Women’s Giving Circle Holds Inaugural Meeting

Members of the Diocese of Baton Rouge Women’s Giving Circle, a group dedicated to glorifying God through philanthropy, gathered for their inaugural meeting Feb. 17 at St. Jude Church in Baton Rouge with a mission to “give, pray and bless.”

The group is scheduled to meet three times annually. Each meeting includes Mass, fellowship and food. 

At the first meeting members received a list of 17 non-profit organizations as potential grantees as well as information on each ministry. Members will vote on their choice to receive the grant. 

At the second meeting, scheduled in March, members will hear from representatives of the non-profits on the pared-down list about what they do and their needs. The group will then make its decision awarding of the grants.

At the May meeting, in which Bishop Michael G. Duca is scheduled to celebrate Mass, the group will present their pooled money to their selected non-profit. 

In his homily Feb. 17, Mass celebrant St. Jude pastor Father Trey Nelson talked about the Gospel reading, in which Jesus questioned his disciples: “Who do you say that I am?”

Father Nelson pointed out that through the question Jesus posed to the disciples, God reminds us that in the end, he calls us to himself. And that should ultimately lead to a mission to serve others with caring and compassion. 

Gathering in faith and hope, they are to reach out to others and live in God’s strength, according to Father Nelson.

Guest speaker Sister Martha Ann Abshire FMOL spoke about how growing up in a poor Cajun family led to her calling to serve others. Even though her parents were poor, they were always there to help others. This developed Sister Martha Ann’s keen awareness of the needs of “the people just next door” and led her to a religious vocation. 

She entered the convent and in 1972 graduated from Our Lady of the Lake School of Nursing in Baton Rouge. Since that time, she has been a hospital floor nurse, organized and directed hospital departments of social services and risk management, served as a hospital administrator, a missionary, served on her order’s governing board and received a master’s degree in administration. 

Sister Martha Ann has traveled the world serving in a religious congregation that ministers to and builds up those most in need.

A real defining point was the six years she spent in the Franciscan mission in Haiti. While she was serving as an administrator at the sisters’ hospital in St. Martinville, she said two sisters were exploring the possibility of starting a mission. In conjunction with a doctor in Lafayette who was Haitian born, the sisters settled on a mission in Aquin, Haiti.

Sister Althea Jonis and Sister Martha Ann moved to Haiti in 1988.

The Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady meet the health and educational needs of people, especially women, in underdeveloped nations rebuild their lives and community. While she has seen the worst effects of poverty, she has seen people grow and thrive when they are supported financially, emotionally and spiritually.

Sister Martha Ann noted that, particularly, the Blessed Mother and women throughout the history of the church are models of faith and strength and encouraged them, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to be “strong women in the Catholic Church.”

Approximately 95 of the 125 members attended the meeting. Afterwards they went to the St. Jude Parish Hall for a reception, which included food, music and lively fellowship. The women expressed thanksgiving to be able to gather again following the isolation created by the COVID pandemic. 

Janet Vidrine, a member of Sacred Heart Church in Baton Rouge, said, “We have seen what COVID has done to the people. There is a great need for everyone.”

Vidrine, who taught at Catholic High School for 30 years, was invited to the meeting by long-time friend Laura Poche and was happy to recognize and visit with many of the attendees.

“I’m so glad (Poche) invited me,” Vidrine said. 

For more information about the Women’s Giving Circle, visit diobr.org/womens-giving-circle.