Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women
Madison Diocesan Council
of Catholic Women
THE MADISON DIOCESAN COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC WOMEN works to address the needs of our communities and people throughout the world by actively supporting a wide variety of programs. These programs strive to improve the lives of people that are physical impaired, suffering from adiction or abuse, struggling to care for critically ill family members, or in need of potable drinking water as well as programs that support and defend the dignity of life. All of the programs below are supported by the National Council of Catholic Women
Boxes of Joy
Box of Joy is a fun, simple way to help children in developing countries experience the joy of Christmas.
We are pleased to announce that this year MDCCW will continue with the Boxes of Joy Project. In 2020 with your help, MDCCW sent 750 gift boxes to children throughout Latin American countries. In 2021 with your help, MDCCW sent 896 boxes. In 2022, we sent 979 boxes. We hope to be able to meet or beat that goal again this year.
Project is as easy as 1/2/3!
- Obtain a box (or boxes) of joy from your Vicariate contact — or contact Coreen Marklein.
- Fill the box with toys, school supplies, etc. Mark box with either boy or girl and age group. Put rubber band around box.
- Complete an envelope with your information AND a check for $9.00 payable to Cross Catholic Outreach or ONLINE via credit card to Cross Catholic Outreach. Do NOT put envelope in box but give to Coreen Marklein at drop off center. Checks will be sent together in one UPS mailer to Cross Catholic Outreach Cross Catholic Outreach. Do Not Put Cash in the boxes or envelopes.
- Another option is to provide a donation ONLINE via credit card to Cross Catholic Outreach. A donation of $9 is recommended per box you wish to purchase.
- Bring to your parish office or parish contact. Then collect boxes and bring as a group to the drop off site.
- Drop off site will be St. Martin of Tours former school building, located in the parking lot across from St. Martin of Tours Parish, 3950 St. Martin’s Circle, Cross Plains.
NOTE: While the address says Cross Plains, the church and school are located at 5959 (and 5950 for school) St. Martin’s Circle, in Martinsville.
DROP OFF TIMES will be:
Saturday, November 11, 2023, from 11 am to 3 pm
Sunday, November 12, 2023, from 9 am to 1 pm - Please do not hesitate to contact Coreen Marklein, Project Leader, or (608) 393-0880
Further information may be found at the BOXES OF JOY WEBSITE.
MDCCW Participating Box of Joy project for 2023
The Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (MDCCW) will be participating in Cross Catholic Outreach’s Box of Joy project for 2023. We have sponsored this project since 2020 and the project continues to grow. With your help, we can bring hope and happiness to hundreds of children in dire poverty around the world.
Since its inception, 512,855 Box of Joy gifts have blessed boys and girls in nine developing countries. In the 2022 Box of Joy season, 118,990 gifts were sent to children in six countries: the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras and Malawi. We hope to increase the number of Box of Joy gifts sent for Christmas 2023!
Involve your parish, your school, church groups, etc. and families to spread the word about this project. Distribute empty boxes asking participants to fill the boxes with NEW gifts including small toys, bar soap, pencils, a toothbrush, toothpaste, hard candy, crayons, coloring books or T-shirts. Participants donate $9 to cover the of cost of shipping boxes to Latin American counties. Each box or group of boxes must be accompanied by a $9 payment via check or money order (no cash) when dropped off or paid online directly to Cross Catholic Outreach.
If you do not wish to fill a box, you may still help by making a donation online. Donate online. By participating in the Box of Joy ministry online, Team Joy volunteers pack a gift on your behalf at the Box of Joy National Screening Center. With your help, we can make many children very happy to receive a Christmas gift and increase our donations for 2023: 2020 – 725 boxes collected; 2021 – 896 boxes collected; and 2022 – 979 boxes collected. What will our 2023 total be??? DROP OFF: St. Martin of Tours former Catholic school is located in the parish parking lot next to St. Martin of Tours Church, 3959 St. Martin’s Circle, Cross Plains.
NOTE: While the address says Cross Plains, the church and school are located at 5959 (and 5950 for school) St. Martin’s Circle, in Martinsville.
DROP OFF TIMES will be:
Saturday, November 11, 2023, from 11 am to 3 pm
Sunday, November 12, 2023, from 9 am to 1 pm
Bread for the World
Members participate in their Offering of Letters to fight hunger and advocate for changes in food aid distribution overseas.
