McGill-Toolen Foundation » St. Thecla Society

St. Thecla Society

St. Thecla Society
The St. Thecla Society was established in 2022 by the McGill-Toolen Foundation to recognize Catholic women of leadership in our community.  The Society is named in honor of St. Thecla, a follower of St. Paul in the first century, who dedicated her life to creating a culture that empowered women and a community where women empowered each other.   Her fierce determination and faithfulness to the Catholic faith were an inspiration to all who knew her.  We continue to celebrate her feast Day on September 23.
 
At McGill-Toolen Catholic High School, the St. Thecla Society is proud to honor the women in our community who understand their responsibility for sharing this same sense of empowerment with our daughters and our granddaughters.  The St. Thecla Society's founding members are those women in our Archdiocesan community, and especially our McGill-Toolen Catholic High School community, who have generously offered their time and talents as volunteers, Advisory Council and Foundation Board members, and other leadership positions in the Archdiocese.  In this small way, we thank and congratulate you for your devotion to Catholic education at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School.  
 
 
  STEERING COMMITTEE
                                                         Lynn Clapper           Marcelle Naman                                                   
             Monde Donaldson    Kristin Pfeffle            
   
St. Thecal Members
 
ANNUAL MASS AND RECEPTION
 

The St. Thecla Society, hosted its 3rd Annual Mass and Reception on Monday, September 23, 2024. Father Shields celebrated the Mass while Mary C Lawson provided her beautiful vocals and accompaniment skills. Our guest speaker, Sally Greene, shared her amazing, heartfelt journey into Catholicism.  It was an amazing evening of faith and fellowship.

 
group
 
St. Thecla
welcome
 
 
ST. THECLA SOCIETY SPONSORED SEMINARS
The St. Thecla Society, a Catholic women's leadership organization within the McGill-Toolen Foundation, hosted a financial responsibility workshop for the senior class girls on March 29, 2022.  Faith Feaga, from the Alabama Security Commission, presented the financial content on budgeting, student loans and investing.  The girls were engaged and learned a lot from Ms. Feaga about personal finances.  McGill-Toolen Catholic is the first private high school Ms. Feaga has presented to.  
 
 
On March 21, 2024 we had the pleasure of hosting Adele Hapworth, CEO of The American Equity Underwriters for our Women in Leadership Seminar sponsored by the McGill-Toolen Foundation St. Thecla Society.  Mrs. Hapworth shared her personal and professional story and provided tips on improving leadership skills, strategies on building confidence, finding opportunities to assume leadership roles and the importance of networking and mentors. Our junior and senior girls had great questions and were inspired by Mrs. Hapworth's advice.