Membership tea set for Catholic Woman's League

Intermountain Catholic

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SALT LAKE CITY — The Catholic Woman’s League will hold its annual membership tea Saturday, March 24 at St. Vincent de Paul Parish’s Benvegnu Center.

At the event, CWL members and their guests will be served tea and a light snack from silver services and on fine china. In the spirit of the occasion, hats are welcome, membership tea chair MJ Ahlin Falkner said.

“It’s a fun time for all; we make it a nice event with really special little touches,” she said.

In prior years, the tea has been held in the parish’s Holy Family Hall, but Falkner said the members are excited to have it in the more intimate setting of the Benvegnu Center.

At the tea, last year’s recipient of the League’s Girl State scholarship Brooklyn Orellana, a senior at Juan Diego Catholic High School, will share highlights from her experience. The winners of this year’s scholarship will also be announced.

Each year the CWL offers Girls State sponsorships to up to two high school juniors from each of the three Utah Catholic high schools – St. Joseph, Judge Memorial and Juan Diego. This year applications have been received from all three schools.

“As the Catholic Woman’s League we are focused on women,” CWL President Linda Burt said. “Our mission statement includes education, and we think it is very important to educate girls in this way. Girls State gives these girls a sense of how government runs and teaches them to work with others, even those of different faiths and different ideas.”

“As part of Girls State they participate in a flag-burning ceremony with the VFW, for example,” she added. “This teaches them how to respect the flag and why it is handled in certain ways.”

The ritual of burning the U.S. flag is the proper way to retire one that is torn or worn.

Among the other annual CWL events is the fall benefit luncheon that will be held Oct. 12 this year, at which the organization awards grants to two charities, usually one Catholic and one non-Catholic, from a group of about a dozen applicants. The charities that have been chosen this year are St. Joseph Catholic Church’s emergency fund for the poor who come seeking funds, clothing and food; and Lost and Found Ministries.

While many of the CWL’s members are involved with other charitable organizations, the League is something special, Burt said.

“In the Catholic Woman’s League we reach outside of our own faith into the community and help organizations that resonate with our hearts,” she said. “We come together as Catholic women to try to do good works.”

The organization, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016, was founded by Emma McCornick Bird. Members meet the fourth Tuesday of each month at the St. Ambrose Parish Center. Social hour is at 9:30 a.m. followed by the formal meeting at 10 a.m.

Election of new officers will take place at the tea. Those running for election are Linda Burt: president; Amy Kennedy: vice president/president elect; Carol Haney: recording secretary; Jenny Maffuccio: corresponding secretary; Shirley Callanan: dues and database secretary; and Millie Burningham: treasurer. Nomination of other members may be made from the floor that day as long as the consent of the nominee has been obtained.

WHAT: Catholic Woman’s League Membership Tea

WHEN: Sunday, March 24, 2-4 p.m.

WHERE: Saint Vincent de Paul Parish, 1375 E. Spring Lane, SLC

COST: $10. Preregistration is strongly encouraged. This year the League is accepting credit cards, cash and checks. For credit card payments, call Jenny Maffuccio at 435-640-1101. Send cash or checks to Jenny Maffuccio, 13297 N. Deer Canyon Dr., Kamas, Utah 84036.

All women in the diocese are invited.