DCCW sells centennial keepsake
By RENEE WEBB
Globe associate editor
Posted June 6, 2002

When planning began for the Diocese of Sioux City's Centennial, members of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (DCCW) knew they wanted to do something special to mark the occasion and have a visible presence in the celebration.

According to Renee Beacom, newly elected co-president of DCCW, they saw little stuffed bears that resembled Beanie Babies at the national CCW convention in Nashville, Tenn. Called Holy Bears, the bears could be customized for individual dioceses or parish communities.

"We just fell in love with these little guys. We thought they were so cute," said Beacom of Sioux City.

Robin Corzilius, family life commissioner, pointed out that initially the CCW Central Deanery considered using the Holy Bears as a fund-raiser but it eventually turned into a diocesan project.

Corzilius, of Cherokee, was given the task of selecting the color and details of the bear. She opted to go with a white bear sporting the centennial logo across its tummy. The years 1902 and 2002 are printed on the feet. A rusty red ribbon around its neck matches the color of the logo.

"I thought that white would be appealing to all people and it would look nice with the logo," she explained.

The centennial Holy Bear comes with a tiny book that is attached to its hand. The book - a hangtag - contains a little historical information about the diocese and the DCCW. Corzilius compiled the information.

"We wanted to have something different and attractive as a memento for older people and a unique gift idea for families," said Beacom.

Polly Schuh, outgoing president of DCCW, pointed out that the Holy Bears will help highlight the role women have played in diocesan history.

"Through the years we have seen our grandmothers and great grandmothers so involved in the church," she said, adding that DCCW helped promote the Women of Faith project that was built around the compilation of women's names who had made a difference in the diocese. "The two tied in well together."

Only 1,000 of the Centennial Holy Bears are available. They can be purchased for $10.

The bears will be sold at the June 16 Centennial Mass. They will also be available for purchase in Mapleton during the Pilgrimage on Wheels. Many of the parishes with CCW councils have the bears on hand. When not available in parishes, interested parties may contact CCW deanery presidents.

This is a fund-raiser for the Council of Catholic Women in the diocese. Each of the six deaneries will determine how to use the money raised in their own regions.

Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo was presented a Holy Bear in a homemade miniature bishop's chair at DCCW's spring convention that was held in Fort Dodge.

"Everybody absolutely loves them," said Corzilius. "We had one woman buy 10 of them for her adult children. We hope the bears will be a nice remembrance of the centennial in the years to come."