2025-2026 OFFICERS

St. Mary Women’s Council serves the Church, families, and community through special activities and outreach programs. 

What we do: 

• Monthly meetings and Christian fellowship
• Assist with needs in our church 
• Religious education support
• Misión Santa Maria support
• Hosting 1st Communion and Confirmation receptions
• Thanksgiving Food bags for the poor
• Giving Cradle for Catholic Charities’ Pregnancy Support Services
• Gift bags for assisted living homes
• Educational speakers
• Bake Sale
• Nut Sale

St. Mary Women’s Council Prayer

Keep us, Oh God, from all pettiness. Let us be large in thought, in word, in deed.  Let us be done with fault finding and leave off all self-seeking.  May we put away all pretenses and meet each other face to face without prejudice.  May we never be hasty in judgment and always be generous.  Let us always take time for all things and make us grow calm, serene and gentle.  Teach us to put into action our better impulses, to be straightforward and unafraid.  Grant that we may realize that it is the little things of life that create differences, and that in the big things of life, we are one.  And, O Lord God, let me not forget to be kind.  Amen 

A GLORIOUS PAST LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

(A brief history of the St. Mary Women’s Council)

In 1966, a group of women organized the Ladies Altar Society to help with the preparation of the altar for the Sunday Mass.  At that time, the newly formed St. Mary parish held Mass at Seeley’s restaurant and later relocated to Mort Elementary School.  The Ladies Altar Society sponsored the first fundraising event, an evening of square dancing, to raise money for building a church.  The event was held at Buchanan Junior High School.  The cornerstone was placed for St. Mary Church in 1967 and a dedication Mass was held in March 1968 with 480 parishioners attending.

In 1974, the Altar Society name became the Women’s Guild.  Over the year the women remained available to help the pastor with any request or need of the parish.  In the late 1970’s the guild reached beyond the parish boundaries to affiliate with the (then) Hillsborough Deanery and the St. Petersburg Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (DCCW). Membership in the Deanery and DCCW brought connection with the Florida Council of Catholic Women / Province of Miami (FCCW) and the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW).

Though remaining autonomous, the Women’s Guild of St. Mary’s adopted the Council’s system of Service through their six commissions.  These six commissions Church, Family, Community, International, Legislation and Organization cover every aspect of service and offer each woman an opportunity to be active in the parish and beyond.

To emphasize our connection to the other levels (rings) of Council, we joined many other affiliations within the St. Petersburg Diocesan Council of Catholic Women in 1999, changing our name to reflect this connection.  We voted to be known as the St. Mary Council of Catholic Women.

In 2008, we withdrew from the Deanery to concentrate on our parish needs and to better serve our community.  We changed our name to St. Mary Women’s Council.

Our St. Mary Women’s Council welcomes all women of the parish.  Some are employed, some retired, some are stay-at-home-moms, some are widows, and some are part-time residents.  We have in common the love of God and the willingness to be of service to our Church, our community and our world.  The friendships formed are an added bonus.  Please consider being part of our future by joining St. Mary Women’s Council.