BELOIT — Beloit resident Rita Macewicz was recently installed as the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) Director for the Province of Milwaukee at the NCCW national convention in Jacksonville, Fla.
Her oldest daughter, Kathryn Hackney, of Jacksonville was in attendance for her mother’s installation.
 |
|
| Rita Macewicz |
The Province of Milwaukee includes the five dioceses in Wisconsin, encompassing the entire state. There are 27 province directors in the United States.
Macewicz, a member of St. Jude Parish in Beloit for more than 50 years, has served as a volunteer in numerous leadership positions for her parish, community, Rock Deanery, Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (MDCCW), and NCCW.
Role as province director
As director, Macewicz is a representative and liaison for the Province of Milwaukee, serving on the NCCW board of directors and providing an important link between the national, diocesan and archdiocesan, and parish councils of Catholic women in the area.
Her duties include conducting Province of Milwaukee board meetings as well as bringing information from the national group to individual dioceses through the Province Board.
She stated, “The province director is part of the management of NCCW, a responsibility that brings NCCW and Province Board issues to each group. The biggest news is the province directors are now part of the management of NCCW.”
‘Awesome responsibility’
According to Macewicz, the National Council of Catholic Women represents more than 4,000 parish, regional, diocesan, and national Catholic women’s organizations as well as more than 3,000 individual members. NCCW acts through its members to support and educate all Catholic women in spirituality, leadership, and service.
Macewicz stated her commitment, “I look forward to serving as an intermediary, and to helping to build communication and strength within our councils and organizations which are united in efforts of special action. I feel it’s an awesome responsibility.”
As Province of Milwaukee Director, her main interest and emphasis is on communication and bylaws. “They are my ‘strong suits.’ I look forward to helping respective diocesan organizations to update their bylaws and to offer assistance and service,” she stated.
Promoting public relations
Macewicz said she has “strong ideas to promote public relations for the many Catholic women’s groups . . . I feel we need to give these groups all the dignity they deserve. Through public relations, it’s important to have the local communities know us as well as to build membership — locally and for NCCW,” she stated.
NCCW encourages social action and social justice throughout the United States and represents American Catholic women in national and international organizations. It provides leadership, education, and advocacy in a large variety of issues such as dignity of all human life, economic and social justice, and combatting the trafficking of women and children.
In partnership with Catholic Relief Services, NCCW members support international programs for clean water and sanitation systems (Water For Life), maternal and child health, micro-business development, and refugee assistance.
Leadership experience
Among Macewicz’s many leadership and committee positions are: a past president of the Rock Deanery of Catholic Women, president of the Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women from 2006 to 2008, and committees for the Province of Milwaukee board. She has attended 16 NCCW conventions as a delegate and four general assemblies.
She is an active member at St. Jude Parish, serving in many capacities and as a past president of its Marian Guild CCW. From 2005 to 2008, she served as steering committee chair for the St. Jude Parish Centennial.
In honor for leadership and service, she is a lifetime member of Girl Scouts of the USA. Also involved in many community groups, she presently is an election inspector and registrar for the City of Beloit, a DAR member, and formerly active in Beloit Council of PTAs and Beloit Memorial High School PTSA.
Among her local church and community recognition awards are: St. Jude appreciation awards; YWCA Tribute to Women — Minnie Mills Enking Volunteer Award 1995; City of Beloit dedicated service to City Plan Commission; and Beloit Daily News Volunteer of the Month, June 1988.
Macewicz is a 1985 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a double major in journalism and political science. She is semi-retired from her company MACE PR and Research Service. She has also completed 13 years of professional service to the School District of Beloit.
Macewicz and her husband, Edmund, are parents of six adult children and have 15 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. They also have a blended family of three stepdaughters, 12 more grandchildren, and additional great-grandchildren.