CWL 120th anniversary celebrations at Farm Street Church

Image ICN/JS ( see more pictures on ICN FB page)

A wonderful celebration was held at the Jesuit Church of the Immaculate Conception in Farm Street, Mayfair on Saturday, for the Catholic Women's League 120th anniversary.

Rt Rev Bishop Philip Moger, Bishop Emeritus of Plymouth and Spiritual Advisor to the CWL was the Chief Celebrant.

More than 240 members from across the UK, and representatives from other Catholic women's organisations attended the Mass, and the lunch afterwards at Farm Street Jesuit Centre, which was prepared by the parish team.

In his message to the CWL, Bishop Philip said it was "a joy" to celebrate the anniversary at Farm Street. He said: "For over a century the League has strengthened the life of the church through prayer, friendship and service.

"Its members have borne quiet but faithful witness to the Gospel in parishes and communities across the country."

Reflecting on the day's Gospel of the Visitation in which Mary brought Jesus to her cousin Elizabeth, Bishop Philip said: "In the same way, the League continues to bring Christ into the world through its mission of charity and faith."

Elizabeth Upshire, former CWL president sang Psalm 145 ( I will bless your name forever) beautifully. Another highlight of the Mass was the wonderful Offertory Procession danced and sung by the Zambian Section of the CWL.

After the Mass, there was a welcome from present CWL President Siobhan Garibaldi, and a short talk by Dr Mary Newman on Margaret Fletcher and the early years of the CWL.

Farm Street Church was the place where Margaret was received into the Catholic Church on 9 September 1897. In 1906 she founded the Catholic Women's League in 1906 to promote education and public engagement for Catholic women. Trained in art under John Ruskin and in Paris, she had exhibited at the Salon before devoting herself to activism and writing works such as Christian Feminism and her autobiography O, Call Back Yesterday. A pioneer in women's education, her League supported war relief and global charitable work.

She said once: "Our business is to fit ourselves for the world as it is."

The Catholic Women's League works today locally, nationally and internationally, holding regular prayers, Masses and social events. Following their motto of 'Caring with Love' they are involved in many fundraising events and charitable projects carried out at Section, Branch and National levels.

One of their major achievements was in 1960, when they got together with the National Board of Catholic Women, and Union of Catholic Mothers to organise the first Family Fast Day. This led, two years later, to the establishment of CAFOD, the Catholic Church in England and Wales' official registered charity and overseas aid agency. Through CAFOD, CWL members have reached out to provide support for survivors of disasters as the Haiti earthquake, floods in India and Pakistan and most recently conflicts in Sudan, Gaza and the West Bank.

The CWL is a founding member of the World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations (WUCWO) representing more than 36 million Catholic women worldwide.

LINKS

For more information about the CWL visit: https://catholicwomensleaguecio.org.uk/

See more more pictures and a film from the Mass on ICN's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064591363750&ref=bookmarks#

Watch the Zambian Offertory Procession on Youtube: https://youtu.be/LdchWDVlMVM