Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Parish CWL formed and how many members are there?
The OLMM CWL was formed in 1977 and in 2024 we now have 58 members.

How much does it cost to be a member?
There is a membership fee of $40 in 2024. Twenty-five dollars of this fee goes to the National CWL Council, three dollars goes to the Ontario Provincial CWL Council, four dollars goes to the Ottawa-Cornwall Diocesan CWL Council and remaining money stays with the OLMM CWL Council.

I don't like baking and I am not good at crafts, are there other things I can do?
There are many projects where members can help. Here are just a few:

• Being a chairperson of a committee and reporting on items of interest to the members
• Calling members who don’t have email addresses to inform them of upcoming activities
• Setting up the hall for events and helping with clean up afterwards
• Attending meetings and offering suggestions on events
• Suggesting guest speakers for meetings
• Attending diocesan CWL functions and reporting back to the members
• Reading newspapers and magazines and watching programs to report on topics of interest to the CWL

How often do you hold meetings and do I have to attend?
Meetings are held the second Thursday of each month in the Parish Hall at 7:00 p.m. (except July and August). While we encourage you to attend, members are kept up-to-date with the latest announcements and are sent the minutes of each meeting by e-mail.

How do you raise money?
Some of the ways we raise money is at our Annual Bazaar, Bake Sales and Funeral Receptions.

What are National Voluntary Funds?
Voluntary funds constitute monies forwarded by councils through national office for disbursement annually to appropriate agencies.

To what National Voluntary Funds does the OLMM CWL contribute?
Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) - raises funds to support Eastern Catholic churches by building up the church, affirming human dignity and alleviating poverty, encouraging dialogue and inspiring hope.
The League has partnered with CNEWA for eight years through the national voluntary fund. The League also supports two projects in the Holy Land:
- Shepherd’s Field Hospital in Beit Sahour near Bethlehem; and
- the Infant Welfare Centre in the old city of Jerusalem.

The National League Bursary Fund - was established in 1988 when the League received two generations donations. In light of the expressed desire of the League to encourage members' service "For God and Canada", the national executive agreed by motion that these funds be used to establish a bursary fund.
The bursary fund is used to provide financial assistance to members pursuing sturdies, courses, seminars, workshops and diploma/degree programs that align with and promote the Objects of The Catholic Women's League of Canada.
Bursary applications are available from the national office and recipients are recognized the fall issue of The League Magazine.

Catholic Missions In Canada (CMIC) - CWL Mission Partners Fund raises funds to provide missionaries with the tools they need to catechize throughout mission dioceses found within Canada. CWL Mission Partners, in conjunction with the League, supports six religious education programs.
Note: In the fall 2023 issue of the Catholic Missions in Canada magazine - the CWL was mentioned in an article by Joe Gennaro, Stewardship Officer, pages 24 and 26 thanking members for their contributions to CMIC. Also included were photos of CWL Past Presidents and CWL members of the Ontario Provincial Council and a writeup about the Ontario CWL Provincial Convention in Cornwall.

Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP) - established in 1967, is Canada's official Catholic overseas development organization launched by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.
CCODP has helped support projects such as grassroots community development, literacy programs, mother and child health care, skills training, agricultural programs and emergency relief.
CCODP also supports educational programs, helping make Canadians more aware of the problems and goals of people in developing countries. CCODP's primary sources of funds are the yearly Share Lent campaign, Canadian International Development Agency and donations from individuals and groups. Since 1969, the League has supported women's projects in developing countries funded by CCODP through the "1% Program."

Coady International Institute - of St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, was founded by Dr. Moses Coady who gave leadership to the Antigonish Movement, which promotes the ideal that by learning and working together, men and women become "masters of their own destinies."
The League, since 1961, has partnered with the Coady to provide financial assistance to help women to take the leadership programs offered on St. Francis Xavier University campus. Lack of finances is the primary reason why women cannot attend.
Last year the League collected and sent $13,051.15 to the Coady to support its scholarship fund. The total cost for a person to attend the leadership program is $25,000.

Contact: President Lorraine Barker - pl.barker@hotmail.com
613-445-5779