Cathie Cushing Duff is a long-time member of St. Mary of the Woods.  She was born into one of the parish’s founding families.  Away for 12 years while attending college and starting her family, she has been back at SMOW now for almost 15 years. 

Cathie has been out of the “school parent” world for some time, as her youngest daughter is now a college freshman.  She has always enjoyed being involved in parish life, and for the past eight years has been a volunteer with Children’s Liturgy.  For more than seven years, Cathie has served on Parish Council, which she currently co-chairs with Jim Sweany and Grace Schatz.  She was the original chair of the Strategic Planning Committee and subsequently has served on the Facilities Planning Committee.  This group has been working together for over three years to make Vision 2010 a reality. 

Cathie is busy raising a family, volunteering her time at SMOW and now enjoying the pleasure of frequent babysitting duties for her granddaughters.  In addition, she owns and operates a reprographics company.  As President of the family business, Cathie serves on the Family Business Council for the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Business Administration.  She has been a past president of both local and national associations within the reprographics industry. 

St. Mary of the Woods Faith Community is important to Cathie.  She believes that every generation is responsible for improving upon what they have been given.  It has been some time since the physical needs of the Parish have been addressed, and the original building is virtually untouched.  Cathie feels this is an impediment to growth.  “Father Greg asked for my help, and since he has always been there to help me, it only seemed appropriate that I do the same!  I am convinced that updating our physical plant is an important initiative that will see us into the next generation better able to meet the needs of our Faith Community.  So many of the aspects of ministry that have always been a part of St. Mary’s are now provided by laity in the community.  Our space can welcome those activities more appropriately.”

Cathie hopes for parish-wide support and prayers for the members of the Campaign Leadership Team as well as the St. Mary of the Woods Faith Community.