The Daughters of Isabella Holy Rosary Circle 638 held three meetings in 2014, with the first being Jan. 6. The 50/50 raffle was won by Gail Hjort. Omerine Cyr received a small birthday gift and “Happy Birthday” was sung. Regent Mary Ellen Field welcomed all in attendance on this cold January evening. Opening prayer was led by acting Chancellor Josephine St. Peter. The Pledge of Allegiance and Ode were recited.
Draping of the Charter was in memory of our sister, Sylvia Barclay. The hymn “Oh What Could My Jesus Do More” was sung.
Secretary Bea Pirie read the November and December minutes. Regent Mary Ellen scheduled the quarterly audit for Jan. 17. Cards were sent to Norma Shaw, Rossmond Morin, Jackie Dostie Smith, Debbie Chabre, Lucy Nelson, Theresa Wunderlich, Norma Bouchard and Sharon Ellis. No layettes were given out in January and there were no winners from our Circle for the 40 Week Club. It was announced that our scholarship winner, Alyssa Randolph’s, lowest grade was a B+.
In new business, a letter was received from Corey Morin, youth ministry coordinator for the Parish of the Precious Blood, asking each organization to take a Sunday starting Feb. 23 to the end of May to put supper on for the youth after the 4 p.m. Masses on Sundays. This will be for about 60-75 people. This item was tabled until the next meeting.
A letter was read from State Regent Jacqueline Dostie Smith thanking our Circle for hosting the officers’ training workshop in Caribou in October. A thank-you note was received from our pastor, Father Jean-Paul LaBrie, for the Christmas gift from our Circle.
A letter was received from our International Regent Christianne Chagnon, wishing the Circle merry Christmas and reminding us that Christmas is every day. The packet contained all the information on the upcoming international convention to be held in Toronto, Ontario Aug. 3-6. The deadline for registration is May 15. At the convention a National Baby Shower will be held, gift baskets available and a walk-a-thon. It was moved by Dolores D. Martin and seconded by Elaine Haines to send our regent, Mary Ellen Field. All were in favor.
Faith Formation of the Parish of the Precious Blood was to host a chicken stew/dinner/dance on Jan. 25 after the 4 p.m. Mass. Daughters were asked to furnish sweets for this occasion. It was moved by Brenda Corriveau and seconded by Josephine St. Peter to do this, with all in favor. The calling committee will call to have members bring sweets. Brenda Corriveau has volunteered to help on the calling committee.
The Obligation was taken by all present, and the closing prayer prayed and the Daughters song sung. Regent Mary Ellen reminded all to sign the attendance and activity sheet, and thanked the refreshment committee for January, Omerine Cyr, chairwoman, Josephine St. Peter, Brenda Corriveau and Jan Corriveau. Next month’s committee will be Tammy, Meagan and Paige Nadeau, Rena LaGasse and Sharon Perreault.
The February monthly meeting took place Feb. 4 at the Parish Center in Caribou. Thelma Morin was the winner of the 50/50 raffle. Nancy Saucier received a small birthday gift and “Happy Birthday” was sung.
Opening prayer led by Chancellor Jeanine Morneaut was prayed, and the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and the Ode recited.
Draping of the Charter for our deceased sister Elaine Tracy was done, and the hymn “Oh What Could My Jesus Do More” was sung.
Communications received were a thank-you from Regent Mary Ellen Field for the Christmas gift, a thank-you from Father Emile for the Christmas gift, and a thank-you from Faith Formation for sweets donated for their chicken stew/dinner/dance on Jan. 25.
Under Visitation of the Sick, cards were sent to Debbie Chabre, Theresa Wunderlich, Sharon Ellis, Lucy Nelson and Norma Bouchard. It was mentioned that the Circle would send another card to Norma Shaw. Received were a thank-you card from Carmen Thibodeau thanking the Circle for their prayers and well-wishes during her recent recovery, and a thank-you card from Theresa Wunderlich. There were no layettes given out in February. A donation of eight onesies was given to the layettes by Debbie Chabre. There were no winners from the 40 Week Club.
In unfinished business, we received dates for suppers for Youth Ministry and it was moved by Rena LaGasse and seconded by Josephine St. Peter and Jean Bushnell that our Circle sponsor at least one supper on March 16. All were in favor. A spaghetti supper chaired by Nancy Saucier will occur on March 16. Phyllis Brown donated $50 toward the supper.
