St. Catherine’s Guild is proud to have been in existence at St. Michael’s Church since 1890. For 128 years, the Guild Mission – “to assist the Rector as need be, and for the advancement of the Parish financially and to promote the principles of the Episcopal Church” – has guided its choice of programs and fundraising efforts.

The Guild has presently 50 members enrolled. Attendance at our first Thursday of the month meetings averages 30 members. Father Andrew Stoessel welcomes regular attendees, blessing the dinner committees’ prepared meals and offering guidance. Gentlemen of the parish are welcomed and join us. Organist and Choirmaster Raymond Hawkins (as well as his predecessor Douglas Major) at times dines with us before conducting Thursday evening choir practice.

The guild collects yearly dues and a suggested monthly dinner fee. We also ask for a suggested monthly donation for the Haitian student that we are currently supporting. For twelve years, Guild members have made monthly donations to tuition support for a Haitian student. Our current student is now completing her last year of high school. Other financial contributions this year have been to the Plummer Home for Boys, the Altar Fund for Christmas Poinsettias in memory of deceased St. Catherine’s Guild members, and funds raised for furniture for the Chapter Room in the basement of the Church.

The monthly agenda consists typically of a committee-prepared dinner and a short business meeting followed by a speaker or timely presentation. Speakers and events this year reflect the caring, energy, and camaraderie of diverse Guild membership and have included the following:

• January: we reviewed the results of the Christmas Fair and enjoyed our traditional Yankee Swap.

• February: Barbara Miller invited us to a family Dance Party on Shrove Tuesday to raise money for the Lucian Ladd Fund instead of a pancake supper. Town historian Betty Hunt presented “A Virtual Walking Tour of Marblehead.”

• March: We learned that the Mardi Gras Dance Party was a huge success. Our speaker was Dr. Milone, a well-known local Holistic medicine practitioner.

• April: Our speaker was Marty Schneer, who spoke on Israel and the Middle East.

• May: The annual St. Catherine’s Corporate Communion was held on Sunday, May 5th and was followed by breakfast for everyone after the 8:00 o’clock worship service.

• June: The Corinthian Yacht Club was once again our venue for the annual dinner held on Thursday evening, June 6th, thanks to Bill and Reenie Conly.

• October: We were thanked for our generous support for the retirement party of Music Director Doug Major and we focused on preparations for the Heart of Christmas Fair. Our speaker was Lynn Bryant, the director of Sustainable Marblehead, a new and vibrant presence addressing climate, environmental, and health issues.

• November: We discussed plans for our Heart of Christmas Fair and Guild member Leslie Tracy gave a most interesting presentation identifying our culture by generations.

• December: As earlier voted, the Guild did not meet in December due to a conflict with the preparations for the Heart of Christmas Fair on December 6th and 7th. Significant contributions of time and energy were given by Guild members to the Christmas Fair.

The St. Catherine’s Guild Officers for 2020 are:

• President: Sarah Bates

• Vice President: Octavia Moniz

• Treasurer: Linda Smidt

• Secretary: Peggy Bittermann

Respectfully submitted,

Jane McKenna, Secretary