Janice Juszcazak dumps a plastic basket containing numbered ducks for age 0-3 competitors on July 4 for the annual Duck Race, sponsored by the Sacred Heart Ladies Guild and the Chester Fourth of July Committee. Other than the Duck Race and a monthly mass at Fox Orchards, the Ladies Guild’s impact is primarily felt within their immediate church community. (File photo)

CHESTER — Sacred Heart Catholic Church’s Ladies Guild is probably best known for its annual Duck Race during the city’s annual Fourth of July festivities; however, there is a lot more to these its responsibilities than that.

Ruth Roos, who heads up the Sacred Heart Ladies Guild, is kept her busy.

The guild, which meets at 6:45 p.m. on the first Monday of the month in the Sacred Heart Center, coordinates much of the parish’s major events, such as the monthly mass at Fox’s Nursing Home at 1:30 p.m. on the second Friday of the month; the parish picnic held in August; and, the Christmas Dinner held annually at the Sacred Heart Center.

Originally the Ladies Guild was responsible for the Clothes Closet, which had been established in 1969 and open to the public.

However, since is so successful, Roos explained that the closet has been broke off into its own entity.

These days some of the Ladies Guild responsibilities include handling funeral dinners for church members, sending cards to people older than age 80 and overseeing more of the social aspects of the church.

Roos explained that the monthly mass at Fox’s is a big part of the group’s responsibilities –especially since a large part of the congregation is elderly.

“(The Sacred Heart Ladies Guild) started out as a rosary group,” she said, adding that while there are some Catholics who participate in the monthly Mass at Fox’s Nursing Home , there also is some non-Catholics who attend.

Past fundraisers that assist members with everything from purchasing church window treatments to donations for their favorite causes include soup and salad or meatball with sauce sales.

Last year the Ladies Guild for the first time participated in the 2024 Walk For Life at Thompson Park. Heartbeat of Columbiana County usually holds the pro-life event during the second Saturday in October. The guild hopes to increase their participation for this year’s event.

For more information regarding the Sacred Heart Ladies Guild, call 304-387-3253.