Msgr. John Ossola, spiritual advisor of the council, was the concelebrant along with several other priests from throughout the diocese. Father Brian Alford was the master of ceremonies. Music was provided by organist Nichol DelGiorno and Lou Ann Mack was the cantor.
In his homily, Bishop Paprocki noted that the entrance song Christ Be Our Light, text and tune by Bernadette Farrell, was appropriate for the day. The theme of light is manifested in Catholic churches, he said, and added, “The presence of light reminds us of our nearness to Christ.”
Bishop Paprocki said that by doing the good deeds for which they were recognized, the women were reflecting the light of Christ. The love of Christ shining in them has been noticed, he said.
The honorees from the deaneries are:
From the Alton deanery: Joan Anderson, St. James Parish, St. Jacob; Florence Bohnenstiehl, St. Elizabeth Parish, Marine; Agnes Gulash, St. Mary and St. Mark Parish, Madison; Theresa Hagans, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Bethalto; Mary C. Huber, Holy Angels Parish, Wood River; Ann Pacewic, Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, Collinsville; Michele Phillips, Mother of Perpetual Help Parish, Maryville; Sherry Schlaefer, St. Jerome Parish, Troy; Mary Frances Vincent, Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, Alton.
From the Decatur deanery: Mary Andres, St. John the Baptist Parish, Arcola; Sandra Cameron, St. Columcille Parish, Sullivan; Carol Culp, Ss. James and Patrick Parish, Decatur; Rosemary Elsberry, St. Aloysius Parish, North Arm; Mary Epping, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Decatur; Rosemary Ogle, St. Mary Parish, Paris.
From the Effingham deanery: Barbara Carie, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Effingham; Shelly Devall, Christ the King Parish, Greenup; Margaret Flood, St. Rose of Lima Parish, Montrose; Rosemary Halter, St. Elizabeth Parish, Robinson; Mary Margaret Kirts, Immaculate Conception Parish, Mattoon; Helene Kollinger, Annunciation Parish, Shumway; Mary Alice Kramer, St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Charleston; Judy Repking, St. Isidore the Farmer Parish, Dieterich; Mary Angela Runde, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Teutopolis; Mary Ann Sanders, Sacred Heart Parish, Effingham; Sharon Skaggs, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Oblong.
From the Jacksonville deanery: Gerry Becker, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Jerseyville; Marietta Nolte, Blessed Trinity Parish, Brussels; Betty Fisher Keller Pine, Our Saviour Parish, Jacksonville; Mary Pranger, St. Mark Parish, Winchester.
From the Litchfield deanery: Evelyn Brania, St. Joseph Parish, Benld; Norma L. Cross, St. Mary Parish, Taylorville; Marge Drea, St. Rita Parish, Kincaid; Kay Gray, St. Agnes Parish, Hillsboro; Mary Kathryn Hawley, St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Staunton; the late Marie Katchmar, St. John Paul II Parish, Mt. Olive; Lillian M. Keupper, Ss. Simon and Jude Parish, Gillespie; Helen Joan Miller, Sacred Heart Parish, Virden; Norma Niehaus, Holy Family Parish, Litchfield; Margaret C. Reeves, Ss. Mary and Joseph Parish, Carlinville; Cheryl Sasse, Mother of Dolors Parish, Vandalia; Margaret Slater, St. Joseph Parish, Ramsey; Rita M. Sloan, St. Maurice Parish, Morrisonville; Gertrude Strazar, St. Louis Parish, Nokomis.
From the Quincy deanery: the late Mildred Mary Bockhold, St. Joseph Parish, Quincy; Debbie Brink, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Quincy; Barbara Lehne, Holy Family Parish, Mt. Sterling; Bonnie Petty, St. Mary Parish, Pittsfield; Lucille Schoenekase, St. Brigid Parish, Liberty; Trudy Stupavsky, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Quincy.
From the Springfield deanery: Rose Amon, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Springfield; Ruth King, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish, Springfield; Barbara Nelson, St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Springfield; Lori Owens, Resurrection Parish, Illiopolis; Joanne VanLeer, St. John Vianney Parish, Sherman; Angela Vincent, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Springfield; Barbara Wiese, Church of the Little Flower, Springfield; Mary A. Willcockson, Christ the King Parish, Springfield.