Report of the Catholic Women’s League in the Arch Diocese of Cape Town to the National Conference of the League – August 2011
Rev Fathers, Madam President, honoured guests and fellow League members, it is my pleasure to report on the activities of the League,
in the Archdiocese of Cape Town, during the past three years.
I am proud to report that the League in Cape Town is alive and well and growing. There are now 20 branches with 340 members between them.
This is an increase of approximately 100 new members over the past three years. After the success of opening a branch in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain,
three years ago, a branch was recently opened in Kuilsriver. Both branches are very active and have approximately 25 members each.
Plumstead parish are looking at restarting their branch. We will be visiting them once their parish priest returns from a sabbatical in September.
It is with regret to report that one of the oldest branches, Claremont, closed last year. The ladies found that they were not accomplishing
the activities of the League, due to age and illness, and so decided to disband.
Projects: We made a concerted effort to prioritise our existing projects and to add some new ones during the past three years.
In 2009, the Sonskyn Care Centre for the Aged, in Bishop’s Lavis, became a major project. The first task was to pave the grounds around the house.
This was necessary as it was difficult to get wheelchairs in and out and the grounds. Once that task was completed, the exterior of the house was painted.
Being a major project, it took much fund raising and organisation. At present we are assisting the care centre raise funds for repairs to the roof
of the house. This is expected to cost in the region of R 50 000.00.
The Phoenix Burns Unit, a new project, is well supported by our branches. Some branches have assisted them with donations of fire recover kits
at a cost of R 1300.00 each. We also assist with cash from collections made in our parishes.
Mater Domini, a home for pregnant unmarried mothers, continues to receive much support from our members. We continue to assist the home with
donations of baby clothes, toiletries and from time to time have even delivered groceries. The proceeds of our annual Diocesan Christmas raffle
have been donated to the home over the past number of years. Recently the home moved to bigger premises in Claremont.
The home is now being run by the Sisters of Saint Francis de Sales. In May this year, we attended the formal opening ceremony of the new premises,
celebrated by Archbishop Stephen Brislin. As a house warming gift, we presented the home with a new 4 in 1 (Fax, Scanner, Copier and Printer)
to make the administrative costs a lot easier and cheaper.
New projects, Capricorn Creche’, in Steenberg, received new mattresses for the children and a cupboard which they badly needed.
Furthermore we donated linen for the mattresses and toiletries. The Erika Care Centre, for the handicapped, receives an ongoing
supply of toiletries, bibs, cot sheets and hand towels.
Trauma packs were requested and delivered to the South African Police Services, rape and trauma unit in Bothasig.
We assisted with donations of clothes, bedding and trauma packs to the Saartjie Baartman Home for abused women and children.
A generous donation was made to the Drakenstein Hospice following a presentation by one of their social workers who specialises in palliative care.
In 2009, we were approached by a parishioner from Camps Bay to assist the Poor Sisters of Clare, in Swellendam.
We were able to provide toiletries, bed socks and then, through a generous donation from one of our members, we were able to purchase a TV
and video machine for them.
With regards to other projects, we continue to assist Sisters Incorporated with cash donations, Nazareth House with their monthly washing powder,
Holy Cross Orphanage with their stationery needs and the Cape Town Clothing Guild with their annual drive for hand made garments.
We continue to make an annual donation to the Arch Bishop’s Ecclesiastical fund.
We continue to hold our annual Day of Recollection at the Schoenstatt Retreat Centre. This year it was attended by a record number of 150 ladies.
The WUCWO Mass is also celebrated on this day. This affords the ladies, from branches further a field, the opportunity to attend both events.
Women’s World Day of Prayer is always well attended by our members in their respective areas. This is a good way of sharing our Christian faith
with ladies of other denominations.
Visit by the National President: We were privileged to have our National President, Gabi Van der Merwe, visit us in March.
An informal afternoon social was held with many ladies present. Gabi gave a short interesting talk to those present.
After Benediction, she enrolled members of the new Kuilsriver branch. Her visit was enjoyed and appreciated by the members.
Celebrations: Birthdays of note were celebrated by Mrs Margarita Blaser, the mother of Father Emil Baser, who turned 106 in October 2010.
Prof. Paddy Harrison, a past National President of the League turned 90 in July 2010. Both ladies are well and are still very interested
in the activities of the League.
Joyce O’ Connor, from Sea Point Branch, received a Bene Merenti award in 2009.
Frances Hartley, a member from Bishop Lavis, was a nominee for the national competition, Women of the Year, in 2010.
Although she did not win, she is still an inspiration to us and we are extremely proud of her achievements.
I wish to thank my Diocesan Committee, and all the ladies in our Archdiocese for their continued support, hard work and dedication to the League.
Without their hard work and dedication to the ideals of the Catholic Women’s League, all we have achieved would not be possible.
Our thanks also go to Father Kevin Dadswell, our Diocesan Chaplain, whose support is immeasurable. His spiritual input and valuable advice,
not to mention his wonderful sense of humour, has been an inspiration to us all.
On behalf of all the members of the CWL in the Archdiocese of Cape Town, I congratulate the present National Management Committee on a job well done
and I wish the incoming Committee every success during their term of office.
May Mary, our Holy Mother, continue to inspire us. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide us, and may Our Lord God, bless us, in all our future endeavours.
Anne Deary, Chairlady, Cape Town Diocese