The following is part of an article that was submitted (by me) to the North Thompson Star/Journal. The entire article will be printed in the June 6, 2011 edition of the paper.
About the Catholic Women’s League of Canada…
The Catholic Women's League of Canada was organized nationally on June 17, 1920 and granted federal incorporation on December 12, 1923.
The League is officially recognized by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) as a lay association of women and is affiliated with the World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations (WUCWO), a world-wide federation holding membership in the conference of International Catholic Organizations (ICO) and having consultative status with agencies of the United Nations.
The C.W.L. has four levels of councils – the Parish level, Diocesan, Provincial, and National. There have been active parish councils in the Kamloops Diocese since 1947.
The objects of the League shall be to unite Catholic women of Canada:
* to achieve individual and collective spiritual development.
* to promote the teachings of the Catholic church.
* to exemplify the Christian ideal in home and family life.
* to protect the sanctity of human life.
* to enhance the role of women in church and society.
* to recognize the human dignity of all people everywhere.
* to uphold and defend Christian education and values in the modern world.
* to contribute to the understanding and growth of religious freedom, social justice, peace and harmony.
While the league is called the “Catholic” women’s league, one does not have to be Catholic to join the league. A General Member is a Catholic woman, 16 years of age or over, with voting privileges and with eligibility for office by election or appointment. An Associate Member is a non-Catholic woman, 16 years of age or over, with voting privileges, but without eligibility for office by election or appointment. Ladies – this means if you want to join a group where you know you will never be asked to take on an executive position – this is the perfect group… if you aren’t a Catholic that is.
50 years ago…
In June of 1961, a small gathering of ladies from Little Fort, Darfield, Barriere, Louis Creek, and Squam Bay got together to form a local Catholic Women’s League council. From this meeting the Lower North Thompson C.W. L. council was formed, with Father Quigley at it’s spiritual director.
The first official meeting was held on June 26, 1961, chaired by Mrs. Wright with eleven ladies present – they met at St. George’s Church in Barriere and the first election of officers was held at this meeting.
The first executive were as follows:
President – Mrs Aurie Stevens (Barriere)
1st Vice President – Mrs. Livingstone (Little Fort)
2nd Vice President – Mrs. Ross (Barriere)
3rd Vice President – Mrs. Kay Fraser (Squam Bay)
Secretary – Mrs.Edith Cross (Barriere)
Treasurer – Mrs. Gertrude Latremouille (Barriere)
Not all the meetings were held at the church. Indeed, they were often held in member’s homes, not just those from Barriere but also those from Chu Chua, Brennan Creek and Squam Bay.
From 1964-1966 several Clearwater ladies joined in, until they formed their own council in 1966.
Over the 50 years that the Lower North Thompson C.W.L. has been active, several members have served at both the Diocesan and Provincial levels of the C.W.L.
In May of 1976 Mabel Allen, of Brennan Creek, was elected as Diocesan President. In 1981, she was a Provincial convenor. In 1982 she was elected as Provincial President and went on to serve a second term in this position.
Another member, Betty Kozoris was elected Diocesan convenor in 1981. She was also elected Diocesan President in 1983.
More recently, Dianne Pecor served several terms as Diocesan Secretary, and has just completed one term as Diocesan spiritual convenor.
Over the years there have been bake sales, garage sales, spaghetti dinners, workshops, pot-lucks, pilgrimages, and many other events.
To look back over the years, the Catholic Women’s League has been here in the Lower North Thompson area – a legacy that was formed with God. They have had great persistence, fortitude, and a great faith and love of God. They have traveled in all kinds of weather conditions – snow, wind, rain, you name it – doing their best to honour the C.W.L. mission: “The Catholic Women's League of Canada is a national organization rooted in gospel values calling its members to holiness through service to the people of God.”
Today…
What are our current C.W.L. members doing? Spiritually, we have Mass prior to our meetings, when possible, or pray the Rosary. At meetings we often have a spiritual program and intercessory prayers for members, families, and community members when needed.
During our meetings we share information from all the levels of the C.W.L., as well as make plans or discuss ideas about possible events, workshops or community work needing to be done. Following our meetings we have fun visiting over coffee and goodies.
We help support many charities that include the local food bank, the Pregnancy Care Centre in Kamloops, Development and Peace, Pro-Life, a mission school in Sri Lanka, and a family in India. We also present an annual high school bursary, as well as purchase the candles used in our church.
Members serve in various lay ministries at Mass, assist in keeping the lawn looking so good, and decorating the church at Christmas and Easter.
Out in the community, we are part of the Adopt-a-Street program, where three or four times a year members help clean up along the road past our church from the highway to the high school.
Over the years, our C.W.L. council has sponsored a number of girls in the North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo Pageant, and this year we are sponsoring Hannah Allen, Mabel Allen’s granddaughter. The girls who take part in this pageant learn poise and self-confidence, and go on to become ambassadors of the North Thompson Valley.
Our members are always ready to give a helping hand whenever needed in our parish or out in the community in any number of ways.
