By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
March 17, 2005

The Mission Club at St. Boniface Parish in Sioux City will celebrate its 50th anniversary this month.

The club started in March of 1955 and is the only club of its kind that has been in existence this long at St. Boniface. There were three Mission Clubs at St. Boniface at one time but none of the others survived as long as the current club.

"When we started out, it came from Franciscan Friars who were at St. Boniface at the time," said Mary Schumacher, a 50-year member of the Mission Club. "It was a mission that we all went to. These gals said that father wanted some mission clubs started for the foreign missions. We played cards and gave our money and sent it to Bolivia."

Theresa "Terry" Murphy, her sister and Schumacher were among the original members of the Mission Club at St. Boniface. Schumacher noted that they took it upon themselves to get things started. Other current members have come in through the years.

According to Mary Clark, the group has basically stayed pretty consistent except for when people move away or pass away.

There are 12 members that attend each month for lunch and cards. They set up three tables with four ladies at each.

The meetings used to be held in the members' homes. Currently the ladies meet at the USA Steak Buffet for lunch and to play cards the third Tuesday of the month. The group plays the card game 500.

"When our kids were little, the meetings were always at night," said Schumacher. "It was in each individual person's home. We took turns having it. We would also have picnics during the summer time with our husbands and children."

The Mission Club has given the money they collect to different organizations such as the Bargain Center, the soup kitchen and different charities. Each member pays a certain amount each month to be donated to a charity. Right now they are sending the money to Birthright of Siouxland. Murphy explained that whenever someone needs them, they try to help.

"I just enjoy the people and get to play cards. They let us play here all afternoon," said Clark, a 42-year member of the Mission Club. "Even though we don't donate a lot, it is something. It's good."

Schumacher noted that the women worked with each other on different projects when their children were in school at St. Boniface. She believes that their interaction there was the heart of the whole thing.

"We are all very compatible," said Schumacher. "We didn't try to out-do each other as far as fanciness. We kept it very easy except for cleaning our houses."

Murphy mentioned that she has continued to be a part of the group because she enjoys the people and loves to play cards. She also likes the fact that the group started gathering to play cards in restaurants.

Schumacher concluded that she hopes the club can continue into the future.