On January 29, 1955, women from every part of $1,200 to the Response of Faith Campaign of the the Diocese of Norwich assembled at St. Patrick Diocese of Norwich; they give yearly to the auditorium in Norwich for an organizational Annual Bishop’s Appeal; education of priests and meeting of the Norwich Diocesan Council of numerous other causes in the diocese. Besides Catholic Women. The women were invited at the monetary donations to Haiti, NDCCW women request of His Excellency, Most Rev. Bernard J. made hospital gowns and cotton bandages for Flanagan, the first Bishop of Norwich. At that Haiti. Programs have been held to teach women meeting, Bishop Flanagan designated the Council how to protect themselves from domestic of Catholic Women as the official women’s violence and how to be safe as they travel. organization of the diocese. His Excellency stated that the work of women in the church was as old In 1980, the “Twin Layette Program” (now called as Christianity itself and cited the epistle of St. the “Layette Program”) was introduced to Paul in which the apostle acknowledged the work NDCCW. Throughout the years, Council has of devoted women to the service of the church. given layette items to Catholic Charities here in the diocese (at least half of items collected yearly) The purpose of establishing the Council was to unite existing parish societies and to establish items have also been sent to the Pope’s Store new groups to carry on the works of charity and Room in Rome, CRS, Poland, to the Indian service to their church, community and fellow reservations of the Diocese of New Mexico, man. Birthright, ABC Center, Rockville General Norwich Hospital Pregnancy Program, Aides’ babies, and As the years have passed, the work of the Council CareNet Pregnancy Center of Northeastern, CT. Diocesan has grown and developed in the districts as well as the parishes. It would be impossible to NDCCW has collected thousands of books and Council of enumerate the ‘works of love’ accomplished in Book Buddies (stuffed toys) to donate to “Books the over fifty years of special activities, both to Dream,” a program that distributes books and Catholic Women spiritual and charitable. Each district has its Book Buddies to children in low income projects programs of spiritual works. Community service and children in homeless shelters. in social service organizations is notable. In 1981, NDCCW adopted “Project Water Tank” The family, the child, abortion and pornography a program sponsored by the National Council of Mission Statement have been highlighted programs. Several districts Catholic Women through CRS. That program is adopted the “White Ribbon Against Pornography now called “Water for Life” and council The Norwich Diocesan Council of Catholic Campaign” presented by the National Council of continues to support this program at all its Women acts through its affiliated Catholic Women (NCCW). functions. Over the years, the Norwich Diocesan Council of Catholic Women has sent over organizations to support, empower, and $42,000 to NCCW to help provide drinkable educate all Catholic Women in spirituality, In the fall, there is a diocesan-wide membership drive. Each year at the Annual NDCCW water in third world countries. leadership and service. Convention, sixty percent of all money collected Council member continue sponsor ads urging the NDCCW programs respond with Gospel throughout the diocese is given to Catholic pregnant women to “Choose Adoption – Not values to the needs of the Church and Charities for its pregnancy program. Over the Abortion.” Society in the modern world. past 68 years, NDCCW has contributed over The women in council continue to serve in their $725,000 to Catholic Charities. NDCCW gave parishes as Special Ministers of the Eucharist, Ministers of Care, lectors, choir members, Norwich Diocesan religious education teachers, secretaries, they Council of Catholic Women Norwich Diocesan make Baptismal robes, continue to clean the altar, Diocesan and District Presidents Council of Catholic Women altar clothes and churches as well as volunteer in soup kitchens, schools, hospitals and many other Diocesan President volunteer positions. Judith K. Pappagallo – 860-889-1617 Reaching Out [email protected] Membership is open to all women in the Diocese of Norwich. To become a member, please fill District Presidents out the form at the end of this brochure and mail Judith K. Pappagallo – 860-889-1617 NAME ______to Judy Pappagallo, 79 Lafayette Street, Norwich District Norwich, CT 06360.. ADDRESS ______Connie Gillies-860-347-4733

Spiritual Advisors [email protected] Rev. Brian Maxwell – 860-749-8625 Middletown District ______Diocesan Spiritual Advisor Patricia Blain – 860-923-9259 PARISH ______Rev. Stephen Gulino – 860-376-2044 [email protected] Norwich District ______Putnam District Rev. James Thaikoottathil – 860-347-2638 Middletown District Anne King – 860-456-0474 PHONE # [email protected] Rev. Dennis Mercieri – 860-447-1431 Willimantic District EMAIL ______New London District

Nancy Prochorena – 860-739-7691 Rev. David Choquette – 860-928-6535 [email protected] Please check your interests: Putnam District New London District ▫Church Concerns

Rev. John Antonelle – 860-429-6436 ▫Community Concerns Willimantic District Kathe Ouellette – 860-872-8118 Rockville District ▫Family Concerns Rev. Grzegorz (Greg) Jednaki – 860-429-2860 Rockville District June Getchius – 860-460-0126 ▫International Concerns [email protected] Rev. Joseph DeCosta – 860-663-2576 Shoreline District Membership: $5.00 per year. Please Shoreline District make checks payable to NDCCW-mail

to Judy Pappagallo, President, 79 For more information about the Norwich The Norwich Diocesan Council of Catholic Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, contact Women is affiliated with the National Council Lafayette Street, Norwich, CT 06360. Judith Pappagallo, Diocesan President or one of of Catholic Women. the District presidents listed: Revised 9/2018