St. Joseph Parish - Cyclone at 20120 Farm Road 485, off Highway 53, Cyclone, TX 76519-3109 US - St. Mary's Altar Society

At the onset every married woman in the parish and also all the young girls over 14 were encouraged to become members.  The early by-laws state that each member is expected to pray daily for herself, her family and the other members of the Society.  Early dues were $1 each year or 10 cents a month and remained that way until the 1950’s.

The social side of the organization began with a shared luncheon after clean up projects and then also after the monthly meeting.

When the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women was inaugurated in the Austin Diocese in 1948 the St. Mary’s Altar Society was affiliated.  The additional 50 cents per member was collected for several years in the Church.  Father O-Regan would ask that every head of family put the 50 cents into a special collection for the woman in the family.

The number of members was determined by the amount of the collection.  Subsequently the dues were raised to $2 to cover the affiliation dues.

By 1950 the Altar Society ladies said the Rosary in a body (once a month) and had a Mass said for the members.  Upon a member’s death three masses were said for the repose of the member’s soul.  This has been replaced in present day by a membership in the Clerical Endowment Fund.

The St. Mary’s Altar Society continued to meet monthly to take care of organization business.  The laundry of Church linens was rotated to a different member each month.  Responsibility for church cleaning was rotated.  After a time, the laundry was turned over to one member, paid by the Society.

Deanery Council meetings were held quarterly in the adjoining parishes and hosted biannually by the St. Mary’s Altar Society.  This broadened the scope of the organization.

In an attempt to have money to do their charitable works, Mrs. Lenore Hoelscher, while President in 1973, started the April Fest, a noon meal prepared by the members with tickets sold in advance.  It was so successful that tickets for the meal were soon sold at the door, although local employers were encouraged to buy tickets for their employees in advance.  A quilt made by the members was raffled off at the dinner and is still a big drawing card today.  Also during here tenure, the “after church cleaning” social at Christmas was changed to include the spouses of the members and was held in the evening.

Presently the organization provides a meal for the family of deceased parish members on the day of the funeral.  Through the working of the telephone committee almost every member can be contacted in a day for any important reason.  Each member contributes food for the meal. 

The officers serve a two-year term with the vice-president becoming the president after two years.  Meetings are once each month; the Rosary is recited before Mass every third Sunday and the Society also started the “Black Bag” collection for local people in need.  Members are active in the Deanery Council and send delegates to the Diocesan Convention each year.  Many members have held office and served on Commissions on the Deanery and Diocesan level.

The organization promotes academics and social work by awarding a scholarship each year to a graduating senior or a deserving college student based on their need and accomplishments.  Care packages are mailed to the “away from home” college students of the parish each fall and spring before finals.

With all of the growth and expansion into other realms, the basic principle of the members is still to pray for each other, to care for the church altars and linens, to clean the church, to aid in the social life of all members, to assist the priest in any way, and to offer good works for the Honor and Glory of God.

-- Evelyn Green

Golden Cornbread Recipe for Parish Picnic

2 cups cornmeal
2 cups flour
8 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
2 cups milk
1/2 cup oil

1. Preheat oven 425 degrees.
2. Combine cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.  Set aside.
3. Put eggs in large mixing bowl and beat with fork until smooth.
4. Add milk and oil and beat with fork.
5. Add dry ingredients and mix until lumps are gone.
6. Pour in greased 9x13 pan and bake 25 minutes until golden brown.