September 23, 2009

Guild to honor founding member

It will be an evening of joy and fellowship as the Archbishop’s Guild honors charter member Marion Kelly at its annual silent auction and dinner dance next month to benefit the many ministries the guild supports.

The event is set for 6 p.m. Oct. 10 at St. Mark’s parish hall in Westminster.

In addition to honoring Kelly, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday, the guild will mark its 79th anniversary.

Guild President Lee Hemminger said the organization is excited to publicly recognize Kelly, the sole charter member still active in the organization. 

“She has done so much for the guild since the beginning,” Hemminger said.  “We wanted to make this event a special one and having Marion as part of it will do just that.”

Among the items to be auctioned are Denver Bronco tickets, mountain condominium weekends, fine arts, including a hand painted tea set, and many gift baskets and dinner gift certificates. 

Hemminger said the mission of the guild is to serve the underserved and the marginalized of Colorado.

“We reach out to agencies through our fundraisers,” she said.  “Proceeds go to agencies that serve the people.” 

Possibly the guild ministry that most people are aware of is support of the Discalced Carmelite nuns of Carmel of the Holy Spirit Monastery in Littleton through the Friends of Carmel, an arm of the Archbishop’s Guild that Kelly herself founded. 

Money raised through this organization pays for general upkeep and insurance on the property and monastery.  But the group supports other ministries.

“We have a program for the aged,” Hemminger said, “Every Christmas the guild puts together and delivers 500 gift bags to senior centers, each containing a variety of things—hygiene items and other items. We also have a program for children. We get toys through the Toys for Tot’s program sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps. And each year the guild takes up a collection and we buy disposal diapers, which we donate to several agencies serving the poor, including Samaritan House.”

Hemminger said that while donations to the upcoming event have been good, the organization is always on the lookout for other people or agencies who want to contribute.

“We’ll take items right up until the auction if someone has something to donate,” she said, adding, “It should be a great time.”

Cost to the Archbishop’s Guild Silent Auction and Dinner Dance is $30 per person, $50 per couple.  Tickets need to be purchased in advance.  Call Julia at 303-287-3080.