What we do and why

The Catholic Women’s League of Victoria and Wagga Wagga Inc is a Catholic women’s association whose spirituality, formation, and communal life are rooted in the teachings of the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church teaches that every human person is created in the image and likeness of God and possesses inherent and equal dignity. The Church also teaches that the human person is created as male or female, and that this sexual difference is part of God’s loving design for humanity and humans are called to accept and respect our created bodies including their sexed condition.

This understanding is expressed in official Church documents, including:

• Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith,
  Dignitas Infinita: Declaration on Human Dignity (2024)
  https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20240402_dignitas-infinita_en.html
• Congregation for Catholic Education,
  “Male and Female He Created Them” (2019)
  https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccatheduc/documents/rc_con_ccatheduc_doc_20190202_maschio-e-femmina_en.pdf

We seek to treat every person with respect, compassion, and care. We affirm the dignity of all people and strive to foster a community marked by kindness, listening, and reverence for each person’s life journey.

The League exists to provide spiritual formation, faith-based support, and fellowship for women within the Catholic tradition. We are formed by the Catholic understanding of who is a woman based on God’s creation of humans as male and female. Our programs, reflections, and activities are developed within the Catholic Church’s understanding of the human person and are shaped by women’s experiences of faith, family life, prayer, and service as understood in that tradition. Participation in the life of the League presumes a willingness to engage with this shared Catholic framework and purpose.

We seek to live out our mission with faithfulness to Catholic teaching and with genuine care for all. Our intention is to remain clear about who we are and the purpose for which we exist, while always speaking and acting with charity.

Our mission is expressed in our different Apostolates.

What is an Apostolate? 

All people baptised in the Church are called to vocations in following Jesus Christ which are particular to their own abilities and to the times in which they live. As an expression of their faith they are drawn to live and work in an “apostolate” – ideally growing in virtue and the beatitudes as well as attracting others to Christ through their witness and relationships.

This way of living and working is called “apostolate” because it models the way the first apostles were missionary. While being rooted in prayer the person in the apostolate works in solidarity with others and is “sent out” into the workplace, professions, institutions of society to bring the love of Christ and his mercy to others- both baptised and unbaptised.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

864 the apostolate of the “… lay people clearly depends on their vital union with Christ. In keeping with their vocations, the demands of the times and the various gifts of the Holy Spirit, the apostolate assumes the most varied forms. But charity, drawn from the Eucharist above all, is always ‘as it were, the soul of the whole apostolate.’ ”

Special works of the Catholic Women’s League correspond to the apostolate

Social Questions Committee

The Social Questions Committee keeps abreast of the many pressing ethical and social challenges to the dignity and whole wellbeing of each human person and to the “culture of life.”

This Committee investigates and responds with dedicated work ranging from the preparation of submissions to parliament to team work with other Christians and people of good will in promoting and defending the preciousness and dignity of each human person of any age or stage of development. The Committee also promotes the importance of the healthy relationships of the family, of the professions and of institutions which uphold the goodness of human life- healthcare bodies, educational communities, the law and politics. The Committee speaks calmly, clearly and with compassion. Its members have participated and prepared submissions, petitions, resources and information for the wider Catholic Women’s League Victoria and Wagga Wagga community. The Apostolate has carefully studied and given timely response to an array of issues – inspired by Catholic teaching and sound social thought in the areas of elder abuse, school curriculum, the dignity of women, abortion, gender ideology, safeguarding minors and vulnerable persons, and end of life issues.

The Horizon magazine

The Apostolate of communication spearheaded by the Catholic Women’s League Victoria and Wagga Wagga The Horizon, which is a magazine published 10 times a year. The Committee produces the magazine. It aims to form, inform, inspire and honour the members of the different Dioceses and Apostolates. All articles submitted are published at the discretion of the Editor. Funds are derived from subscriptions, advertising and donations from Branches/members.

Mary Glowrey Prayer Group

The Apostolate of the Mary Glowrey Prayer Group is a prayer circle that keeps women and their families closely connected in the solidarity of prayer and spiritual inspiration whether these ladies are active or home bound, in urban or regional areas. It was originally set up so that older members who were unable to actively assist the League could still join in its mission. Now it is open to all members and is under the patronage of our first President and doctor missionary Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey. We cannot gauge how much our existence relies on these prayers!

Email your prayer request to the Mary Glowrey Prayer Group at mgpg@cwlvicww.org.au

Missions and Welfare

(While the CWLVWW is relocating this Apostolate is in recess).

The Missions and Welfare Committee assists missions in the near North – both in Australia and overseas with donations of goods and finance. Each year, scholarships are given to support underprivileged children continue their education. The Committee derives its funds solely from Branch/member donations.

The legacy of Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey

Another special work of the League is promoting the legacy and supporting the cause for canonisation of Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey, who was its first General President.