The Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women is recognizing four women from across the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis with its annual Laywoman Volunteer Awards, which recognize the awardees’ involvement in their respective parish-level Council of Catholic Women, parishes and communities.

The following information was provided by the ACCW. Awardees are traditionally recognized at the ACCW’s annual spring convention, but it was canceled due to COVID-19. The organization will honor the winners at a later date. To learn more, visit accwarchspm.org.

Agnes Dynes • Holy Childhood, St. Paul

Agnes Dynes, 83, has served as her parish’s CCW president four times, the St. Paul Deanery president for 27 years and in other various ACCW offices. She has also served as an election judge and has been a board member and lead parish delegate for a local nursing home. She was instrumental in establishing the “Tree to Remember” program in Como Park. While undergoing cancer treatment in 1980, Dynes was inspired to form a sewing group to make bed pads for cancer patients and organized annual supply drives for a St. Paul cancer hospice center, Our Lady of Good Counsel (which is now Our Lady of Peace Home). Known as a generous listener, she attends daily Mass, cleans the church sacristy weekly, and serves as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion and the chair of her parish cancer mission. She also volunteers at the annual parish rummage sale, funeral lunches and turkey dinners, and has donated sewn and baked goods to craft sale fundraisers. She supports ACCW’s annual Appalachian Christmas Project and efforts to provide solar ovens to women in Africa. The archdiocese’s Office for Marriage, Family and Life awarded her its Champions for Life Award in 2016.

Cindy Barta • Divine Mercy, Faribault

An active member of Divine Mercy’s CCW for 13 years, Cindy Barta, 62, has served as her council’s vice president and president, and is seen as a graceful and calm leader. She has coordinated parish efforts with its Latino ministry, especially a Lenten Soup Supper. She coordinates an annual meal, including dozens of homemade cookies, for Sharing and Caring Hands in Minneapolis. She also helps take May Day plants to local elder care residences and bakes for deliveries for homebound parishioners. She has served the Faribault community by holding various offices in its Kiwanis club and organizing many of its community service projects and fundraisers. She has held roles in the local 4-H club, including 15 years as club leader, as well as a show coordinator at the Rice County Fair and working with judges as an interview coordinator at the Minnesota State Fair for 12 years. She has been an instructor and local administrator of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ semi-annual Firearm Safety Program, which teaches youths safe use of long guns for hunting. She also served on the development committee for Nerstrand Elementary, a local charter school.

Jayne Taylor • St. Bridget of Sweden, Lindstrom

Jayne Taylor, 65, is involved in The Baby Blanket, which helps Chisago Lakes families obtain basic material needs and life skills. Described as a “servant leader,” she coordinates its Hannah’s Arms program, which includes craft classes and educational speakers for parents, and helps them earn baby items for their home. She has also been involved in other pro-life organizations. At St. Bridget, Taylor and her husband, Tim, started a weekly Sunday Bible study for adults, and Jayne recently organized the parish’s first ministry fair in 14 years. She is an extraordinary minster of holy Communion and regularly spends time with an elderly nun in a long-term care facility. She has facilitated youth formation classes, serves as a funeral sacristan and volunteers in the parish office. Each summer, she hosts young adults involved in the Totus Tuus summer program. Taylor honed her leadership skills while serving 26 years in the U.S. Navy. She recently helped to establish the Military and Emergency Response Ministry to honor people who provide military and emergency services. Taylor is also part of the parish’s Seven Sisters ministry of daily prayer before the Blessed Sacrament for their pastor. In Taylor’s case, that’s ACCW’s spiritual adviser, Father Dave Kohner.

Patricia Reinardy • St. Pius V, Cannon Falls

Patricia (Pat) Reinardy, 79, has been a CCW member since 1963 and has served in various leadership capacities, including three terms as her council’s president and as a deanery president. She has been ACCW’s legislative commissioner since 1991 and her deanery’s secretary since 2000. She helped her council reorganize in 2017 and, with her local CCW, has organized blood drives, marriage retreats, Christmas bake sales, and wine and cheese events for the parish community. For the past 12 years, she has taught religious education and helped coordinate first Communion Masses. She serves as a lector, greeter, usher, sacristan, homebound minister and as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion. She volunteers at her local food shelf and participates in her parish’s quilting ministry, which benefits people in need. She also supports and has participated in a variety of charitable causes, including collecting supplies for international missions and local outreaches. Her efforts also support the parish’s Knights of Columbus and Catholic Heart Work Camp, World Youth Day and pro-life causes, including Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life. — The Catholic Spirit