Available Resources:
Caps of Love
The National Council of Catholic Women is introducing the Caps of Love Project. It is a very simple way of recycling all types of plastic bottle caps, with 100% of the profits going to provide wheelchairs for handicapped children. Recyclable caps: everything from beverages, toothpaste, grated cheese, peanut butter, spray paint caps, laundry soap, cleaning products, and the list goes on. All that is necessary is to pull out any paper liners. If the cap has a metal band, it is not recyclable, and PLEASE — no metal caps (such as from beer) or pull-tabs from cans! For more information please visit www.CapsOfLove.com.
This is a project led by the service commission chairs or a designated board member. The parish affiliate CCWs will collect caps and turn them in to the service commission chair at the deanery or diocesan meetings. Each diocesan service commission chair, along with the diocesan president, would be responsible to transport caps (Labeled, NCCW) to the collection program in Florida. Mail caps to: Caps of Love — 7235 Pine Forest Circle — Lake Worth, Fla — 33467
Available Resources:
CASE: Make the CASE for Children’s Health
In 1997, the membership of the National Council of Catholic Women approved a resolution recognizing children’s unique vulnerability to a variety of environmental toxins which can cause permanent, irreversible mental and physical damage. The resolution encourages NCCW members to advocate for and support federal, state, and local policies to help build healthy environments for children.
Currently the NCCW administers a $26,000 grant from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for parish-based education on children’s environmental health in the dioceses of Charleston, Knoxville, Orange, Green Bay, Madison, Harrisburg, Galveston-Houston, Fall River, and Great Falls-Billings.
The grant provides training to parish representatives and focuses how individuals and communities can make changes that will improve the health of infants and children.
Among the environmental exposures of concern are toxins in health care and cosmetic products; treated wood in school yards, backyards, and playgrounds; the dangers of mold and moisture in housing which may exacerbate asthma; and food borne toxins such as mercury.
Available Resources: "Make the CASE for Children’s Health Resource Packet". This packet provides background fact sheets about children’s environmental health and ideas for implementing the Catholic Coalition for Children and a Safe Environment Project. To obtain contact NCCW at (800) 506‑9407 or by e‑mail at .
Catholic Women: We Are Called to Witness — The New Evangelization
We are the National Council of Catholic Women, and “We are Called to Witness!”
Have you read the NCCW New Evangelization Program? “We are Called to Witness” is a collection of articles, prayers, activities and resources chosen to inspire and empower you and your councils to welcome and reach out, sharing the joy and peace of our Catholic faith with friends, family and neighbors. The program was created in support of the US Bishop’s New Evangelization initiative.
It’s free and available to every NCCW member — download it from the NCCW website: nccw.org — and then print the entire program, or only what you need. Be sure to share this exciting NCCW program with your Spiritual Advisor as well as the leaders of other ministries in your parish. It is also available in Spanish! “Estamos llamadas a dar testimonio! La Nueva Evangelizacion!” is also posted on the NCCW website for our Latina Council sisters and the Hispanic Ministry in your Arch/diocese and parish!
If your local CCW is looking for a plan to include some aspect of the program into your 2015 calendar or convention, here are 5 easy ways to make your Council of Catholic Women a LEADER in the New Evangelization movement in your Arch/diocese:
- Start an “Attitude and Gratitude Journal.” Just make multiple copies of PAGE 25.
- Choose one of the prayers for your daily quiet time: PAGE 16, 50, or 73 or any of the others.
- Plan a special “Valentine Dinner” to celebrate Marriage on PAGE 59.
- Choose one activity from the suggestions in “Stewardship of Creation” on PAGE 82.
- Share the “Butterfly Tree” activity with your children and/or grandchildren for Lent and Easter on PAGE 56.
A New Evangelization program to help affiliations and individual members to live out our call to evangelize with resources for study, meetings, activities, articles and websites.
Available Resources:
WE ARE CALLED TO WITNESS BROCHURE
THE NEW EVANGELIZATION PROGRAM
Child Abuse
The “Children Matter” project established in 1996 to bring attention to abuse and mistreatment directed to children. NCCW affiliates are encouraged to continue to advocate for children and to educate the membership to the issues that impact the lives of children. Support can also be given to local facilities meeting the needs of children.
Available Resources: The pattern for making a child figure for the “Children matter” project available in each province.
NCCW Campaign for Life and Human Dignity
Launched in 2010, the program touches on issues of concern to members and affiliates: 1) supporting the sanctity of life from conception to natural death; 2) protecting marriage and families; 3) working to eradicate pornography and its harmful effects on men, women and children; 4) educating about and working to end the scourge of human trafficking at home and abroad; 5) support of comprehensive, compassionate immigration reform and 6) a response to climate change and its disproportionate effect on the poor.
