Birmingham DIOCESAN BRANCH

Sections: Alcester; Kenilworth; Kingswinford; Olton; Small Heath; Solihull; Southam; South Warwickshire; Stratford upon Avon; Studley; Witney; St.Michael’s Wolverhampton.  North Staffordshire Area – Cheadle; Cresswell; Wolstanton.  Hall Green and Pershore are Small Sections.
We also have 14 direct members

Birmingham Branch of the Catholic Women’s League was formed in 1910, with 137 members, under the Patronage of the Archbishop of Birmingham and the Presidency of the Countess of Denbigh.  In 1912 a CWL Charity Committee was established in Leamington and the Branch became known as Birmingham and Leamington Branch and numbered 469 members including 183 religious.  In 1914, the AGM of the League was held at the Midland Institute in Birmingham.  The hall was packed with many latecomers unable to gain admission.  By 1915 there were Sections in Walsall, Wolverhampton and Stourbridge.  In 1932, Birmingham became a Diocesan Branch, under the Presidency of Mrs A R Topham, with the agreement of Oxford, Wolverhampton and Coventry.  Before that time, Birmingham and City Branch had performed many of the functions of a Diocesan Branch.
The Branch took great pride in the work that they did with the Woodville Maternity and Rescue Home which they supported and maintained.  It is interesting to note how very closely they worked with the Union of Catholic Mothers at that time, certainly in Birmingham Branch.  The Branch had 1879 members plus 85 junior members in 1932.

We hold a Study Morning every year usually in March, and this normally includes very interesting speakers and topical subjects. We also have our own Pilgrimage to Evesham and an Annual Joint Mass with the Union of Catholic Mothers at our Cathedral of St. Chad's.

We are proud to be able to claim that our founder, Margaret Fletcher, is a true product of our Archdiocese and is buried within the confines of Begbroke Priory in Oxford.

Birmingham Branch Officers with Ann Donohoe Regional Officer, Sheila Jennings National President, together with Father Carrick our Chaplain, and Canon Peter Turbitt, who travelled from Portsmouth to be with us on August 30th 2006, St. Margaret Clitherow's Feastday, at Begbroke Priory, to visit Margaret Fletcher's grave. 106 members were there altogether.

Birmingham Branch Joint Mass with the UCM

The Birmingham Archdiocesan Branch CWL/UCM Annual Joint Mass was celebrated at St. Chad’s Cathedral on Saturday 25th October 2008.

Father Brendan Carrick, CWL Chaplain was the chief celebrant and Father Tim Burke, UCM Chaplain concelebrated.  Sixty members of both organisations attended, together with Peggy Cook, UCM President and Elizabeth McDonald CWL President.  In his Homily, Father Carrick said The Creed is our profession of our faith, as St Margaret Clitherow in her day affirmed her faith.  The Creed was recited, ending with ‘This is our faith; this is the faith of the Church.  We are proud to profess it in Christ Jesus, our Lord.’

Father Burke was congratulated by everyone having celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of his Ordination in June.

After Mass there was a shared lunch in the Grimshaw Room which was very much enjoyed by everyone.

L to R, Miss Elizabeth McDonald, CWL President; Fr Brendan Carrick, CWL Chaplain; Fr Tim Burke, UCM Chaplain; Mrs Peggy Cook, UCM President

Catholic Women’s League
Birmingham Branch Study Morning – Saturday 28th March 2009

Elizabeth McDonald (Branch President) with Mgr Moran VG and June Waterhouse (Branch Secretary)

Birmingham Branch of the Catholic Women’s League held their annual Study Morning on Saturday 28th March 2009 in the Grimshaw Room at St Chad’s Cathedral.  We are very grateful to Monsignor John Moran, Vicar General of the Archdiocese and Parish Priest of Harvington, who gave us a most interesting talk and time for reflection on the life of St Paul.   The first session concentrated on St Paul’s life before conversion and conversion; the second his life after conversion – his Damascus experience.  Adhering to Jesus Christ sets into motion a process of continuing conversion which lasts for the whole of our lives.  This easily assimilated, informative and thought provoking couple of hours was greatly enjoyed by us all.  After lunch we held our Branch Quarterly Meeting.

Birmingham Branch Annual General Meeting
Hall Green – Saturday 13th June 2009

Doreen Pooley with Birmingham Branch Officers

On a lovely Saturday, around 60 members of Birmingham Branch of the Catholic Women’s League attended their Annual General Meeting kindly hosted by Hall Green Section, with the help of Olton and Solihull Sections, at St Ambrose Barlow Church, Hall Green, Birmingham.

We were greatly privileged to have with us our National President, Mrs Doreen Pooley, Miss Elisabeth Cooper, Regional Officer, Teresa Metcalfe from Shrewsbury Branch and Mrs Peggy Cooke, President of Birmingham Branch of the Union of Catholic Mothers together with representatives from Sections and Direct Members.

After Mass celebrated by our Branch Chaplain, Father Brendan Carrick - when candles were lit in memory of those members who have died during the last year – a very pleasant shared lunch was enjoyed in the adjoining Hall followed by a very productive meeting which, despite a full Agenda was conducted to time with concise, informative reports.  Mrs Pooley was thanked very much for her address and attendance and said how much she had enjoyed being with us.  Hall Green Section was thanked for their hospitality and members departed to all parts of the Diocese having had a most enjoyable day.

www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk