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Thursday, April 6, 2000 The Southern Cross, Page 3 Elise Heyward Howkins: founder of the Catholic Women’s Club A t the time of Elise H. Howkins’ death, The Savannah Morning News of December 18, 1942, was obliged to print a lengthy news article and biography tabulating this remarkable woman’s accomplishments. After convent-educated Elise Heyward married John R|ta H DeLorme S. Howkins in New Jersey in 1890, the couple moved to Baltimore where John Howkins studied medicine. When he had obtained his medical degree, Howkins and his wife moved to Savannah. Once settled in Savannah, John and Elise Howkins launched both family and career. Dr. Howkins began his practice, and he and his wife had two sons. Later, John Howkins converted to Catholicism. When Dr. Howkins died in 1912, his passing did not cause Elise to withdraw from soci ety. In the years following her husband’s death, She became heavily involved in many Catholic causes, and also in civic organizations. She was a dynamic member of the publicity committee of the Catholic Laymen’s Association early in its history. Her involvement in organizations was never dilatory. For 14 years, she served as Grand Regent of the Savannah Court, Number 10, Daughters of Isabella, and prodded that group into resigning from the national body and becoming the Catholic Women’s Club of Savannah. Mrs. Howkins acted as president of the Catholic Women’s Club for two years, serv ing until the organization was firmly on its feet. Saint Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary was another group Elise Howkins led as president for several years. Mrs. Howkins had earlier founded the Married Women’s Card Club of Savannah—made famous in the book and movie, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil—and functioned as its president for 14 years. She served as president of the Savannah Women’s Federation for 25 years and was elected a vice president of the Georgia State Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1914. Elise Howkins pushed for a Georgia Catholic Women’s Organization to be affiliated with the Federation of Catholic Women of the United States and the National Council of Catholic Women. Other causes which caught her attention included the Audubon Society, the Savannah chairmanship of the War Camp Community Service during World War I, the Board of Trade, the Tree of Light Committee, Red Cross work at the Huntingdon Club, establishment of rooms in the former Oglethorpe Club for the use of members of the U.S. armed forces, and service on the Abrams Home for Women Committee. Elise Howkins was at the helm of the Savannah Women’s Federation when the his toric move to set up the office of “police woman” to care for women prisoners in Savannah’s jail was implemented. Hampstead Home, a separate facility for women prisoners, was likewise established in Chatham County because of the Federation’s lobby ing. Efforts were also made by this civic group to find employment for women and to stock a “closet” with clothing for needy wonen. Notable Savannah gardens were opened under the aegis of the Women’s Federation to obtain donations for various worthwhile causes. The July 1921, issue of the Bulletin averred that “there are few members of the Laymen’s Association who have done more for the Church in Georgia than Mrs. Howkins.” No wonder that, at the farewell banquet for Richard Reid, departing editor of the Bulletin in 1939, Mrs. Howkins rose to question those present “good naturedly” about the absence of women speakers on the podium and the fact that women had not been given more credit for the success of the Catholic Laymen’s Association. When she died unexpectedly in 1942, Elise Howkins left behind two sons, Dr. John S. Howkins, Jr. of Savannah and G. Heyward Howkins of Baltimore. She also left behind an incredible record of service to both church and community. The Savannah Morning News observed at the time: “There were few movements for civic betterment or worthwhile humane causes that did not receive a helping hand from Mrs. Howkins and many of them she organized and led successfully herself.” Elise Howkins’ zestful example of com mittment and involvement provides inspiration for today’s Catholic lay people, especially women, to give their talents wholeheartedly to church and community alike. Rita H. DeLorme is a volunteer in the Diocesan Archives. Texas diocese asks for prayers, donations to help tornado victims Fort Worth (CNS) FTihe chancellor of the Fort Worth Diocese has asked Catholics to pray for the X victims of tornadoes that swept through downtown Fort Worth and nearby Arlington March 28. Father Robert Wilson also requested the diocese’s 87 parish es and missions take up a special collection at Masses April 8-9 for relief efforts. A statement from the diocese said the priest issued the requests in the absence of Fort Worth Bishop Joseph R Delaney, who was in the Diocese of Juticalpa, Honduras. “Ironically,” it said, the bishop was there “with a group of priests and lay people exploring the mission efforts the diocese is extending to the people of Olancho province, partially in response to 1998’s devastating storms generated by Hurricane Mitch.” Two tornadoes struck Fort Worth the evening of March 28, killing four people, injuring 100 others and leaving many others homeless. The storms caused an esti mated $450 million in damage. One tornado cut a blocks-wide swath as it ripped through the downtown area of Fort Worth, a city of 480,000. Streets were littered with debris, and battered build ings, demolished automobiles and downed trees marked the path of the twister. The roof of one church fell in and the steeple of another was stripped down to show gnarled steel girders. The second tornado destroyed more than 100 homes and damaged more than 1,000 others in Arlington and Grand Prairie. The diocesan statement said the money collected during Masses would be used by Fort Worth Catholic Charities, along with grants from Catholic Charities USA and other emergency relief. At the request of San Antonio Archbishop Patrick Flores, the board of direc tors of the John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy Foundation in Corpus Christi has given a $20,000 grant to the diocesan Catholic Charities office. The archbishop made the request as a foundation board member. Karen Spicer, executive director of Catholic Charities in Fort Worth, said the agency’s main need was not for food or clothing but for cash to help relocate families. Editor's Note: Donations to Catholic Charities may be sent directly to the Diocese of Fort Worth, Finance Department, 800 W. Loop 820 S., Fort Worth, TX 76108. (Designate for Tarrant County Tornado Relief) Augusta Deanery Lenten Penance Services 2000 Saint Joseph Wednesday, April 10 .....7:30 p.m. Most Holy Trinity Tuesday, April 11 7:30 p.m. Saint Michael (Ft. Gordon) Thursday, April 13 7:00 p.m. Saint Teresa of Avila Monday, April 17 7:30 p.m. Diocese of Savannah Vocation Retreats Vocatio Dei 2000, Session I, June 2-4. This weekend retreat is open to any single adult man who is searching for God’s will for his life and is open to the priesthood. (The minimum age is a rising junior in high school.) The retreat begins on Friday evening and concludes on Sunday afternoon. It will be held at Saint John’s Center in Savannah. (Vocatio Dei, Session I is co sponsored this year by the Diocese of Saint Augustine.) Vocatio Dei 2000, Session II, June 7-10. This four-day combination sports camp/retreat is for rising 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th grade boys. It is an opportu nity to learn about different vocations, to grow in holiness and to have a great time! The camp will be held at Saint John’s Center in Savannah. Call to Holiness 2000, July 23-26. This four-day sports camp/retreat is the same opportunity as Vocatio Dei Session II, except it is for girls. The camp is for 7th-10th grade girls and will be held at Saint John’s Center in Savannah. Older girls are also needed as counselors. For more information about these retreats, contact Father Brett Brannen at 912-743-1454 or e-mail him at Frbrett@savannahpriest.com or Aaron Killips at Bravesfan@Hotmail.com. Vocatio Registration Form Vocatio Dei, Session I _ Name Vocatio Dei, Session II Call to Holiness Age Grade Parish Address City, State, Zip Tel. ( ) E-mail Mail to: Vocation Office, 131 Ward Street, Macon, GA 31204.