St. Rose of Lima's Bobbi Hunt named president
LAYTON — Roberta (Bobbi) Hunt decided long ago she wouldn’t take herself too seriously. So when on Sept. 22 she was elected president of the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW), the organization with which the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women is affiliated, she told the membership, "When I was mid-wife to a pig, I never dreamed I would eventually serve as president of the NCCW." The pig’s name was Charlotte, and the Layton farm on which Hunt, 62, and her husband Don were raising their four children, also had horses, cows, goats, and chickens. "Don and the family have been so supportive," Hunt told the Intermountain Catholic in an Oct. 18 interview. Of course, they had to give me a hard time about it first, but that’s what families are for." Hunt said she also has been moved by all the congratulatory voice mails, e-mails, cards, and flowers she has received since she returned home a week after the election. "I knew the other two women who ran against me. All of us had been vice presidents together. They were so gracious. By that time I had turned it all over to God and said, ‘Whatever happens, it’s in the Lord’s hands.’" Hunt had traveled to Columbus, where she was met by a delegation of NCCW members from the Diocese of Salt Lake City and Msgr. Robert Servatius, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish, Sandy, who was stepping down after serving the NCCW for two terms as chairman of moderators. She was also met by her sister, Susan Shuey, who had flown to Dayton, Ohio, from her home in California, picked up their cousin, and driven to Columbus. The two have always been close and Susan wanted to be in Columbus for Hunt no matter what. After the election, but before the new president’s name had been announced, Hunt, Shuey, and their cousin met briefly with the Utah contingent. As they entered the room, Hunt was quiet. It was Shuey who gave them the good news. "I’m the sister of the new president of the National Council of Catholic Women," she said. The room erupted with excitement. "I was so touched by what she said and how she said it, said Hunt. "She was so sweet. And the outpouring of love and support by all the people from Utah and those from the rest of our region was overwhelming. Win or lose, we’d planned to celebrate. It was quite a celebration, too." In November, Hunt will be naming new commission and committee chairwomen for the NCCW. She’s already assigned her three vice presidents representing the three geographic regions of the NCCW, and is deep into the planning for the 2008 NCCW General Assembly to be held in Salt Lake City. "The hard work has already begun," Hunt said, "and it will last my entire two-year term. Then, I will serve another two years as immediate past president. But I’m so honored to have been elected. I’m really looking forward to it." The NCCW, an organization with emphases on service and spirituality, is divided into the same 14 provinces as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. It conducts elections at conventions on the odd years and general assemblies, educational forums, on the even years. Hunt will oversee these and conduct the organizations’ two board of directors’ meetings each year, write columns for Catholic Woman, the NCCW’s bi-monthly publication, and send out regular FYI (For Your Information) bulletins to province directors. Before she was elected president, Hunt, who as been active in the DCCW since 1973, and on the national level since the 1980s, served a two-year term as vice president for the Western Region. continued from page 10 Hunt said Msgr. Servatius inspired her to run for the presidential post last year, and as she started making plans for the general assembly next year she also received support from Diocesan Vicar General Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald, serving then as diocesan administrator, and Msgr. Victor Bonnel, pastor of her home parish, St. Rose of Lima. "When I think of all that has happened over the last year – I was given the opportunity to retire early (from a 21-year career as an office manager for the Health Department), I had both knees replaced and am on my feet again – It’s tempting to say ‘it was meant to be.’ All of the timing has been so great, I do believe God’s hand was in this." As an NCCB board member, Hunt was named chairwoman of the organization’s communications committee. The presentation she made to the board before the elections was based on the need for good communications and keeping the enthusiasm level high after general assemblies and conventions. The enthusiasm and the willingness to share their experiences she found on the diocesan level is what drew Hunt to seek a leadership role with the DCCW. "I first attended a DCCW meeting in 1973 when we first arrived in Utah from California," she said. "The experience was such an eye-opener. I went to my first DCCW convention in Price in 1978, and my first national convention a couple of years later in Pittsburgh, and I was amazed. Then, I was elected DCCW president from 1988-1990. "I still look at the women who were leaders on the local level in 1973 – women like Helen Struble, who have such a love for the church in Utah, and I’m in awe. There is a real sisterhood in the DCCW here. I look at the work they do, all they’re willing to do, and all they’ve accomplished over the years. " Hunt comes by her gifts of service and commitment honestly. Her father was a grand knight in the Knights of Columbus in California, and her mother served as president of their parish’s altar society. "I am moved by the care and love of the Catholic women in Utah," she said. "It’s made my strength stronger. Utah is really a great place to be Catholic." Hunt currently also serves as chairwoman of St. Rose of Lima Parish’s prayer committee for the recently announced capital campaign to raise funds for a new education center. The theme of the capital campaign is, "St. Rose Growing." Her parish began celebrating her election even before she returned home. "We were brought up to work and to help others," Hunt said. "This honor is really very humbling. I’m just Bobbi from the Diocese of Salt Lake City. And I get to talk to great women from all over the country. I love it, and I plan to have fun doing it." She said the women in the DCCW and the NCCW, "want to have access to more information on spirituality and leadership. "The NCCW is also associated with The World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations. They held their first meeting in the United States last year, and we sponsored it. I got to have lunch with women from Swaziland, Mali, and Africa. One women who attended said she had to sell the whole cow to attend." In a congratulatory letter to Hunt dated Oct. 2, 2007, Bishop Wester wrote: "Please know how very proud I am of you and appreciative of the honor that comes to our diocese because of your election." "In the few months I have been in the Diocese of Salt Lake City, I have heard many wonderful things about you. I remember meeting you at our April convention and was very impressed with your remarkable hospitality and leadership. "Be assured of my prayers that Our Lady of Good Counsel will guide you in your new responsibilities..."
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