Available Resources:
HUMAN TRAFFICKING TEAR‑OFF SHEET
Catholic Climate Covenant
(Catholic Coalition on Climate Change)
NCCW is a partner supporting the Covenant to educate people on the threat of climate change from a Catholic perspective. They promote the St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation.
Available Resources:
Domestic Violence
Following adoption of a 1993 Resolution calling for education and policy action as well as support for victims, NCCW continues to be committed to this issue. Domestic violence is recognized as a significant factor in the welfare reform initiatives and analysis of women who end up in prison. There is also a direct correlation between domestic violence and abuse of children. NCCW continues to be committed to addressing this issue through advocacy, education and support for women who are victims of domestic violence.
Available Resources: Resource Packet Brochure “Women Healing the Wounds”. To obtain contact NCCW at (800) 506‑‑9407 or by e‑mail at . An updated Domestic Violence Resource Packet available for purchase (Order Form).
10 WAYS TO PREVENT DOMESTIC ABUSE
“HEALING THE WOUNDS” DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESOURCE
“WOMEN HEALING THE WOUNDS” COMPANION RESOURCE (OCTOBER DOMESTIC AWARENESS MONTH)
Drug and Alcohol Sunday
NCCW Affiliates are encouraged to designate a Sunday in February for a focus on this significant issue effecting women.
The Earth: In Our Hands
Environmental Justice program that calls the membership to education and action on behalf of the environment. Environmental stewardship award given every other year.
Justice for Immigrants
A founding member of the organization, NCCW continues to educate Catholic women about Church teaching on migration and immigrants and to support legislation for positive immigration reform.
Available Resources:
Mary’s Mantle
Parish program to pray and offer acts of kindness for a bride as she prepares for her new role as a wife in her marriage in the church.
MARY'S MANTLE: A PRAYER MINISTRY FOR BRIDES AND GROOMS
Mothers Outreach To Mothers
Based on a three-year pilot project, this is a mentoring and support program for women that choose life, that is implemented in partnership with a local agency offering medical and social services. It may be parish-based or in collaboration with several parishes in a given area or in the diocese.
Available Resources: Resource manual to assist in implementing the programs. To obtain contact NCCW at (800) 506‑9407 or by e‑mail at .
NCCW Book Collection
Helping Children Read for Fun and Future
This program was established in 2003. Local affiliates are encouraged to collect new books for children of all ages and to distribute them in local settings of need (family shelters, domestic violence shelters, community ecumenical/helping organizations, parish/school libraries in disadvantaged communities, children health centers, etc.
Respite
This long standing program of NCCW provides relief to family members taking care of loved-ones at home. Program implemented by local parish or groups of affiliates and/or in collaboration with local agencies. Insurance for volunteers available through NCCW.
Available Resources: A Respite Manual available for purchase.
Vocational Purse Club
The Vocational Purse Club helps Catholic women entering religious life pay off educational debt or provide required funding to enter. NCCW, in collaboration with the National Fund for Catholic Religious Vocations (NFCRV), invites you to support the Vocation Purse Club.
Available Resources:
VOCATIONAL PURSE CLUB BROCHURE
Women Helping Women
(Cross Catholic Outreach)
Raising funds to support three projects benefitting children: 1) St. Joseph’s Nutrition Center in Guatemala; 2) Marie Louise Bayle Center in Haiti; and 3) Sisters of St. Jean Evangeliste in Haiti.
Works of Peace and Works of Reconciliation
All programs of collaboration with Catholic Relief Services. NCCW has been committed to solidarity with women world-wide for over 75 years. In 2003, we celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Water for life. Remembrance Cards introduced in the 1997 Convention for the purpose of making a donation on behalf of someone else.
Available Resources: Information carried in each issue of Catholic Woman.
CCW DONATION FORM FOR MDCCW
CUSTODIAL FUNDS RECEIVED FROM PARISHES/VICARIATES
May 1, 2016 – April 30, 2017
Summary:
DONKEY PROJECT $6,753.93
WATER FOR LIFE $5,856.93
MADONNA PLAN $2,582.50
HELP A CHILD AFRICA $150.00
HELP A CHILD GLOBAL $250.00
HELP A CHILD INDIA $50.00
HELP A CHILD LATIN AMERICA $50.00
REFUGEE WOMEN EMERGENCY FUND $445.00
CROSS CATHOLIC OUTREACH $795.00
Total Contributions $16,933.36