St. Teresa of Avila Women’s Guild was chartered in 1984.  The mission of the Guild is to promote spiritual growth, unity, community spirit and service to our parish and beyond. The Guild has expanded our services to help others I am outlying communities and internationally.  Although it is a Women’s Guild, we have the good fortune to have an auxiliary group of spouses, children, grandchildren, sisters, brothers and mothers assisting with our activities.

The Guild hosts receptions for events for First Holy Communion and Confirmation and special occasions for our clergy and beloved Sister Ruth and Sister Gerard.

In 1985, we hosted our first Craft Show that continues with our next show on Saturday, October 5th in the Church Hall.   An A to Z Sale was a huge community success.  About 10 years ago, a new member to the Guild suggested starting a Quilt ministry that was successful in her Florida parish.   The Guild voted to proceed and this group of hardworking women, working alongside members of the Methodist Church, have made over 1,000 prayer quilts that are given to the ill, infirmed and those experiencing a loss. When the residents of an Akron Group Home had a devastating fire to their facility on Bloomingdale Avenue, the Guild made and delivered quilts for all the residents in their temporary accommodations in East Aurora.

Sister Johnice from the Response to Love Center at St. Adalbert’s Parish, asked the quilters to make quilts for newborn babies struggling in the ICU.  These talented ladies have made quilts for other churches to raffle at their functions and created a spectacular quilt commemorating the 175th anniversary of St. Teresa’s that adorns the church hall.  You don’t have to be a quilting expert as many of the ladies perform other tasks. They meet every Wednesday at the Akron First United Methodist Church on Church Street. Please feel free to join them!

 In 2013, Monsignor Williamson was looking for a sister parish to align with St. Teresa’s.  The Guild was also looking to reach out internationally.  Mary Charles, the Guild’s charter member and sister of Father John Leising and Sister Bea Leising, a Missionary, in Timau, Kenya. We found our answer and for over 11 years the Guild has supported the mission work at St. Elizabeth’s.  Through the generosity of our parishioners, we have supported children in the school with books, school supplies and shoes as a child in Kenya cannot attend school without a pair of shoes.  We also spearheaded a collection to build 5 latrines throughout the mission area.  More recently, parishioners have donated toward a Milk & Porridge Collection that provides babies and preschool toddlers with servings of porridge, milk, vegetables, and fruit. These children are afflicted with malnutrition as the mothers are unable to nurse their babies, causing them to be small and stunted for their age. Another program was added, Follow the Children.  This program helps youngsters in St. Elizabeth’s Elementary School by providing books, tuition and two meals a day.  Recently. one of the students St. Teresa’s has helped in the past made a trip to the US. He graduated with a degree in computer science and has a job and is sending money to his family each month.  This note brought joy to the Guild knowing that our parishioners’ donations are helping to make long-term changes.  This March we were notified that after years of drilling, they have finally found a good well for the residents of the school and community!

Another quilt ministry project was requested by Sister Johnice to make fleece blankets for the homeless people in buffalo.  The quilters stepped forward and blankets with fleece and special backing to keep them warm. For many years, Sister Johnice has asked us to help her clients during the holidays, so the Guild has spearheaded a variety of collections from pillows and pillowcases, Towels, totes and soap, bags filled with household cleaning supplies, hooded sweatshirts to keep the homeless residents warm, pajamas for children, and non-perishables foods.  Items are brought to the Narthex in early December and placed under the Christmas tree. It is truly the most beautiful tree filled with gifts, hope and love for the friends of the mission.  For those of us who continue to trek down to Kosciuszko Street for this delivery in Kreher's van, we continue to be amazed at the compassion and unending faith of Sister Johnice.  Her mission is to show people the path to self-sufficiency by providing a variety of compassionate programs. 

The Guild supports the Respect Life program by raising money and baby items.  Every Spring a crib is placed in the narthex and parishioners are invited to donate baby clothing, diapers, wipes and other needs for the little ones.  The last two years, we added a baby bottle collection that allows parishioners to take home a bottle and fill it with change, dollars or check.   All proceeds are sent to the Office of Respect Life St. Gianna Pregnancy Outreach Center. 

For decades the Guild has reached out to residents in need in the Akron-Newstead community, the Tonawanda Reservation and Catholic Charities with a full Thanksgiving dinner. This monetary collection allows us to prepare beautifully decorated totes with all the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal.  The totes are delivered by Guild members and friends. 

The Sock, Hat and Mitten Tree is another continuing project. A Christmas tree is decorated with hats, socks and mittens for the clients of the Akron-Newstead food pantry. 

On Ash Wednesday, the Guild offers a poor man’s meal of meatless soup and bread. The soups are made by the Guild and auxiliary members. It is a wonderful start to the Lenten season. 

 Recently the Guild funded lighting outside the Church Hall and Sisters’ residence for the safety of all who need to access those buildings. 

The Guild Girls are always busy and welcome new ideas. The Guild meets every first Tuesday of each month at 7 pm in the Rectory office.  Please join us and bring your ideas!

Judith Bell, Guild Coordinator