Faith and Service

WelCom May 2019: Christine Patterson, CWL President for Archdiocese Catholic Women’s League members gathered on 30 March this year for the 75th Archdiocesan Council Conference, held at the Mercy Conference Centre, Thorndon….

WelCom May 2019:

Christine Patterson, CWL President for Archdiocese

Archdiocesan President, Christine Paterson, with Fay Doyle at the 75th Archdiocesan Conference in Wellington. Photo: Supplied

Catholic Women’s League members gathered on 30 March this year for the 75th Archdiocesan Council Conference, held at the Mercy Conference Centre, Thorndon. We acknowledged the commitment of one of our long-serving members, Fay Doyle.

Fay, a CWL Life Member, National Board member and Regional Representative for Kāpiti Branches, had decided it is time resign from Wellington Council Meetings.

Having been willing to take leadership roles in the League, Fay was the Archdiocesan President in 1986, the year of the visit of Pope John Paul. She was on the National Advisory Board to the Bishops planning this special occasion, and, with then National President, Verena Butler from Auckland, represented the League at the Papal Mass at the Offertory. Fay’s first-hand account of this event is delightful as recorded in Maureen McBride’s 50 Golden Years about the first 50 years of Catholic Women’s League in Wellington.

In 1991, eight CWL Wellington women, including Fay, financed a visit to Mexico to represent CWLANZ with five others members, for the Assembly of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations in Guadalajara, Mexico.

As International Secretary on the CWLANZ Board, Fay and Judith Devereux travelled to the Philippines to attend an International Assembly of WUCWO. ‘I have had some wonderful experiences,’ says Fay.

The Catholic Women’s League opens opportunities for many amazing experiences and International friendships in Faith and Service.