Promoting Educational, Religious and Social Concerns
1050 members travelled from all over the country to celebrate the National Pilgrimage at Westminster Cathedral, June 2009
Origins
The C.W.L. was founded in 1906 by Margaret Fletcher. She was the daughter of an Anglican Clergyman but was received into the Catholic Church in 1897. In a period of struggle for better and equal opportunities for women she looked for members who would support the League’s work at local, diocesan, national and international levels.
Today
We are an organisation of women who seek to promote Christian values within our families and the community at large. We work alongside many different charities helping where we can, following the example of our Patron St Margaret Clitherow. Some of us work within our Parish Churches teaching the faith to young and old, others work with the homeless, the immigrant communities, visiting hospitals and prisons, providing food and clothing to the needy and companionship to the elderly.
The League works nationally, too, having a highly respected voice on the NBCW, the Consultative Body to the Bishops Conference of England and Wales. Our endeavour is to make our voice heard internationally also and this has been achieved by the League’s Founding Membership of WUCWO, the World Union of Catholic Women Organisations. In this way we are affiliated to over 100 women’s organisations in five continents. The aim for us all is to promote the advancement of women globally and to protect the interests of women and children, especially in the Developing World.
There are 9 Trustees who ensure that the Objects of the League are met. They are happy to report that during the last financial year the many activities undertaken by the members reflected the charitable, educational and social aspects of the League’s work.
Many grants have been awarded, ranging from home improvements to enable the elderly and infirm members to remain in their own homes, to grants that help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds further their education at university. Concern for the disadvantaged and marginalised continues to be of great importance to the League and this can be seen in the award of many small grants to Refugees and Asylum Seekers as well as granting to CAFOD the sum of £10 000 to help with their aid work following the natural disasters in Burma and China.
A CWL nomination for the 2008 Catholic Woman of the Year was accepted by the committee and Sr Ann Teresa of the Medaille Trust was presented with her award at the special luncheon where many members were present. Sr Ann was supported by the League in the previous year with an award of £42 000 to help the Trust’s work for the victims of Sex Trafficking and this area of concern has been followed up by the Trustees this year when two Trustees accompanied by other League members, travelled to Verona for a European Conference on this same issue.
League members on the steps of Westminster Cathedral
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