THE HISTORY OF OUR SODALITY

The Sodality of Holy Redeemer known as Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and of St. Joseph began around October 1922 when it was transferred from St. Aloysius Church at the time Holy Redeemer Church was dedicated. Unlike the St. Aloysius Sodality which was made up of men and women, membership in this Sodality was comprised of women only. Father Francis Tobin, SSJ, a Josephite priest and the church pastor, was the first spiritual director and Mrs. Lena Morris was the first prefect.

This Sodality has been graced with excellent and well experienced prefects and their moderators along with their officers and the hundreds of loyal members. The longest term served by any one prefect was held by Mrs. Mary Quander who served for over 25 years. Since that time each of the succeeding prefects have served at least one two-year term. Each prefect is backed up by four officers: Vice Prefect, Recording Secretary, Financial Secretary, and Treasurer. All officers serve at least one two year term. Committee chairpersons may serve two years or more terms.

Our Sodality is presently divided into bands (in the beginning as many as 14) that are headed by a Consultor and Co-Consultor. Band membership in the past have ranged from as high as 26 to as low as 6 during the Sodality’s years of existence. Now membership in a band, in accordance with the amendment of our Constitution and By-Laws, is limited to no more than 15 to 20 members. Membership is open to all women of Holy Redeemer Parish who wish to belong to this society and yearly dues are collected in January. Members receive Holy Communion in a body and attend meetings every first Sunday from October to June and participate in the various activities sponsored by the Sodality. Every first Sunday before Mass, a member of the Sodality leads in reciting the Rosary. We have a brief meeting and celebrate Mass and the sharing of communion as one body, followed by fellowship with parishioners. The Sodality celebrates every first Saturday with devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary with a Mass, Litany of Loreto and Novena. Officers are elected to serve two year terms. New members are received annually at a special Mass at which time they receive the Sodality medal.

PURPOSE OF SODALITY

The purpose of the Sodality is for the sanctification of one’s soul, to lead others to Christ through devotion to the Blessed Mother and work toward the relative needs of the Church and community.

Practice a deep devotedness to our Blessed Mother.

Make ourselves Christ-like and become the real women God intended us to be.
The Sodality of Our Lady is a religious body which aims at fostering in its members an ardent devotion, reverence and filial love toward the Blessed Virgin Mary. Through this devotion, it seeks to make the faithful gathered together under her name good Catholics bent on sanctifying themselves, each in his state of life.
Sodality program makes simple a life of zeal and charity and presents to its members an apostolic program suited to their opportunities.

Sodality develops a fine and wholesome social life; “Sodalists” are often called Children of Mary.

Membership in the Sodality makes one an intimate member of the family of Our Blessed Lady.

Sodality Motto:

“To Jesus through Mary”
Take Mary as our Model, Mother, and Our Queen.

MEMBER – THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT

What is the most important element of an organization? The member!

Members are admitted to an organization because they have something to give – time, energy, new ideas, enthusiasm, support or certain qualifications.

The member is the core of the organization. The organization must see that each member fits into the program. Each member should have a job to do so that he does not lose interest.

The word “participating” expresses the kind of member wanted and needed – one who has a share in the work of the organization.

A participating member pays dues, attends all meetings, arriving on time; takes part in the business of the meetings by discussing the issues and voting on them; then supports the policies adopted by the organization; accepts membership on a committee; accepts a chairmanship or office when qualified; obeys the by-laws and rules of the organization.

Members should participate in the business of the meetings by discussing and voting on issues. All members have an obligation to give constructive ideas, information or criticism on issues. Constructive criticism should be directed to the issue, not at the person.

After discussion, members should exercise one of their greatest privileges, that of voting. After the vote has decided the course of action to be taken by the organization, it is the duty of all members to refrain from further criticism, and in no way to interfere with the project, and indeed, to assist in carrying out the adopted policy.

Members are under obligation to serve on a committee, to attend every committee meeting and to be punctual. Committees are essential for two reasons, first, they get the work done, second, they give members training and experience in the various lines of planning and performance. One of the most important duties of a committee is to prepare resolutions to carry out their recommendations.

Members have a responsibility to pay respect to the officers in their official capacity as representatives of the organization – whether or not they were a personal choice – and to support the officers in the work being done.

These are responsibilities of membership, but conversely these are also privileges of membership. It is a privilege to be a member of an organization, to attend its meetings, to participate in debate, and vote to decide policy, to be an officer or a committee chairman.

Therefore, since the most important element of an organization is the member – an organization can be only as strong as the participation of its most important element.