The Ave Maria Study club held its first meeting of the new 2023-24 year on Sept. 8 in the Madonna Room at St. Henry Church. Twelve members were present. The afternoon began with a salad luncheon hosted by the officers with members bringing salads or sandwiches. Dianne Maile brought a birthday cake to mark the 70th year since the Ave Maria Study Club began in Marshalltown in 1953.

Co-President Rose Ann Jero noted that several of the current members have family ties to some of the original members from its’ beginning in 1953. Joan Studts’ mother, Mildred Coughlin, was the first president. Anne Ramsdalls’ mother and Mindy McDonalds’ grandmother, Marie McLaughlin, was one of the early members and Maries’ other daughter, Joan Shuler, was an Ave Maria member from 2013 to 2015.

Carol Hauser then led the members in praying of the Rosary, followed by Co-President Sandy Good bringing the business meeting to order.

Jero, who regularly sends out greeting cards to the priests on behalf of the ladies of the Marshalltown Deanery, spoke of the upcoming annual meeting of the Dubuque Archdiocese Council of Catholic Women on Oct. 21 in Waterloo. She announced that Jean Miller will serve as representative for the Marshalltown Deanery Council of Catholic Women and will attend the annual meeting. The newly appointed Archbishop Rev. Thomas Zinkula will celebrate the Mass at the Oct. 21 meeting.

The theme for the new year for AveMaria Study Club will be “Mary, Jesus’ Mother.”

The program was then presented by Kathy Slater on “Catholic Beliefs and Traditions” which draw us closer to God our Father and his Son Jesus.

Betty Pieper then spoke about the Guiding Star group in Marshalltown which is dedicated to helping save unborn babies in danger of being aborted. They invite members to “adopt” an unborn baby in prayer for the nine months before they are born and will pray that the mother will choose life for the baby and carry it to birth.

The hostesses for the October meeting will be Jeri Best and Pieper. The program will be Marilyn Spafford speaking on the Music Ministry.

The meeting closed with members joining together in the Act of Faith and a prayer for priests.