The mission of the Charity Guild of Catholic Women is the sanctification of its members under the patronage of the Immaculate Heart of Mary through the practice of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy and the practice of charity by rendering assistance to children in need in the greater Houston area, regardless of race or creed.
The Star of David represents the Jewish heritage of all Christians since Christ was a Jewish rabbi. The Sacred Heart of Jesus superimposed on the cross symbolizes Jesus’ supreme act of love for all mankind. The Latin motto “Deus est caritas” translates “God is love.” All symbols in the logo point to the love we strive to model, the reason we chose to include Charity in our name. We believe that all we do, we do as acts of love to follow in Christ’s footsteps.
The forerunner of Charity Guild of Catholic Women began in 1922 at a gathering of 59 women of vision. With a collection of $1 from each, the group established a charity fund to help the growing population of disadvantaged children in Houston. Meanwhile, Monsignor George T. Walsh, pastor of The Church of the Annunciation, noticed the alarmingly high infant mortality rate among his parishioners. He asked the group of ladies for a donation to help establish Clinica Gratuita. They not only gave money; they began sewing layettes to distribute through the Mexican Free Clinic, now known as San José Clinic. The Sewing Committee is the oldest committee of the Guild and continues to sew layettes for infants.
The seminal group of Catholic women continued as a loosely established charitable organization until 1940 when they adopted a formal name and elected their first president. Still motivated by the troubling number of deprived children, the Guild sought a reliable income source to provide financial help. A consignment shop, operated by enthusiastic volunteer Guild members, was a blueprint for raising money.
Charity Guild Shop opened in 1952 in the 1600 block of Westheimer Road and later moved to a converted gas station on Woodhead Street. By 1960 the Guild achieved non-profit status, purchased property on Lovett Boulevard, and that year donated $9,000 to charities that aid children. Shop profit increased and by 1981 the Guild would commit to an annual $50,000 grant to San José Clinic and a $10,000 yearly grant to the unwed mothers’ program at St. Joseph Hospital, in addition to giving financial aid to other charities.
The 1990s were a time of expansion, resulting in a larger building with retail, office, and meeting space on Lovett Boulevard. In 2003, the Guild purchased additional property for increased parking and more floor space in the shop. Charity Guild of Catholic Women celebrated a red-letter day in 2004 with the announcement of $1 million in gross sales for the fiscal year. By 2013, gross sales doubled to $2 million.
Charity Guild Shop continues to grow in sales, consignors, and member volunteers who staff the Shop. To date, over 200 unique charitable organizations have received grants in excess of $9,500,000. Our members remain dedicated to helping children who might otherwise lack access to enough food, safe and acceptable housing, affordable healthcare, adequate clothing, satisfactory education, supportive recreation and enrichment services, and restorative and psychological assistance.
In 2022, Charity Guild of Catholic Women celebrated 100 years of service to the Houston community. The Guild looks to the future while honoring the past, from the needlework and monetary donations of 59 committed women in 1922 to the present time with over 600 volunteers, many of whom work in the shop, and many who serve in one or more of the 25 committees available to members. The sanctification of members and assisting children in need remains our mission.
