Recently the Catholic Women’s League (CWL) held an appreciation dinner and pinning ceremony for its longest-serving members. The event took place on Oct. 29 at the parish hall of the St. Martin of Tours Roman Catholic Church.
Barbara Downey acted as master of ceremonies (MC) for the evening.
The evening began with a welcome and a reading of the “Thanksgiving Prayer” from a 1985 bulletin when Father Bob Stainsby was the pastor. At one time, for several years, Father Stainsby served the local parishes of Drayton, Palmerston and Harriston. Eileen Downey had located the prayer out of her personal archives. The concluding words from the Scarboro Missions continue to make sense today: “Show each of us – whoever or wherever we are – how to live our lives so that our neighbours may clearly read the Gospels in them.”
Those present in the group of 15 also introduced themselves.
Brenda Finch, for example, came with her mother-in-law, a long-standing CWL member who has received her 70-year-pin for her service to the league and her community.
Barbara Downey made some points about the historical background of the CWL and its present-day significance. For instance, when the CWL first started in Canada in Montreal in 1920, the top song was Swanee by Al Jolson. Today, Shake It Off by Taylor Swift was noted as the number one song for 2014. Before the CWL came to be in Canada, the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations (WUCWO) was organized in Brussels, Belgium. More information was shared from the CWL National Website and a May 2014 convention report.
The CWL has eight main objectives which were highlighted, and they include:
– to achieve individual and collective spiritual development; and
– to contribute to the understanding and growth of religious freedom, social justice, peace and harmony.
A few of the tangible contributions were noted of the Catholic Women’s League which were given in the form of donations to the Drayton church: the current church altar; the rectory dining room set; a hall clock, blinds and metal servery curtain.
Over the years, the main fundraiser has been the annual euchre in October with members also preparing and providing luncheons for funerals.
Eileen Downey and Marg Driscoll, as the co-presidents of the CWL, presented the pins to the local members.
The following CWL members were honoured for their years of service: Marlene Runstedler, Barbara Downey, Donna Vollmer, Marg Driscoll, Rose Funston, Marie Riff, Betty Tarc, Pat Renner, Anne Runstedler, Marguerite Schill, Eileen Downey, Rose Downey and Lillian Seifreid.
Darlene Hauser accepted the membership pin on behalf of her mother, Rose Downey.
Lillian Seifreid was unable to attend but was acknowledged for her many years of service and membership.
Submitted by Barbara Downey
