Catholic Woman’s Club: Pioneers in community giving

Continued from previous week

In 1954, the Catholic Woman’s Club (CWC) introduced the Cabrini book study club, held at the Allouez Community House and scheduled around breakfast.
Cabrini later joined with Avila to offer joint breakfast programs at St. Norbert College.

A couple of years later, a garden club was added, named the St. Fiacre Garden Club in recognition of a 13th-century Irish monk who is noted as the patron saint of gardeners.

The group assisted the wildlife sanctuary and Heritage Hill, along with other charitable works.

In May 1964, the club said goodbye to their longtime clubhouse after the Green Bay Press-Gazette purchased it.

The newspaper razed the 63-year-old building to expand their facilties on Walnut Street.

The club used a portion of the proceeds to fund the Newman Center at 338 Hartung Street.

The center was to be used as a resource for Catholic students at UW-Green Bay and as facilities for club activities.

In 1975, the CWC marked its 75th year, still honoring its commitment to social and philanthropic work in the community.

In 1981, the Newman Center moved to the new UW-Green Bay campus and the club sold the building to Green Bay Day Nursery.

Meetings then moved to the St. John the Evangelist Church, where they remain today.

In 1999, the CWC kicked off a year-long centennial celebration by presenting a $100,000 check to the Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Green Bay.

The theme for the 100th year was “Pioneers in Community Giving” — reflecting the vision of its original members who filled roles later conducted by social services and other organizations.

“Whether people realize it or not, Catholic Woman’s Club paved the way in lay leadership with trendsetting responses to community and social needs. As a result, Catholic Woman’s Club has made a mark in the diocese and in Northeast Wisconsin,” CWC President Rosemary Hinkfuss said during the celebration.