For the Catholic Women’s League, 1923 was a momentous time. It was the year the national organization was granted federal incorporation.
It was also an important year for the CWL in the Archdiocese of Vancouver, as the league made its arrival in the Lower Mainland at St. Peter’s Parish in New Westminster.
One hundred years later, St. Peter’s Parish CWL Council-New Westminster is celebrating its centenary, the first council in the Lower Mainland to reach 100 years.
The council is marking the milestone with a number of events throughout the year, but central among them was the anniversary Mass in April celebrated by Archbishop J. Michael Miller as well as priests of the Archdiocese.
CWL presidents from the archdiocese as well as the national and provincial levels also took part in the Mass and reception afterward, where the council made a commemorative donation to one of the CWL’s chief beneficiaries in the Lower Mainland, the Domestic Abuse Services-Our Lady of Good Counsel Society.
Archbishop Miller called the event “a blessed commemoration of your faith, service and commitment to social justice,” offering his gratitude to the women for their strength as “Catholic women of faith, unafraid to confront the often-difficult situations in the Church and society.”
The league’s members are “first responders in the field hospital of the Church,” he said, from caring for parishioners to their tradition of organizing funeral receptions. “Right from the beginning of the CWL in Canada you have been placing your many gifts and charisms at the service of others.”
National president Fran Lucas cuts a cake commemorating St. Peter’s Council’s centennial anniversary. With her are Eufemia Muralla, Sherry Duran, Sharon Geiger, and Patricia Hunt.
The league is also responsible for contributing to the faith life of its members and for inspiring priests and parishioners, he said, paying tribute to them with the words of Pope Francis: “The genius of woman is seen in feminine styles of holiness, which are an essential means of reflecting God’s holiness in this world. Indeed, in times when women tended to be most ignored or overlooked, the Holy Spirit raised up saints whose attractiveness produced new spiritual vigour and important reforms in the Church.”
Referring to the synodal process under way and the CWL’s participation, the Archbishop offered his hope that members will continue to be participants in the “new spiritual vigour” that lies ahead. “You’ve done it for a hundred years, so there’s every reason to believe that your council will continue this tradition for another century!”
The Vancouver Diocesan Council is closing in on its own centenary, marking its 98th anniversary this year at its annual convention at Christ the Redeemer Church in West Vancouver.
National president Fran Lucas and provincial president Sharon Geiger took part in the festivities, which included Mass, a banquet, entertainment, and the donation of two $1,000 bursaries to Catholic students going on to post-secondary education.
In June, the Catholic Women’s League of Canada BC & Yukon Provincial Council gathered in Prince George for its 76th BC & Yukon convention, with 120 attendees gathering at Christ Our Saviour Church and greetings brought by Mayor Simon Yu, members of the Knights of Columbus, and provincial president Geiger.
Catherine L’Heureux was named the new president, while Sylvia Jurys is vice president.
The closing celebration was held at Sacred Heart Cathedral with Bishop Stephen Jensen as the celebrant.
The CWL has more than 60,000 members representing every province, territory, and the military, with about 7,000 members in the dioceses of Kamloops, Nelson, Prince George, Vancouver, Victoria, and Whitehorse.
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