Torrington Societies share friendship and faith.
Story by Karen A. Avitabile
Three separate organizations at a Torrington parish are sharing their devotions with one another in a social but spiritual setting.
“Our purpose is spiritual,” says Jacqueline Stefurak-Harms, president of St. Anne, Mother Cabrini & The Franciscan Societies at St. John Paul the Great Parish. “We pray a lot.”
The organizations had been spread out between four Torrington churches, two that closed in 2017. When membership began declining some 10 years ago, representatives of each organization decided to merge as one group but maintain their individual names in the organization title. Thus, St. Anne, Mother Cabrini & The Franciscan Societies became one at St. John Paul the Great Parish, with worship sites at St. Peter and St. Francis of Assisi churches.
“We are still proud of being together,” Stefurak-Harms says, adding new members are welcome. “We are small but strong.”
About 20 women in the group get together on the second Wednesday, 1 p.m., in St. Peter church hall, 99 East Main St. Each meeting opens with recitation of a St. Anne prayer. Then, Stefurak-Harms discusses upcoming events and activities. Participants bring refreshments to be shared.
As separate entities, the organizations held pasta suppers, penny auctions, bake sales and chicken dinners to raise money for their respective church. They also visited shrines and created a get-well card ministry. Now, the focus of the group is to get together socially and to partake in spiritual activities together.
In late August for example, the group took a field trip to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury to learn about the new reliquary that was created from a confessional. The group attended Mass, and then Father James Sullivan, pastor, gave a presentation about the relics. He also accompanied the group for lunch.
“We had a great time,” Stefurak-Harms says of the 11 women who participated.
In the past, members of St. Anne, Mother Cabrini & The Franciscan Societies have visited the Shrine of Lourdes in Litchfield for Mass and lunch, and the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem. Oftentimes, the group recites the rosary together.
Joan Sugerak serves as secretary. She had been a member of the three separate societies, beginning with the Mother Cabrini Society which she joined in 1979.
“My friends all joined and they asked me to join. We raised money for projects at St. Peter’s,” Sugerak says.
Still proudly wearing a St. Anne pin, Elizabeth “Betty” Reynolds remembers her mom bringing her to her first St. Anne meeting in 1956.
More than 10 years ago, Peg Michaud joined the original St. Anne Society. “I was looking for an opportunity to get to know people and help in my parish,” she says. “I like the friendships I have made, the opportunities to pray together.”
To learn more out more about St. Anne, Mother Cabrini & The Franciscan Societies, call Jacqueline Stefurak-Harms at 860.482.7791. Women and men are invited to join the group which meets April through December. The next meeting will take place on Oct. 14. A Mass for deceased members will take place in November. A social to celebrate Christmas is planned for December at a local restaurant.
