Catholic Women's League
What is the Catholic Women’s League?
The CWL is a lay association of Catholic women recognized by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB). The League works to promote Catholic values, as well as to carry out volunteer and charitable work.
Our Mission
The Catholic Women’s League of Canada calls its members to grow in faith, and to witness to the love of God through ministry and service.
League Objects
The Objects of the League shall be to unite the Catholic women of Canada:
- to achieve individual and collective spiritual development
- to promote the teachings of the Catholic church
- to exemplify the Christian ideal in home and family life
- to protect the sanctity of human life
- to enhance the role of women in church and society
- to recognize the human dignity of all people everywhere
- to uphold and defend Christian education and values in the modern world
- to contribute to the understanding and growth of religious freedom, social justice, peace and harmony
Core Guiding Principles
The Catholic Women’s League is a national organization of over 70,000 women and meets annually with the Federal Government of Canada so it can voice its issues of change.
Why Belong?
- The CWL is the voice of Catholic women expressing their values and promoting dignity and justice for all.
- The CWL is a gift of faith, friendship and support, offering leadership development and affirmation.
- The CWL gives members the opportunity to serve God and Canada. Through standing committees, members can feel the pulse of what is happening in church and society.
- The CWL invites all Catholic women to share their gifts and make a difference.
If you want to make a difference in the world, enrich your faith, and uphold family life, consider joining the CWL. Through your membership, you can support charitable outreach projects locally and around the world.
How To Become A Member
We welcome all women ages 16 and older. Our meetings are held the 2nd Tuesday of the month, September through May, following the Tuesday evening mass. As women, we understand that attending every meeting is not always possible; we encourage you to join us whenever you can. We welcome the gifts and talents you have to offer.
If you see the St. Michael’s Catholic Women’s League as a place where others share your Christian values, a place where we all seek to grow in our faith and to put that faith into action, then this is the place for you!
To join the CWL at St. Michael’s, send an email to smcwltreasurer@gmail.com.
Membership fees can be paid via Interac E-Transfer by sending payment to smcwltreasurer@gmail.com (please put your name in the message field) or you can pay by cash or cheque payable to ‘CWL’, placed in an envelope marked ‘CWL’ and dropped off at the parish office or in the collection basket during mass.
Feel free to download our League Prayers for you to use for your personal prayer.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please email us at smcwlpresident@gmail.com.
St. Michael’s Catholic Women’s League receives Fr. Walter Krewski Awards
The Fr. Walter Krewski Awards are given annually to three councils in the Alberta-Mackenzie area for (a) greatest number of new members; (b) greatest increase in membership; and (c) greatest percentage increase in members during the previous year. For the year 2019, all three awards were won by St Michael’s CWL Calgary. This is only the second time that one CWL council has won all three awards.
IWIN (I’m Worth It Now) Initiative
IWIN is an initiative of St. Michael’s CWL which seeks to assist human trafficking survivors by providing them with backpacks and raising awareness about this important issue.
Each backpack contains personal care products, a change of clothing, and a personal note for survivors of human trafficking. A bracelet is also enclosed, with a matching bracelet being given to a prayer warrior to keep the backpack recipient close to their hearts in prayer. These backpacks are distributed through various agencies across Canada providing wrap-around programs to survivors of human trafficking.