The Catholic Women’s League began in the Wellington Archdiocese in 1944 following on from Bishop Liston’s founding of the Auckland Diocese Catholic Women’s League in 1931.  A meeting was initiated and in excess of 200 Catholic women from the various Wellington parishes attended this meeting, electing a committee of 20 ladies.

Initially, Wellington Catholic Women’s League operated as a contribution to the war effort from Catholic women – assisting with the running of service canteens and other activities for the welfare of servicemen and their dependants.

It is for the work done at Branch level that CWL is best known within the wider parish communities:  helping at funeral teas, rosters for church cleaning, flower arranging, liturgy, St Vincent de Paul, Parish Council etc.  All time-consuming tasks that many parishes would find difficult to accomplish without our members’ help.

Over the years, members have represented the League on various bodies in the Archdiocese such as Commission for Justice, Vincentian Home Trust, Education and Bio Ethics at the Archbishop’s request.

Annually we have a Mass in remembrance of our Patroness St Margaret Clitherow, a young wife and mother, who was pressed to death in the city of York during the reign of Elizabeth I, for being a practicing Catholic.   Her Feast Day is celebrated on 30th August.

Wellington Archdiocese, at the end of 2010, has 17 branches and approximately 500 members, with 11 Life Members.

We have a Lone League (LL) member representative who communicates with our LL’s.  In the main, these are women who for reasons of immobility, distance, etc., are not able to attend the monthly meetings, but who still retain an interest in the League, and, through their financial membership have voting rights for any remits, resolutions and other voting matters.  Wellington currently has eleven Lone Leaguers.

Each year an Archdiocesan Conference is held in Wellington Region, this year Nelson being the venue.  Members also attended the Biennial National Conference held this year in Invercargill.  Our next Archdiocesan Conference will be held at Connolly Hall, Wellington 8-10 April 2011.

If you would like to have further information regarding the Catholic Women’s League in the Wellington region, then please contact one of the people listed below who would be happy to assist you.

Current Office Holders

Archdiocesan President: Mrs Miriam Broad email lansdowne@ihuhg.co.nz

Archdiocesan Secretary: Mrs Elaine Beck email bexhaven@slingshot.co.nz

ArchdiocesaTreasurer: Mrs Judith Hooper email judy26@xtra.co.nz

Coming Event

Patronal Feast
Mass will be held at Tawa on the  30th August celebrating the Feast day of St Margaret Clitherow, Patron Saint of the Catholic Women’s League. A shared luncheon will follow for  members and friends.