Catholic Women's League

• What is the CWL?
• What We Do
• Contact Us

What is the CWL?
The Catholic Women's League Australia Inc. is an organisation of women who, from branch level through to the national executive, endeavour to promote and uphold the sanctity of family life and defend the dignity of women and Christian principles.

National Profile: The national organisation of the Australian Council of Catholic Women began in 1928 and became the Catholic Women's League Australia in 1975. It is the official Catholic women's organisation throughout Australia and works in close co-operation with other organisations within the Church.

International Profile: CWLA is affiliated with the World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations, which is an international body open to all Catholic women's organisations; it is recognised by the Holy See and maintains relations with seven Vatican departments. It also has consultative status on five Councils of the United Nations.

In 1997, Catholic Women's League Australia Inc was granted its own on-going United Nations accreditation as "NGO in consultative (Roster) status with the Economic and Social Council of United Nations."

What We Do

Catholic Womens League Australia:
• maintains constant communication with all member organisations
• speaks out on matters of social justice and of importance to the family
• presents the Catholic viewpoint to politicians at Federal, State and local level on matters which affect the well-being of its members and society in general
• brings Catholic Women together to give them companionship of like-minded people, mutual support and a sense of belonging to an extended family
• encourages them to deepen their faith (the strength of our League), by studying the Gospels and the teaching of the Church

What Local members of the Catholic Women's League Do:
Catholic women throughout Australia are able to join branches in their parishes. Members of branches are concerned with:
• defending the Christian family way of life
• upholding morality in society
• regular meetings and fellowship
• ecumenism
• supporting their parish priests as needed
• praying for vocations to the priesthood, religious life, and the lay apostolate
• supporting Catholic aid and development organisations

They engage in works of Christian love by:
• supporting charitable organisations
• visiting the sick and the lonely
• helping the aged and handicapped
• assisting the homeless and migrant

Contact Us
Catholic Women's League Australia - New South Wales Inc.
Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle
Mrs Patricia Banister
Postal: 7 Crisp Ave, Rutherford, NSW 2320
Ph/Fax: (02) 49325 601
E-mail: cwl@mn.catholic.org.au
Website: www.cwla.org.au