Mater Dei Women’s Guild: 

1997 to 2025    |  Thank You from Rita Clasby

The Guild began in September of 1997 with a $50 gift from the Pastor to get a speaker and begin the Guild. At first we had 72    women and enjoyed great success. Wonderful speakers were obtained through funds raised by our annual Craft Fair, which began in 1998 by Carole Merrill and Claire DiBona. Through the fairs, we always raised enough money to carry the ministry and also gift the church with many items for the   altar, vestments and over $12,000 in cash. The purpose of the Guild was to help women to know Our Lady as a role model. Our speakers reflected many aspects of Our Lady, and her devotions were taught to many women. 

I would like to thank all the women who have been involved over these years for all that they did for this ministry’s success.  There are too many to list here and many have gone on to meet Our Lady. I would like to thank Carole Merrill, who has been with me since the beginning.  Also Michelle Davies, Deb Brock and Dina Furlong, who have been with me in these past ten years. I couldn’t have done it without them. Thank you also to the Youth Group for helping to set up and break down the Hall for the Craft Fairs. All the wonderful bakers who have baked throughout the years for the Craft Fair. It helped support us and then more recently support the Youth program. And all of the loyal women along the way!
It is time for the Mater Dei Guild to retire and for me to do the same. I will be turning “80” in June and need to slow my pace a little bit This is difficult for me to “let go” of,  but the time is right.  I have always had a great devotion to Our Blessed Mother, and I hope I have brought that devotion to many women in the parishes of St. Joseph and St. Mary. 

I thank all of you in the parish who have helped in any way over these many years, and I ask Our Blessed Mother to bless all of you and your loved ones!   ~ Rita Clasby