At its annual convention April 29-30 at St. Vincent de Paul in Brooklyn Park, the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women will present Laywomen Volunteer Awards to four women.
Margee Adrian, St. Francis de Sales, St. Paul
For more than 30 years, Adrian has been an active member of St. Francis de Sales, serving as CCW president, vice president, secretary and as family concerns commission chairwoman. She has chaired the Home and School Association and fundraising committee as well as the pro-life committee, served on the pastoral council and volunteered for the St. Vincent de Paul Society. She has also taught faith formation classes. She and her husband, Denny, deliver Meals On Wheels. a mother of six and grandmother of 18, Adrian is passionate about pro-life work and volunteers at a LifeCare center and Birthright. Upon retirement, she and Denny started to scour garage sales, thrift stores and church rummage sales for cribs, car seats and baby clothes, which they refurbish and deliver throughout the metro to families in need.
Mary Lorentz, St. Pius V, Cannon Falls
Lorentz has been an active CCW member, serving as president and vice president and on many planning committees for CCW-sponsored events. She is the chairwoman for parish funeral lunches and the parish wedding coordinator. For 10 years, Lorentz taught second-grade faith formation classes, preparing children for first Communion. She was an extraordinary minister of holy Communion for eight years and serves as sacristan one Sunday a month and for Friday morning Masses. Lorentz has also been involved in the community, serving on the local fair board for 26 years and at the food shelf. She has been a member of the local business owners group for 30 years, where she has held several offices. Lorentz and her husband, Ed, have been married for 58 years and have three children and seven grandchildren.
Dorothy Pumper, St. Dominic, Northfield
For more than 30 years, Pumper has been an extraordinary minister of holy Communion at her parish, even serving in the role at the funeral Mass for her husband, Joe, 13 years ago. She describes being able to share the cup with family and friends as a “great comfort.” She led the funeral lunch ministry for more than 25 years, and continues to serve as a volunteer. She also volunteers with others on Wednesdays to make meals for students and families involved in religious education. Beyond her parish, the mother of nine and grandmother of 23 volunteers for the Northfield Senior Center’s Used a Bit shop. “I haven’t done anything exceptional,” she said. “I’ve been a practicing Catholic all my life, but that doesn’t mean just going to Church.”
Mary Zweber, St. Nicholas, Elko New Market
Zweber has been an active member of her parish for more than 50 years, with much of her service behind the scenes. Zweber and her husband of 60 years, Ben, were the first couple to chair the annual Catholic Services Appeal for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. She has supported parishes in the archdiocese’s southwest deanery through the donation of many quilts and other items to raise money for their causes. She serves as co-chair of the Red Cross blood drive, volunteers at the local hospital and is active in the Lions Club. With 12 children, 24 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, she has dedicated herself to raising her children and assisting in the operation of the family farm. According to her nomination, Zweber’s strong work ethic and moral foundation have been key to her success.
