Catholic Women of the Year 2011

Maria Albrecht, Mary Vaughan, Sister Amadeus Bulger and Jean Sykes have been chosen as Catholic Women of the Year 2011. Monsignor Keith Newton, leader of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, will be the special guest speaker at a special luncheon to honour them. this year’s Catholic Women of the Year Luncheon on 7 October.

The Catholic Women of the Year Luncheon, held annually in London for more than 40 years, aims to honour the 'unsung heroines' of the Church in Britain – women who serve God and neighbour with cheerful goodwill in their professional lives, at home, in a range of charitable and voluntary work, or in some form of public office.

Four women are chosen each year from nominations sent in from all over the country – they are selected by secret ballot by a committee with representatives drawn from different Catholic groups and organisations. There is no financial or other reward – the four women simply come to the Luncheon as guests. Funds raised from the event go to charity, and the luncheon.

The Catholic Women of the Year for 2011 are:

Maria Albrecht, who with her husband Scott runs the Catholic Worker farm near Rickmansworth, where they welcome refugees and asylum seekers who all live together with the family. Often severely traumatised by grim experiences, the residents can discover healing, friendship and safety at the farm, where they share the work of running the house and producing food from the large garden. Current residents include women from Afghanistan, Iraq and the Congo. None qualify for any public benefits, and they can stay at the farm for as long as needed while they discover ways to move forward with their lives.

Jean Sykes, whose nomination was supported by Anglicans, Baptists and Methodists in her home town of Meltham as well as the growing Catholic parish. She runs a charity shop which raises over £25,000 every year for local projects, and organises an annual Christmas party for old people in the town, collecting gifts for this throughout the year to ensure that everyone attending has a present. She is a staunch supporter of the local Catholic community, which meets for Mass in the local Anglican church: she tackles tasks that range from washing-up the coffee cups to arranging flowers and cards to be sent those whose who are sick.

Sister Amadeus Bulger who works to support and help men training at seminaries or discerning a vocation to the priesthood. Based at Archbishop’s House, Westminster, she spends part of each year at the English College at Valladolid in Spain and works with the National Office for Vocations and the Westminster Selection Board. Known for her tact, discretion and wisdom she has the gratitude of many young priests, whose anniversaries of ordination she always faithfully remembers.

Mary Vaughan, a retired dance teacher who has taken up the cause of prisoners awaiting execution in American jails. Without condoning the crimes for which these men and women have been sentenced, supporters send them letters and cards and try to make their lives more bearable. Often the conditions in prison are poor and they are in single cells with little to occupy them, poor legal representation, and bad health. Mary has also been able to visit several of the prisoners and to give them friendship and encouragement. The work is funded by the sales of cards and notelets made from designs drawn by the prisoners themselves.