NEWSLETTER
Snows Women’s Auxiliary
January 2016
Snows Women’s Auxiliary– Formed November of 2012
We are a service and social organization
existing so that the women of Our Lady of
Snows Catholic Church can be involved with
assisting others while enjoying social activities.
Officers:
SWA January, 2016 Newsletter President’s Article:
President:
Jean Sokol
775-823-9529
Vice Pres:
Cindy McLaughlin
Rec. Sec:
Mary Francis
Treasurer:
Susann Boley
Corr. Sec: Sandra Gerhardt- Carroll
Sgt at Arms: Lottie Wilson
Snows Women's Auxiliary
Mission Statement:
Trustees:
Promote sociability among
members and fellowship
among the church’s
congregation.
Promote charitable service
to the church with activities
each year, such as but not
limited to, money for
Christmas cheer,
scholarships, help to needy
families, donation of
clothing, food for the poor
and needy, and any other
such activity approved by the
members.
Assist in promoting and
supporting the members of
Snows Women’s Auxiliary
and the Knights of Columbus,
Council Number 4997.
Dear Ladies,
First of all, I want to express my gratitude to you for an amazing 2015 year. You have been
exceptional in coming forward to share in the fundraisers and other needs of Our Lady of the
Snows Parish. Thank you!
As you can see from the newsletter, our Christmas Tea Party was enjoyable and fun. I want
to recognize the chairperson and her committee for planning such an enjoyable afternoon:
Sandra Gerhardt-Carroll – Chairperson; and Committee Members Mary Francis, Sharon
Cortez, Lottie Wilson, Madeline Zunino, Pat Brochtrup, Debbie Sotero, Lorie Johnson, and
Carmela Cipollina. Thank you ladies! Also, I want to thank Gigi for the students that helped
serve and clean-up. They were truly invaluable.
The beginning of the year is filled with activities that involve our parish community. At this
month’s meeting we will be discussing the activities that start in February and carry us
through May. The dates of the activities will be posted in the newsletter and I will mention
now so you will know the needs of our auxiliary.
 Women’s Retreat - February 6. Chairperson and committee needed.
 Rite of Election for Children - February 21 @ 2:00PM, Parish Center.
Three women needed.
 Lenten Supper: All Fridays of Lent starting Feb.12, 19, 26 and March 4, 11, 18.
Two women needed for each date.
 Making A Difference Award - Chairperson and committee needed.
 Rummage Sale - Chairperson and committee needed.
Please pray about the needs and where you can serve the parish. Thank you!
I was rereading some excerpts from the “The Joy of the Gospel” by Pope Francis and thought I
would end this newsletter with a few lines paraphrasing his thoughts which help give us a
direction for the New Year.
The joy the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus.
Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow,
inner emptiness and loneliness.
I, Francis, wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon
a new chapter of evangelization marked by joy.
th
I am looking forward to see you all Tuesday, January 5 . May Our Lady of the Snows bless you
and your families.
Jean Sokol
Simple Ideas for New Year’s Resolutions
Calendar of Upcoming Events
On-going - Knitting Group meets every other Tuesday
in Parish Ctr. 10:00 am -1:00 pm
Jan. 5 - SWA Meeting
Meet in the Parish Center.
Social Half Hour is 6:00–6:30 pm
Meeting is 6:30-7:30 pm
Bring a sweet or savory treat to share.
Feb. 6 – Women’s Retreat
Feb. 21 – Rite of Election for Children
Feb. 12 – Mar. 18 – Lenten Soup Suppers
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Happy New Year to the ladies of the Snows
Women’s Auxiliary!
Be sure to contact me with information on any
SWA news or events that you would like to include
in this newsletter. My contact information is
below.
I look forward to another productive and fun year
with the Snows Women’s Auxiliary!
Barbara Reyes
828-9005
[email protected]
A Brief History of the Gregorian Calendar
The Christian New Year begins on January 1st, according to the Gregorian calendar that most of the world uses today. It
wasn’t always so. On the old Roman calendar, March 15 was the day which began the new year. The March date had
basically been considered the beginning of spring, a logical time to begin a new year. But for political and military reasons,
the Roman calendar was changed and January 1, 153 B.C. became the first day of the new year.
The Roman calendar, also called the Julian calendar, was widely used throughout Western Europe, but it slowly shifted off
track over the centuries because it miscalculated by 11 minutes the actual time it takes the earth to circle once around the
sun. By 1582, it was a full 10 days off course, causing the calendar to be out of sync with the seasons. This greatly
concerned Pope Gregory XIII because it meant that Easter, which was traditionally celebrated on March 21, fell further away
from the spring equinox with each passing year. In 1582, Pope Gregory commanded that the calendar be corrected; it was
revised by Aloysius Lilius, an Italian doctor, astronomer, philosopher and chronologist. The new calendar is off by only 1 day
every 3,236 years! It was named the Gregorian calendar after Pope Gregory, but is also known as the Western or Christian
Calendar and is the most widely used calendar in the world today.
Though Pope Gregory’s papal bull reforming the calendar had no power beyond the Catholic Church, predominantly Catholic
countries—including Spain, Portugal and Italy—swiftly adopted the new system for their civil affairs. European Protestants,
however, largely rejected the change because of its ties to the Papacy, fearing it was an attempt to silence their movement.
It wasn’t until 1700 that Protestant Germany switched over, and England held out until 1752. Orthodox countries clung to
the Julian calendar much longer and their national churches have never embraced Gregory’s reforms.
Pope Gregory XIII chairs the commission for reforming the Julian calendar in 1582
A Most Memorable SWA Christmas Tea Party
A fun time was had by all at the SWA Christmas High Tea Party held on Sunday, December 13 at the Parish Center. The
enthusiastic attendees arrived in all of their Christmas finery including unique and delightful holiday hats.
The highlight of the party involved a surprise way of distributing the wrapped ornaments that were brought by each
lady. All of the ladies attending the party were seated in a big circle. A wrapped ornament was given to each lady, but
no one knew that Lorie Johnson was going to read a Christmas story about Santa coming to Nevada. Every time Nevada
was mentioned in the story, the ladies had to pass their present to the person on their right. Needless to say, Nevada
was said several times in the story and each lady was furiously passing her gift, having no idea which gift she would
finally receive at the end of the story. Congrats to the party committee on their most clever and creative approach to
the gift exchange!
A Most Memorable SWA Christmas Tea Party
(Continued)