“I believe in the genius of women. Even in the darkest periods that genius is found, which is the leaven of human progress and history.”  Blessed Pope John Paul II

The Catholic Women’s League of Australia (CWLA) has launched a new dynamic website to help bring the light of the Gospel to a wider audience and to contribute to the transformation of our culture into a civilisation of life and love.

During the fourth week of Advent, the Caroline Chisholm Library will host two Advent reflection talks generously offered by two outstanding presenters.  

The first talk will be given by the author and patristic scholar Dr Adam Cooper.  Dr Cooper has recently received his Doctorate in Theology from the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family in Rome and has his first Doctorate from Durham University.  You can hear his talk “Isaiah: The Prophet of the Incarnation”   at the Library from 1-2 pm on Monday, 19th December

In response to the Holy Father’s invitation to “…join the network of relationships which the digital era has made possible…", the National President of Catholic Women’s League Australia, Madge Fahy, launched CWLA’s official YouTube channel today (http://www.youtube.com/user/CWLAustralia). Madge said: “New technologies are changing not only the way we communicate, but arguably communication itself. If CWLA is to ‘run so as to win’ the race (cf. 1 Cor. 9:24), we need to embrace these new technologies and new ways of communicating.”

An exciting book discussion featuring Fr Joel Wallace, translator of Learning to Love at the School of John Paul II and Benedict XVI  (MODOTTI PRESS, 2011), will be held at the Caroline Chisholm Library (3/358 Lonsdale Street Melbourne) on Tuesday 8th November from 6 - 7:30 pm.   The event is a wonderful opportunity to hear about the great teachings on love in the thought of Blessed John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.  All are most welcome!

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The Catholic Women’s League of Australia has just released its latest e-newsletter.  This issue includes a wonderful article by Emeritus Professor Gabrielle McMullen about the recent CWLA Biennial Conference in Melbourne as well as an article by Austin Ruse, the President of C-FAM.  It also contains a beautiful reflection by Fr Ken Barker MGL and gives some insight into the tremendous work being undertaken by Catholic women throughout Australia. Enjoy! 

Blessed Pope John Paul II in his book "Memory and Identity - Personal Reflections" compared the politics surrounding abortion to Hitler and the Holocaust. At the time, his comments caused some controversy.

He lamented that contemporary democratic governments which legalised abortion were a new totalitarianism "insidiously hidden behind the appearance of democracy."  He reminded readers that in a similar way, a legally elected German parliament gave Hitler the power which led to the creation of concentration camps and ultimately the extermination of millions of Jews.

Inspiring the Mansion of the Heart: St Teresa of Avila

Saint Teresa was the realistic, vital and warm Carmelite spiritual reformer of 16th century Spain. Her collaboration with Saint John of the Cross contributed to a new springtime in the Church which at that time had been fractured by wars, scandals and the Reformation. Her spiritual reflections are among the great classics of the spiritual life and yet, her Way to Perfection and The Interior Castle have so much to offer women and men in the 21st century and to the difficult times for the Church today. Join us as we learn to live more intimately “seeking God” in our daily life.

For several decades, sociologists and psychologists have identified the key contribution made by engaged, tender and stable fathers (and father figures) to the academic, sexual and character development of girls. The importance of fathers in the maturation and sociological integration of children has also been a lively question in the wake of the recent London riots.

The sign of contradiction

“In the course of my lifetime I have been called by many names – ‘good-for-nothing’, ‘slow coach’ and ‘dreamer’ – all names that are easily understood and perfectly applicable.”
(The Horizon, 1 January 1932)

One of the blessings of Catholicism, as GK Chesterton among others has noted, is that it offers such a wide-screen vision upon the ironies of history, the paradoxes of culture, upon human foibles and upon God’s boundless mercy.

Gifts of feminine genius: Protecting nascent faith and nascent life

In the 8 December issue of The Record (“Mary Glowrey and Pope Benedict fought same battle for culture of life”) we began to highlight some of the interesting and timely themes emerging in Pope Benedict’s Advent preaching for the new Church year.

n October the Catholic Women’s League (CWL) initiated a petition to press for law reform in Victoria to recognise the loss of, or injury to, an unborn child as a result of violence or culpable driving. The petition takes advantage of the window of opportunity resulting from the recent review of similar laws in New South Wales.

Red-Letter Advent: Awakening consciences to nascent mystery

“Every beginning brings a special grace, because it is blessed by the Lord,” so Pope Benedict XVI opens a new Church year and the liturgical season of Advent 2010 (Homily 27 November 2010). This Advent marks two very notable “beginnings” for Australia, the Church and the World.

THE preliminary phase of the cause for canonisation of another Australian has been opened – that of Catholic Women’s League co-founder Mary Glowrey. Dr Glowrey organised her fellow medical students against practices she describes as “contrary to natural law”: such practices included sterilisation of the poor and the “benign neglect” of disabled babies.

At the concluding mass for WYD08 in Sydney, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged young people from every nation to be witnesses of life and love in the Spirit: “Do not be afraid to say 'yes' to Jesus, to find your joy in doing his will, giving yourself completely to the pursuit of holiness, and using all your talents in the service of others!"

Archbishop Denis Hart today announced that the preliminary phase of the cause for canonisation of an Australian woman, Mary Glowrey, has commenced in Bangalore, India. The preliminary phase involves a careful evaluation of her work and writings, together with her religious life.

Brenda Finlayson, WUCWO Vice President General and WUCWO Board Member Australia, has been awarded the Papal Honour of Dame of the Order of St. Gregory the Great in recognition of her service to the Church, WUCWO, the Catholic Women’s League Australia the Catholic Women’s League of Victoria and Wagga Wagga, and the Australian community.

Youth and hope at this month’s United Nations Department of Public Information/NGO Conference in Melbourne

Washington Auxiliary Bishop Martin D Holley blesses a sleeping child at Our Lady of Apostles Hospital in Akwanga, Nigeria on 2 September. He was visiting Ghana and Nigeria with a delegation representing the US Bishops’ Subcommittee on the Church in Africa.

Scarcely had Black Saturday come and gone than the Knights of the Southern Cross (KSC) went into top gear to help those in need.

The Knights’ Morwell branch organised a fundraising dinner and the Myrtleford branch held its annual family picnic in March. The aim of both was to show support to those who had suffered from the bushfires.

The International Union of Catholic Women’s League, now known as the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO), was founded in Brussels in 1910 following a meeting of representatives of league organisations from France, Germany, England, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Spain, Lorraine, Portugal, Switzerland and Uruguay.

Understanding ‘feminine genius’ 20 years on.

On October 11 the Anima Women’s Network, in conjunction with the Catholic Women’s League Inc (Victoria and Wagga Wagga) will explore the way in which “feminine genius” has shaped the Australian experience of being women.

The theme “Seek always the face of the Lord” set the scene for the 91st Annual General Conference of the Catholic Women’s League of Victoria and Wagga Wagga held last week at the Jika International in Fairfield, Melbourne.