Katie Binyon 1941-43
Berenice Kunzman 1943-45
Kathryn Suberbielle 1945-47
Frances Weatherford 1947-49
Leonora Carmouche 1949-51
Grizelda Ritchie 1951-53
Rose Laughlin 1953-54
Patti Ruth Linbeck 1954-55
Loy Sudhoff 1955-56
Margaret Monaghan 1956-57
Leota Reese 1957-58
Adeline Carroll 1958-59
Jerry Dyer 1959-60
Elizabeth Robertson 1960-61
Zelie Dolan 1961-62
Florence DePrato 1962-63
Fe Bousquet 1963-64
Bernice Rice 1964-65
Christine Imber 1965-66
Marjorie Porter 1966-67
Lucile Hury 1967-68
Rose Fontana 1968-69
Gene Lederer 1969-70
Bettie Dohoney 1970-71
Evelyn Edwards 1971-72
Delta Thompson 1972-73
Agnes Brooks 1973-74
Marjorie Spring 1974-75
Frances Seger 1975-76
Marian Lyttleton 1976-77
Mary Margaret Cain 1977-78
Eva Maki 1978-79
Lena Dee 1979-80
Barbara Fosdick 1980-81
Johnnie Lallinger 1981-82
Margie Lederer 1982-83
Ruey Arbuckle 1983-84
Mary Sue Blazek 1984-85
Oona Kitowski 1985-86
Katie McConn 1986-87
Anne Quirk 1987-89
Jean Lancaster 1989-90
Clare Aiuvalasit 1990-91
Frances Foucheaux 1991-92
Evelyn Laborde 1992-93
Shirley Flowers 1993-94
Jan Quigley 1994-95
Germaine Miller 1995-96
Pat Cook 1996-97
Rosemary Kimball 1997-98
Vivienne Bartlett 1998-99
Renice Farley 1999-00
Karen Chapman 2000-01
Gayle Longmire 2001-02
Virginia Kerr 2002-03
Judy Slot 2003-04
Peg Walker 2004-05
Connie Little 2005-06
Betty Adams 2006-07
Jeanne Dini 2007
Linda Dalferes 2007-08
Nora Wogan 2008-09
Sally Moseley 2009-10
Cheryl Malden 2010-11
Peggy Ascherl 2011-12
Janet La Raia 2012-13
Julie McDonald 2013-14
Linda Walsh 2014-15
Maureen Trott 2015-16
Jean Phillips 2016-17
Susan Stromatt 2017-18
JoAnne Creasey 2018-19
Cathy Minar 2019-20
Peggy Idstein 2020-21
Katie Binyon 1941-43
Berenice Kunzman 1943-45
Kathryn Suberbielle 1945-47
Frances Weatherford 1947-49
Leonora Carmouche 1949-51
Grizelda Ritchie 1951-53
Rose Laughlin 1953-54
Patti Ruth Linbeck 1954-55
Loy Sudhoff 1955-56
Margaret Monaghan 1956-57
Leota Reese 1957-58
Adeline Carroll 1958-59
Jerry Dyer 1959-60
Elizabeth Robertson 1960-61
Zelie Dolan 1961-62
Florence DePrato 1962-63
Fe Bousquet 1963-64
Bernice Rice 1964-65
Christine Imber 1965-66
Marjorie Porter 1966-67
Lucile Hury 1967-68
Rose Fontana 1968-69
Gene Lederer 1969-70
Bettie Dohoney 1970-71
Evelyn Edwards 1971-72
Delta Thompson 1972-73
Agnes Brooks 1973-74
Marjorie Spring 1974-75
Frances Seger 1975-76
Marian Lyttleton 1976-77
Mary Margaret Cain 1977-78
Eva Maki 1978-79
Lena Dee 1979-80
Barbara Fosdick 1980-81
Johnnie Lallinger 1981-82
Margie Lederer 1982-83
Ruey Arbuckle 1983-84
Mary Sue Blazek 1984-85
Oona Kitowski 1985-86
Katie McConn 1986-87
Anne Quirk 1987-89
Jean Lancaster 1989-90
Clare Aiuvalasit 1990-91
Frances Foucheaux 1991-92
Evelyn Laborde 1992-93
Shirley Flowers 1993-94
Jan Quigley 1994-95
Germaine Miller 1995-96
Pat Cook 1996-97
Rosemary Kimball 1997-98
Vivienne Bartlett 1998-99
Renice Farley 1999-00
Karen Chapman 2000-01
Gayle Longmire 2001-02
Virginia Kerr 2002-03
Judy Slot 2003-04
Peg Walker 2004-05
Connie Little 2005-06
Betty Adams 2006-07
Jeanne Dini 2007