It was moved by Debbie Chabre and seconded by Doris Albert that our Circle send as an alternate Past Regent Gail Hjort to the international convention if Regent Mary Ellen cannot attend. All were in favor.
We received a letter from International Regent Christianne Chagnon asking each member to recruit a new member to increase our membership. She also attached Lenten messages.
A letter was received from State Regent Jacqueline Dostie Smith regarding the off-year workshop to be hosted by Notre Dame de Lourdes Circle and Father Rasle Circle in Madison on May 17. The deadline for an essay entitled “What Can I Do Today That Can Ensure the Future of the Daughters of Isabella?” is April 15. The deadline for our scholarship was March 20 so that we may send our recipient to State of Maine for their deadline of April 15.
A lector training workshop was Feb. 22 at the parish center. A Eucharistic minister training workshop was at the parish center on March 1. All lectors and Eucharistic ministers were urged to attend.
Our circle was asked to furnish for a light reception on March 8, when our newly elected Bishop Robert Deeley was at the 4 p.m. Mass for the Rite of Election. More on this at the March meeting.
Scribe Dolores D. Martin reminded everyone to try to sell the rest of their discount cards. They are available from any member of the Daughters and can be used every day at 15 vendors listed on the card.
The Obligation was taken, followed by closing prayer and the song “We’re the Daughters of Isabella.” The regent reminded all members to sign the attendance and activity sheets, and thanked the refreshment committee tonight: Tammy, Meagan and Paige Nadeau, Rena LaGasse and Sharon Perreault. Next month’s committee will be Elaine Haines, chairwoman, Bea Pirie, Theresa Wunderlich and Donna Sturzl.
The next monthly meeting was held March 4. The 50/50 raffle was won by Omerine Cyr. There were no March birthdays represented; however, the Circle sang “Happy Birthday.”
Regent Mary Ellen welcomed all present. Opening prayer was led by Chancellor Jeanine Morneault and the Pledge of Allegiance and Ode were recited.
Roll call of officers showed four absent. The secretary’s report of the February meeting was read.
Under visitation of the sick, reported by Elaine Haines, cards were sent to Norma Shaw, Michelle Raymond, Vi Cummings and Mary Ellen Field. There were no winners from our circle for the 40 Week Club for the month of March. One layette was given out in the community last month. Doris Nadeau, who has recently moved back to Caribou from Hermon, donated eight baby afghans of various colors to the layettes.
Scribe Dolores D. Martin reported that she had not submitted anything to the Aroostook Republican yet for 2014, but would ask them to put in a quarterly report this time.
The Youth Ministry spaghetti supper to be catered by the Daughters of Isabella was moved from March 16 to March 23.
Regent Mary Ellen reported that she had scholarships available and they needed to be turned in to her prior to March 20 so that our chosen recipient could have her application sent to the state.
Registrations were sent for the state workshop to all Circles, being held in Madison on May 17. She reiterated if anyone wanted to submit an essay entitled “What Can I Do Today to Ensure the Future of the Daughters of Isabella?” there is still time; deadline is April 15. Regent Mary Ellen will be going down to the workshop on May 16 and invited anyone to go with her for the workshop on May 17.
In new business, a letter was received from the Parish of the Precious Blood regarding Bishop Deeley’s upcoming visit to The County for the Rite of Election on March 8. In lieu of the sweets we were going to donate, our Circle voted to give a money donation.
Queen Isabella Day, normally celebrated around April 22, will be hosted by the Caribou Circle on May 4. Regent Mary will establish a committee for this occasion and invite area Circles. She asked members to furnish pictures for our history and scrapbook pictures of the past year’s activities.
Regent Mary Ellen thanked the Circle for their get-well wishes and reminded everyone to sign the attendance and activity sheets. Bea Pirie, recording secretary, made colorful, big bookmarks entitled “The Gifts That We Can Give Each Other” and passed them out to the members.
The Obligation was taken, closing prayer said and the song “We’re the Daughters of Isabella” sung.
Regent Mary Ellen thanked this evening’s refreshment committee, which had a Mardi Gras theme, headed by Elaine Haines, Theresa Wunderlich, Bea Pirie and Donna Sturzl. Next month’s committee will be Annette Harmon, Delores Tardie, Phyllis Belanger and Jean Bushnell.
