ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
of the
Council of Catholic Women

PARISH COUNCILS OF CATHOLIC WOMEN are organized to meet the spiritual, educational and service concerns of the women of that parish, and assist their pastor.

• Every year, they are invited to choose a Woman Of the Year from their parish who has served their council and/or their parish and community; she – and the outgoing and incoming Presidents - are honored at an Annual Woman Of the Year Mass celebrated by our Bishop followed by a Luncheon. 
• Each Parish Council of Catholic Women has 2 votes at the Diocesan CCW bi-annual Convention and annually 2 votes at the  National CCW Convention.
• They are asked to submit the name of one member every other year for possible election to the Deanery or Diocesan Officer Nominating Committee.
• They are an affiliate of these expanding rings of the Council of Catholic Women:

DEANERY COUNCILS OF CATHOLIC WOMEN

• Deanery Councils of Catholic Women consist of a board of officers elected by Parish CCW delegates at even-year Spring Institutes of their deaneries, and other appointed women who head current CCW areas/concerns, such as Commissions.
• They are the education and information resource for Parish CCWs, and serve as the representative link between Parish CCWs and the Diocesan CCW.
• Each Deanery President is a member of the Diocesan CCW Executive Committee and Diocesan CCW board and brings to the Diocesan CCW the concerns of Parish CCWs.
• Deanery Councils of Catholic Women provide a minimum of 2 all-deanery events each year: 1) an annual general meeting, called a Spring Institute, in which Deanery business is conducted and at which bi-annually new Deanery officers are elected by parish delegates; and 2) another deanery-wide Deanery meeting, perhaps a Fall Coffee/Gathering or a summer or winter event.
• Each Deanery also votes at the bi-annual Diocesan Convention and annually has 2 votes for officers of the National Convention of Catholic Women
• They are an affiliate of these expanding rings of the Council of Catholic Women:

DIOCESAN COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC WOMEN

• are organized to assist their bishop and provide special programs and services to Parish Councils of Catholic Women:
• The Joliet Diocesan Council of Catholic Women organizes an annual Woman Of the Year recognition Mass and Luncheon for Parish Women Of the Year, and Outgoing and Incoming Parish Presidents
• It also provides periodic diocesan-wide programs for all women of the diocese on topical issues, usually related to current Commission concerns.
• The Joliet Diocesan Council of Catholic Women plans and presents a biennial Convention to conduct business and educational and enrichment sessions for all women of the diocese.
• The Diocesan President represents all Parish CCWs at Province meetings.
• They have 6 votes for officers of the National Council of Catholic Women.
• They are an affiliate of these expanding rings of the Council of Catholic Women:

CHICAGO PROVINCE OF CATHOLIC WOMEN

Provinces are a division of the National Council of Catholic Women; the Chicago Province consist of the

• Archdiocese of Chicago Council of Catholic Women, and the other five Diocesan Councils of Catholic in the state of Illinois:  (each Province is named after the Archdiocese within that area: the entire of state of Illinois comprises one Province, and hence is named the Chicago Province).
• The Belleville Diocese of Catholic Women
• The Joliet Diocese of Catholic Women
• The Peoria Diocese of Catholic Women
• The Springfield Diocese of Catholic Women
• The Rockford Diocese of Catholic Women
  

The Chicago Province plans various annual state-wide events for all women in the state; these can range from state-wide ‘Catholics at the Capitol’ days at the state Capitol of Springfield, IL, Province Conventions, and/or other state-wide Province assemblies or events.

Each Archdiocesan or Diocesan President represents all the affiliated Parish and Deanery CCWs at Province meetings.

The Province Director – elected by each Province in a sequential pattern at 2-year intervals - represents her Province at meetings of the:

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF OF CATHOLIC WOMEN

(See the website: www.nccw.org  for information on the National Council of Catholic Women)