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Saint Peter's CWL Since the inception of this National Organization in 1920, members of the CWL have been actively working for God and Canada. The pioneers of the Catholic Women's League worked closely with immigrants to help them adjust to a foreign land. Some CWL Councils continue to do this. As the Church and CWL grew, our Members continued to look at the needs of the local community and set into motion activities that alleviate the anguish and suffering of those less fortunate. Today CWL members are involved in every aspect of community and parish life. They support all life issues and they are also involved in supporting MaterCare International, an international medical organization dedicated to the care of mothers and babies in developing countries. Go to the MaterCare Website and you will see that the CWL is shown as a financial supporter. The message of the encyclical Evangelium Vitae, and the challenges of this new millennium inspired the professionals involved in MaterCare. CWL Members are involved in catechesis in our Parish and we also help catechesis in the Northern Canadian missions. Through annual donations to Development and Peace women's programs in El Salvador, Bangladesh, and Nigeria are supported to enable women in those countries to become self-sufficient and to feed and support their families. To raise funds for their many charities, CWL members hold bake sales. Members of the national executive meet annually with the Federal Government Ministers on issues raised by resolutions which include child pornography, land mines, clean water, genetic engineering of food, bioethics, and reproductive technology. CWL believes in the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. We promote the teachings of the Catholic Church and developing greater spiritual life. By working to make life better for all people, we uphold the dignity of all human beings. We believe that all women have an important role to play in the Church and Society by setting a Christian example in the home and workplace. CWL promotes Catholic education and health services and is ready to defend these beliefs. We believe in the power of prayer and we want to bring the gospel values to the Community. Current theme is called The Open Door. Join CWL as we go through The Open Door to bring Christ to our Community and the world. Take the opportunity to share your God-given gifts to help affect change in our Parish, our Community, our Country, and in those countries that have not been blessed with our abundance. Meeting Time - Contact the Parish Office. Want to know more about the League?   Go CWL National to visit the the national CWL Website.

 

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History as of June 2002

Submitted by Miss Katherine DeVan

Catholic Women's League The year 2002 marks a very important period in the history of Saint Peter's Council of the Catholic Women's League. We are celebrating our Fiftieth Anniversary, or as we say, Our Golden Jubilee. In 1952, Reverend Father William Smith invited the ladies of Saint Peter's Parish to meet together to form a branch of the Catholic Women's League. Our inauguration meeting was held March 24th, 1952. Two of the Diocesan members were present to help us organize. Approximately, one hundred members signed the membership list. Father Smith was so pleased with the response that he presented us with a gavel. Our first Spiritual Director was Father Smith, and the first president was Miss Nan DeVan. During the last fifty years, our Council has had the guidance of six Spiritual Directors: Father William Smith, Msgr. Gerald Murphy, Msgr. John Campbell, Father Louis Caissie, Father Thomas White, and our present Director, Father John Hayes. The C.W.L. is a national organization of Catholic women that was formed around 1920. The patroness is Our Blessed Mother under the title of Mother of Good Council. The logo is "For God and Canada". Perhaps it is fitting to review the aims of the Catholic Women's League and we shall see how clearly our Council has followed, and still follows, these aims. The aims are: To assist in promoting religious vocations To carry on social work To encourage good Christian Family living So important has the League become in Canada that it has been given the privilege of presenting briefs and resolutions to the Federal Government, so, as a member, our local Council is quite important. Our Council has seen many changes since that memorable day in 1952, but there is one characteristic that has not changed - the loyalty of the members to the Church and Canada. Even though our membership has decreased in numbers, we have taken part in many projects connected with the church and the community. The Council sends a member to the F.O.O.D. organization, and thus our Parish is represented. Our members supervise the donations sent to Hope Cottage from the Parish. Our League sends a donation to Mass for Shut-Ins. Our Council has for many years, presented each young parishioner making their First Holy Communion, with a copy of the Marian Children's Massbook. Each year our League sends a representative to the World Day of Prayer, and members attend the Lenten Service held in the downtown churches. We have a committee Social Action, which cooperates with other organizations in sending gifts to the Nova Scotia Hospital, and attends Cancer clinics and Red Cross projects. In the past few years, our Council has undertaken another great project - catering at funeral receptions. This is greatly appreciated by the members of the deceased families, and has proven to be a very commendable work. Members of our Council volunteer as Ministers of the Eucharist and as Lectors. The Rosary is recited at the funeral home on the death of a member or her spouse. When Saint Peter's Parish suffered the loss of the old Saint Peter's Church, the C.W.L. came forward immediately with offers of assistance. When the ruins were considered safe, the ladies were successful in salvaging some of the valuable linens. When the present Saint Peter's Church was being built, our Council made many contributions towards the expenses of the building, among them being the payment for one of the large stained glass windows over the main entrance of the Church. Recently, we made a donation to the renovation of the kitchen in the School Hall. On this occasion we have much to be thankful for. Our membership may be low in quantity, but it is high in quality. We have our Director, Father Hayes, who guides us in our plans, our President Mrs. Shirley Horne, who keeps us "going", our Treasurer, Mrs. Betty Fougere, who always seems to have money in the bank, and our Secretary, Mrs. Chella Stevens, who keeps us aware of our activities. We can look back on our past endeavors, and look ahead with a good feeling as we work for God and Canada.

 

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