 2007 summer closed and autumn began with much going on for the Women’s Society at St. Joseph’s of Stratford, Connecticut.

          On the Polish National Catholic Church’s Solemnity of Brotherly of Love on Sunday, September 9, we decided to add some “Sisterly Love.”  At the 9:30 a.m. High Mass, Society members held this year’s Adopt-A-Sister Sunday.  The Women’s Society formed a procession into the church with the adopted sisters (parish friends or family members who do not belong to the Society) and each held a lighted candle.  The members and adopted sisters participated in the Canon of the Mass and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament at the end of the Mass kneeling with lighted candles in adoration of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist.

          After worship Bishop Anthony Kopka, the parish pastor, joined the parish Women’s Society President Carol Murdzia and the Diocesan and National United Women’s Societies President Jean Macionus in presenting a 25-year certificate and medals to new Society members.

          Receiving recognition for 25 years of membership and service to the Women’s Society for the Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament was Darlene (Stempniak) Kopka.  She joined the parish Women’s Society in 1982 after she married the parish pastor, then-Father Anthony Kopka, and moved to join St. Joseph’s Parish.

          Introduced next were the parish women who joined the parish Women’s Society in 2007:  Susan Lewandowski, Debra Steele, Jeanne Laskey, Linda Barry and Lenore Niedzielski.  They were each presented medals by President Murdzia that were first blessed by the bishop with Debbie Steele receiving from Helen Steele the medal that had belonged to Helen’s mother, Mary Loyek.

          During the continental breakfast reception after the Mass, the parish Women’s Society bid farewell to one of its members, Julie Frissora.  She is the daughter of Jean (and John) Macionus.  Julie moved to Redondo Beach, California, with her husband Scott, who was relocated for his job in high-definition television broadcasting.  A cake, gift, hugs and kisses were presented to Julie.

          After about a five-year hiatus, the parish Women’s Society brought back for a fundraising project the tag and rummage sale, calling it a Second Time Around Sale.  It seemed liked an initiation hazing the ladies were putting their newest members through as a huge collection of junk—that is, recycled household items to be “politically correct”—were brought in by parish members, then lugged around, sorted and displayed by Society members along with piles and piles of secondhand clothing.  The sale took place with the help of several parish men on Saturday, Sept. 29, with the set up taking place the entire day before.  Food and beverages were also for sale as the ladies prepared homemade chicken salad sandwiches and hot dogs with the works.  After netting about $1200 in profit for the day, the ladies think they may wait another five years for another tag and rummage sale!

          Besides supplies for the sanctuary and the purchase of sacred appointments for the altars, the parish Women’s Society uses the funds they raise for high school scholarships for parish youth and subsidies for one fourth of the cost for parish youth to attend national and diocesan PNCC programs, such as: Kurs, the track and field meet and the diocesan youth retreat as well as national youth convocations.  The women also pay 10 percent of fundraising profits to the parish for reimbursement of parish utility, office and janitorial costs.

          The Women’s Society members made stuffed cabbages for the Parish Polish Supper on Saturday, November 3.  The event was highly successful for the parish. 

          Next up on their calendar was the election meeting and installation of officers for 2008 on Sunday, December 30, 2007.  The meeting is customarily held on “Rejoice Sunday” (the third Sunday of Advent), but a snow and ice storm caused the postponement.
          The same storm caused the ladies to re-schedule their annual Christmas lunch outing too.  Instead of "Rejoice Sunday," the outing will take place after a meeting of the society on Sunday, January 20, 2008.  The society will go to Blue Point Restaurant on Main Street in Stratford.