Linda Dalferes 2007-08
Nora Wogan 2008-09
Sally Moseley 2009-10
Cheryl Malden 2010-11
Peggy Ascherl 2011-12
Janet La Raia 2012-13
Julie McDonald 2013-14
Linda Walsh 2014-15
Maureen Trott 2015-16
Jean Phillips 2016-17
Susan Stromatt 2017-18
JoAnne Creasey 2018-19
Cathy Minar 2019-20
Peggy Idstein 2020-21
Julia Adams
Betty Adams
Clare Aiuvalasit
Josephine Arbaugh
Ruey Arbuckle
Yvonne Barkate
Vivienne Bartlett
Fe Bousquet
Tenni Braniff
Agnes Brooks
Vera Brooks
Dusty Brown
Janet Brueggeman
Lucy Burns
Flo Carey
Mary Carrow
Hazel Casey
Frances Cavanaugh
Dorothy Conner
Pat Cook
Margo Cooper
Rosalie Crowe
Pat Daniel
Gladys DeWalch
Lorraine Dinnerstein
Angele Dolhonde
Mary Jane Donohue
Julia Eidman
Barbara Fallon
Renice Farley
Elaine Faulkner
Shirley Flowers
Marie Fortenbach
Barbara Fosdick
Frances Foucheaux
Cecilia Glover
Margaret Granberry
Bennie Green
Lillie Hamblen
Eunice Herzog
Rose Homberger
Gloria Hudgins
Christine Imber
Elizabeth Isensee
Jimmie Kelly
Loretta Kendall
Virginia (Ginny) Kerr
Oona Kitowski
Mary Ellen Kruger
Maxine Kyle
Johnetta Lalinger
Jean Lancaster
Gene Lederer
Margie Lederer
Rose Mary Leggett
Helen Lewis
Patty Ruth Linbeck
Connie Little
Caroline Lochridge
Bee Long
Stel’ Lowman
Frances Lowry
Mary McDonald
Eva Maki
Nan Mangum
Katie McConn
Teresa McEnnis
Mary Miller
Dottie Morrow
Nadine Naples
Rose Marie Nettles
Brucie Ohlhausen
Joan O’Malley
Charlene Onstot
Pat Pixley
Ruth Poling
Ilona Porter
Lorraine Powers
Sandy Poye
Jan Quigley
Georgia Quinby
Yvonne Rabalais
Leota Reese
Leanna Reidy
Billie Riordan
Elizabeth Robertson
Mae Sauer
Frances Seger
Marjorie Spring
Jo Stewart
Delta Thompson
Frances Weatherford
Marilyn Wood
Julia Adams
Betty Adams
Clare Aiuvalasit
Josephine Arbaugh
Ruey Arbuckle
Yvonne Barkate
Vivienne Bartlett
Fe Bousquet
Tenni Braniff
Agnes Brooks
Vera Brooks
Dusty Brown
Janet Brueggeman
Lucy Burns
Flo Carey
Mary Carrow
Hazel Casey
Frances Cavanaugh
Dorothy Conner
Pat Cook
Margo Cooper
Rosalie Crowe
Pat Daniel
Gladys DeWalch
Lorraine Dinnerstein
Angele Dolhonde
Mary Jane Donohue
Julia Eidman
Barbara Fallon
Renice Farley
Elaine Faulkner
Shirley Flowers
Marie Fortenbach
Barbara Fosdick
Frances Foucheaux
Cecilia Glover
Margaret Granberry
Bennie Green
Lillie Hamblen
Eunice Herzog
Rose Homberger
Gloria Hudgins
Christine Imber
Elizabeth Isensee
Jimmie Kelly
Loretta Kendall
Virginia (Ginny) Kerr
Oona Kitowski
Mary Ellen Kruger
Maxine Kyle
Johnetta Lalinger
Jean Lancaster
Gene Lederer
Margie Lederer
Rose Mary Leggett
Helen Lewis
Patty Ruth Linbeck
Connie Little
Caroline Lochridge
Bee Long
Stel’ Lowman
Frances Lowry
Mary McDonald
Eva Maki
Nan Mangum
Katie McConn
Teresa McEnnis
Mary Miller
Dottie Morrow
Nadine Naples
Rose Marie Nettles
Brucie Ohlhausen
Joan O’Malley
Charlene Onstot
Pat Pixley
Ruth Poling
Ilona Porter
Lorraine Powers
Sandy Poye
Jan Quigley
Georgia Quinby
Yvonne Rabalais
Leota Reese
Leanna Reidy
Billie Riordan
Elizabeth Robertson
Mae Sauer
Frances Seger
Marjorie Spring
Jo Stewart
Delta Thompson
Frances Weatherford
Marilyn Wood
