ABOUT THE CATHOLIC WOMEN'S LEAGUE OF CANADA
There is a place for you in the Catholic Women's League!
The Catholic Women's League of Canada (www.cwl.ca) is Canada's largest national organization of Catholic women under the patronage of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The first Canadian Catholic Women's League was formed in Edmonton in November 1912. St. Joseph's Council was founded on May 8, 1952.
Membership in the Catholic Women's League of Canada is open to all women 16 years and older. When you purchase a membership in the Catholic Women's League you are: supporting the efforts of League members across Canada who are diligently working to promote the teachings of the Catholic Church, part of the largest national organization of Catholic women in Canada with a tradition of service to others as expressed in its motto "For God and Canada".
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.
The objects of the League shall be to unite Catholic women in 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
The Feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel is celebrated on April 26. We pray through the intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel, the patroness of the League, who is our model to be imitated. How did the title of Our Lady of Good Counsel come about? In 1910, the World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations (WUCWO) was organized in Brussels, Belgium. Following the organizational meeting of the League on June 20, 1920 in Montreal, an invitation was received from WUCWO inviting the League to affiliate with the world-wide federation. Historical records indicate Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Good Counsel, had been chosen as the patroness of WUCWO. Subsequently, at the annual national convention in 1923 in Halifax, a resolution was passed to adopt Our Lady of Good Counsel as the League's patroness. It is interesting to note, from church records, that the title Mother of Good Counsel had been inserted into the Litany of the Blessed Virgin in the early 1900s by the pope of the day. The history and recognition of the picture of Our Lady of Good Counsel is explained in the historical section of the National Manual of Policy and Procedure.
We humbly pray you, O God our Father to bless the Catholic Women's League of Canada. Bless our beloved country, our homes and families. Send your Holy Spirit upon us to give light to our minds and strength to our wills that we may know and fulfill your great law of charity. Teach us to share with others at home and abroad the good things you have given us. This we ask through our Lord Jesus Christ and the intercession of our patroness "Our Lady of Good Counsel".
Amen
