Venessa Lopatka

 

Parish:  St. John the Baptist, Winfield

I have been involved with CCW at St. John’s since 2001.

Below details my past CCW experience at St. John the Baptist, in Winfield:

 

President in 2006-2007 and 2003-2005

Co-Vice president in 2008-2009 and 2005-2006,          

Vice President for two years when I first became involved with CCW in 2001-2003.  

Woman of the Year:  2004-2005

Publicity Chair for 2009-2010

Convention Participation:

     JDCCW  October 2008 and October 2006

      NCCW  Minnesota, September  2003

 

Other information:  

     After the NCCW convention in Minnesota in the Fall of 2003, I realized how important CCW was not only on the Parish level but in the Diocese and in Illinois.

    As the WDKD Recording Secretary, I have learned about the workings and activities of CCW groups within our Deanery as well as many in the Joliet Diocese. It is always helpful to my local St. John’s CCW to be able to bring information about other groups to our St. John’s group. Additionally, being involved in the WDKD Deanery, makes me more aware of the NCCW and the work they do that supports each Diocese as well as the National and International support for women of the Catholic Faith.

     My mother had always been involved with a group similar to CCW when I was a child growing up in Bartlett at St. Peter Damien and I remembered how she enjoyed it. She encouraged me to become involved also.

         I have been married to Jerry for 31 years and have two sons; 21- year old, Mike and 18- year old, Kevin. Mike and Kevin both attend the University of Iowa.

    Currently, I am employed in the DuPage County Treasurer’s office in charge of the accounting. I passed the CPA exam 31 years ago, just before Jerry and I were married. Jerry also is a CPA in a partnership in Wheaton. We started our family almost 10 years after we were married, and I was a stay at home mom for 17 years. During that time I was involved with La Leché League for 5 years helping mothers who breastfed their babies. When my oldest, Mike, was in 2nd grade and Kevin in preschool at our Parish school, I started a long term involvement with the Parents Club for 9 years. I was either the Parents Club treasurer or president. Additionally, I co- chaired two fund-raising events at St. Francis High School the years before I returned to paid employment in 2005.

 

     I also am grateful to be a colon cancer survivor for 5 years!