Chapter & Verse
December 2015
Christ Child Society of Cleveland
Mission: “To foster a personal love of Christ expressing itself in service for needy children regardless of race, color, or creed.”
MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
Dear Christ Child Members,
The gospel story of Martha and Mary has had a huge impact on my life. I am a Martha through and
through; I welcome, I cook, I feed - and truthfully, Mary’s sitting with Jesus always bothered me - so when
Jesus told Martha that Mary had “chosen the better part,” I felt angry and confused. Our priest helped me
to understand, however, that Martha and Mary are not either/or; they are both/and. We all have to DO
and we all have to SIT WITH JESUS. And what I have discovered is that when I place all of my “doing”
within the greater context of God’s presence and love, I change the way I do what I do. I do it with much
more love, with a greater spirit of community, with less earthly expectation, and with a much greater sense
of humility. My focus changes away from me – and toward someone else. My inflexible and somewhat
arrogant attitude of “I know best” changes to a flexible and more open attitude, one which is much more
conducive to the workings of the Holy Spirit. This Christmas season, I hope that we will all take time from
our DOING – our baking, our buying, our decorating – to sit with the Christ Child. Perhaps our doing will
be more joyful and our sitting with Jesus will be more meaningful; perhaps our experience of Christmas
will be wonderfully different. May your Christmas be merry, bright, and always full of love.
Susan Ferraro Smith
2016 - 2018 Slate of Officers
The 2016 - 2018 Nominating Committee is pleased to announce the Slate of Officers. The Slate will be voted on at the
Winter Business Meeting on January 20, 2016.
President: Janie Nickodem
President Elect: Mary Cay McConnell
Service Vice President: Stephanie West
Organization Vice President: Elizabeth Niehaus
Financial Secretary: Catherine Caruso
Recording Secretary: Gina Muffet
Corresponding Secretary: Lynne Gerace
On behalf of the Christ Child Society and the Nominating Committee we thank you for your dedication in following the
mission and seeing the vision of Mary Virginia Merrick.
Jean Boldt, Mary Graves, Terri Parker (Chair), Grace Starinsky
Nominating Committee
Members of the Starlight Ball Planning
Committee at the Westin Hotel
Merry
Christmas
Left to Right: Cathy Caruso, Karen Kirk, Mary Jo Dailey, Mary Herrick,
Terri Parker, Jean Canestraro, Susan Ferraro Smith
2015 Provisional Class Planning their
Head Start Christmas party
. eated left to right: Sue Simon, Marlene Suchma,
S
Marsha Gleine, Marge Ansel, Nancy Salvatore,
Peggy Rallo, Kathy D’Amato, Denise Knepp
Missing: Ellen Beverstock, Caroline Meder and Marlene Rydzewski
Please remember National’s Annual Giving campaign which extends through December 31st. As a reminder –
each chapter must pay to National an annual chapter support. The amount that our chapter owes for that obligation
is reduced by some portion when you make a contribution to the National Annual Giving campaign.
Christ Child Society of Cleveland
Celebrates 100 years
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In 2016 the Christ Child Society of Cleveland will be 100 years old! What a milestone! Such longevity signifies that our work
has substance and value, that what we do has meaning. So in 2016, on the heels of those who have gone before us and as
the foundation for those who will come after us, we enjoy a once in a lifetime opportunity to celebrate our century of service
to Cleveland’s children.
The 100th Anniversary Committee invites you to join us to mark the beginning
of our momentous year on Wednesday, January 20, 2016.
Mass of Celebration
Celebrated at Noon
Celebrant Fr. Ralph Wiatrowski
St. Rocco Church
3205 Fulton Road, Cleveland, OH 44109
Luncheon & General
Business Meeting
Immediately following Mass
St. Rocco Parish Center
3205 Fulton Road, Cleveland, OH 44109
Parking lot entrance is on Fulton Road, just south of the church.
Please complete the following reservation form and say that you will plan to join us. We look forward to seeing you there!
Mass of Celebration, Luncheon & General Business Meeting
Reservation Form
Reservation deadline: Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Payment must accompany Reservation Form. Luncheon payments are non-refundable.
Name(s): ______________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ________________________________________________________________________________
# attending___________@ $20.00 each
$___________total enclosed
q I prefer the vegetarian option
Payment options: Check made payable to Christ Child Society
or q MasterCard q VISA q American Express q Discover
Cardholder Name as it appears on the card: __________________________________________________
Account Number (print clearly): ______________________________________Expiration Date: __________
Signature: _______________________________________________ Zip Code:______________________
Please mail reservation form along with payment to:
Christ Child Society c/o Parmadale, 6753 State Road, Parma, OH 44134
Attn: General Business Meeting & Luncheon
If you have questions, please contact Paula Conrad or Monica Bruck
Chapter & Verse
Susan Ferraro Smith............................... President
janie nickodem.................................. President-Elect
Ann ertle.....................................................Service VP
Donna kelly...................................... Organization VP
Lynne gerace............................Recording Secretary
Gina muffet........................Corresponding Secretary
Mary cay mcconnell...............Financial Secretary
ABBY SAMMON..................Endowment/Remembrance
robbie wolan..................................Newsletter Editor
REV. RALPH E. WIATROWSKI............Spiritual Advisor
Please direct questions, information & articles to:
Robbie Wolan,
Christ Child Society c/o Parmadale,
6753 State Road – Parma, OH 44134
Christ Child Society of Cleveland is chapter of:
National Christ Child Society, Inc.
6110 Executive Blvd, Suite 504, Rockville, MD 20852
1-301-881-2490 / fax: 301-881-2493
http://www.nationalchristchildsoc.org
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Cleveland, Ohio
Permit No. 3046
Christ Child Society
of Cleveland
c/o Parmadale, 6753 State Road, Parma, OH 44134
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
DATED MATERIAL:
Please deliver by December 11th