Catholic Women’s League - Cardiff and Clifton Centenary Celebration
On the 27 May it rained not the gentle rain that falls from heaven but
a downpour which lasted all day. While disappointing, it failed to
dampen the enthusiasm of over 100 Catholic Women’s League members from
Cardiff and Clifton Branches who gathered in St Peter’s Church, Roath,
Cardiff to celebrate the League’s National Centenary. We were delighted
to welcome our National President, Mrs Sheila Jennings and her husband,
together with representatives of the Union of Catholic Mothers.
Holy Mass was concelebrated by Archbishop Peter Smith of Wales, Bishop Declan Lang of Clifton and Bishop Edwin Regan of Wrexham and diocesan and section chaplains. There was a procession of Branch and Section banners at the beginning and end of Mass, and a statue of our patron saint Margaret Clitherow at the foot of the altar. We owe a special thank you to Father David Myers, parish priest of St Peter’s, for allowing us the use of his church whose red and gold decoration shone despite the gloom. It was chosen for our Mass because this was the parish where the League in Wales started.
In his homily, Archbishop Peter reminded us of 1906 – the year of our founding, when Margaret Fletcher set out to mobilise Catholic women of all classes to promote Catholic ideals through education, and vocally and practically to alleviate the appalling conditions among the working classes. Today, women have different needs and our work with is with, not only women, but society as a whole. Practically and through the media we work on issues such as abortion, euthanasia, abuse of women and children and asylum seekers. We train catechists and give help to Servicemen and women. Archbishop Peter congratulated us on our involvement, over the years, in society’s needs, commended our faithfulness to our motto Charity Work and Loyalty and wished God’s blessing on us all. These sentiments were echoed by our National President during lunch.
This was held in St Peter’s Hall and, if noise is an indicator of enjoyment, then the level in the Hall during lunch was proof of a very happy occasion; and we have our National celebration at Brighton in October, to which to look forward.
What stays in the memory? The superb organisation of the small team of Cardiff and Clifton officers who arranged the day; the wonderfully spiritual atmosphere during the Mass; over 100 women singing the League hymn; Archbishop Peter’s humour during his homily and at lunch, and Bishop Regan’s umbrella decorated with the Welsh dragon!
Patricia Farrell
Holy Mass was concelebrated by Archbishop Peter Smith of Wales, Bishop Declan Lang of Clifton and Bishop Edwin Regan of Wrexham and diocesan and section chaplains. There was a procession of Branch and Section banners at the beginning and end of Mass, and a statue of our patron saint Margaret Clitherow at the foot of the altar. We owe a special thank you to Father David Myers, parish priest of St Peter’s, for allowing us the use of his church whose red and gold decoration shone despite the gloom. It was chosen for our Mass because this was the parish where the League in Wales started.
In his homily, Archbishop Peter reminded us of 1906 – the year of our founding, when Margaret Fletcher set out to mobilise Catholic women of all classes to promote Catholic ideals through education, and vocally and practically to alleviate the appalling conditions among the working classes. Today, women have different needs and our work with is with, not only women, but society as a whole. Practically and through the media we work on issues such as abortion, euthanasia, abuse of women and children and asylum seekers. We train catechists and give help to Servicemen and women. Archbishop Peter congratulated us on our involvement, over the years, in society’s needs, commended our faithfulness to our motto Charity Work and Loyalty and wished God’s blessing on us all. These sentiments were echoed by our National President during lunch.
This was held in St Peter’s Hall and, if noise is an indicator of enjoyment, then the level in the Hall during lunch was proof of a very happy occasion; and we have our National celebration at Brighton in October, to which to look forward.
What stays in the memory? The superb organisation of the small team of Cardiff and Clifton officers who arranged the day; the wonderfully spiritual atmosphere during the Mass; over 100 women singing the League hymn; Archbishop Peter’s humour during his homily and at lunch, and Bishop Regan’s umbrella decorated with the Welsh dragon!
Patricia Farrell
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