President's Message-Spring 2012
In the fall of 2003, I joined over 100 women and Msgr. O’Connor at the Dunwoody Country Club to learn about the Christ Child Society. I learned that it was a National Organization, started 125 years ago, by a bold and compassionate woman named Mary Virginia Merrick. As I looked around the room, it was filled with ‘like-minded’ women (bold and compassionate) and I decided than, that I wanted to be a part of this organization! The mission of Mary Virginia Merrick has spread from “small beginnings” with friends and family in Washington, D.C. to 41 chapters throughout the country. As each new chapter was organized, Mary had no desire to impose the structure and scope of the Washington Society on the new group, with the idea that each city would have specific and oftentimes, unique needs and resources.
The Atlanta Chapter was chartered in 2004 with Casey Long and Anne Marie Newman as its Founding Presidents. And in the spirit of Mary Virginia Merrick, they went out into the Atlanta Community to determine the needs of the children of our community.
Since its Charter, we have been rocking babies at Grady, helping the Teachers in the classrooms at the Elaine Clark Center and supplying Layettes and books to the Grant Park Clinic. In 2010, we established our Signature Program, Elizabeth’s Garden. In its short existence, it has abundantly produced veggies, fruits, herbs and flowers, distributed to the Elaine Clark Center kitchen, making happy, strawberry covered smiles on the children’s faces and landing on the kitchen tables of staff and families associated with Elaine Clark Center! It is so evident that Our Lord is watering Elizabeth’s Garden with His Graces.
Much has been accomplished, by a very small membership! Membership is key to our operational challenges. Without sufficient members, we will have financial issues and insufficient volunteers for continued success of our Outreach Projects and our Signature Program. Our hope is to grow our membership… help us grow it by inviting your friends and neighbors to come out and participate. Bring them along to the Layette Meetings the 2ndMonday of every other month. If they like to garden or cook, bring them to Elizabeth’s Garden or ask them to do a book drive for the Grant Park Clinic. Or maybe just join us for one of the many social and spiritual events we have during the year. Check out the Website Calendar at www. Christchildatlanta.org. Have them come out and “try us”. They might decide they like us! On April 10th, we will be celebrating our 8thAnniversary at our first annual Spring Membership Drive. This is a great opportunity to invite along a friend or two! There will be cocktails and appetizers, information and conversation sharing and a few fun surprises. Please RSVP to Kathy Thompson by April 6that 404-520-9900.
The Title of our Lenten Retreat at the Ignatius House on March 28thwas “Companions on the Journey”. Our facilitator spoke about the companions on the Journey to the Cross. Veronica saw the dirt, the blood, the sweat and tears on Jesus’ Face. She didn’t stop to even think about the danger she was in, when she took off her veil (not done during this time in history) and in her compassion and love for Jesus, wiped His Face. Like Veronica, we, the bold and compassionate women of the Christ Child Society, are all companions on the journey. I am deeply honored to serve as your President and am grateful to my Board that stands with me in service to the growing Christ Child Society of Atlanta.
Your sister in Christ,
Patty Decraene
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