East DuPage Deanery Council of Catholic Women at 300 S Cornell, Villa Park, IL 60181 US - East DuPage Deanery

1.  The Council of Catholic Women was founded in 1920, one of "two major breakthroughs in the United States (for women)" that year, the first being the granting of suffrage for women. [The National Council of Catholic Women: The First 75 Years, p1].  Recognizing the invaluable efforts of Catholic Women during World War I, US bishops resolved "that it is wise and desirable... to form a national organization of Catholic Women's Societies" [ibid, p8].  Subsequently, all archbishops and bishops of the US were asked to send one to three women to an initial meeting on March 4, 1920 in Washington, D.C. By the end of the three-day assembly, the National Council of Catholic Women had been formed, officers elected and a Board of Directors convened, and plans were underway for future general meetings and conventions, and an initial plan of action.  Working within the framework established by the US hierarchy, Province, and Archdiocesan/Diocesan organizations were organized.
     The inset map shows that the East DuPage Deanery is an affiliate of the 7-county Diiocese of Joliet, one of the six Arch/Dioceses in the Province of Chicago the state of Illinois.  (A Province is named after the archdiocese within it - in this case - the Archdiocese of Chicago).  Parish Councils of Catholic Women are affiliates of their Deanery, their Diocese, and the National Council as represented by the Province.  Diocesan and national rings provide beyond-the-parish spiritual and educational programs and serve as our ‘voice’ before the Illinois General Assembly.  The National Council of Catholic Women represents us before the executive, judicial and legislative branches of the US government, the Catholic Bishops of the US, Catholic Relief Services, the World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations and the United Nations.  All Catholic women in the US - whether or not there is a parish affiliate near them - may also apply to become an Individual Member of the NCCW. 

2. Councils of Catholic Women begin with parish affiliates, and expand in wider and wider rings, as indicated below: each Parish Council of Catholic Women with all its members is an affiliate of each of these wider rings

   a. The East DuPage Deanery President wears two hats:  she is not only the leader of the Deanery affiliate, but is also a Vice President of the Joliet Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (a member of its Executive Committee), and acts as the intermediary bringing the questions and concerns of the Parish Councils to the Diocesan Council, and bringing back information and resources from them.
       The East DuPage Deanery has a priest moderator appointed by the Bishop, five officers elected by parish delegates at biennial Spring Institutes: President, Vice President, Recording and Corresponding Secretaries, Treasurer; appointed Commission and sub-commission chairs (Church, Vocations, Family, Reverence for Life, Community, Environment/Rural Life, International, Legislation, and Organization Services, including a Newsletter Editor and Mailer); the immediate Past President serves as Advisor.
 
b. Joliet Diocesan Council of Catholic Women  This ring has a board which corresponds to that of the Deanery as well as the parishes, so board members of parish affiliates have a counterpart on both boards to go to with questions and concerns.

c. Province of Chicago  The Presidents of all Diocesan Councils of Women in the state of Illinois comprise the board of the Chicago; it takes its name from the archdiocese within Illinois: The President of the Province represents all Illinois affiliates at board meetings of the National Council of Catholic Women.

d. The National Council of Catholic Women  See History above.

e. World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations  Composed of over 100 organizations of Catholic women from all contients, WUCWO works for peace and to support the needs of women and families throughout the world.  It was awarded special status by the Vatican as a primary lay organization.

 Mission Statement of the National Council of Catholic Women

The National Council of Catholic Women acts through its affiliated organizations to support, empower and educate all Catholic women in spirituality, leadership and service. NCCW programs respond with Gospel values to the needs of the Church and society in the modern world