At its annual convention April 30-May 1 at St. John the Baptist in New Brighton, the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women will present Lay Woman Volunteer Awards to four women:

Geralyn Clasemann of Holy Childhood in St. Paul – In addition to her many volunteer activities, Clasemann, a Third Order Carmelite, purchased a house to provide shelter for expectant mothers in need and raised money for a second home — “Philomena House” — for women in crisis pregnancies;

Karen McCann of Nativity of Our Lord in St. Paul – McCann expands her pro-life mission to the Spanish-speaking community, delivers baby supplies and financial donations to expectant mothers, and has opened her home to pregnant women as overnight guests while they work through difficulties;

Lorraine Nelson of Sacred Heart in Robbinsdale – Among her numerous volunteer roles, Nelson has observed a weekly adoration hour, served as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist at Mass and a eucharistic minister to the homebound, and has been a daily Mass communicant;

Joan Schultz of Sts. Joachim and Anne in Shakopee – A parishioner since 1960, Schultz has had various leadership roles, and as the mother of 11 children (one deceased; all who attended parochial school), she spent many years raising them on her own after her husband died at age 50.

For more information about the ACCW convention, visit http://www.accwarchspm.org.