The W's of The Catholic Woman's League

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Linda Burt

Just what is the Catholic Woman’s League? What are they about? Why the Catholic Woman’s League? Where does the Catholic Woman’s League belong in terms of diocesan women’s organizations?

These are many questions I hope to answer for you, so let’s begin.

The Catholic Woman’s League was organized in March of 1916 by Bishop Joseph S. Glass of the Diocese of Salt Lake City. We are 105 years old, the oldest Catholic Woman’s organization in Utah. I must say we are looking good considering our age!  

You read correctly, we are the Catholic “Woman’s” League, not women’s league. Why the emphasis on “woman”? I’m glad you asked.

Bishop Glass knew that women had their own passions of service to many groups and he liked the fact that Catholic women were out in their communities beyond their parish walls and helping with community needs and concerns using their Catholic faith in being good stewards to all God’s people.

To this day members of the Catholic Woman’s League (CWL) reach out to help out a variety of organizations such as The Salt Lake Assistance League, The International Peace Gardens, The Ronald McDonald House, The Volunteers of America, The Peace House, and the Women’s Resource Center.

Our membership encompasses all of Utah, not just the Salt Lake Valley. We have members from north by Roy to east by Kamas, west to Tooele, south to Helper and beyond. We encourage, we invite all ladies interested in the CWL to be a member, to join our sisterhood and  to keep our mission statement alive.

This mission statement reads:

“Catholic Woman’s League is a non-profit woman’s organization, which works for the interest of Christ, promotes spirituality based on the principles of our Catholic faith, advances literary and educational interests, and assists in philanthropic efforts for the welfare of our community.”

The Catholic Woman’s League was started before parishes had altar societies, ladies’ guilds and the Council of Catholic Women. The work of these groups is based primarily on needs of their own parish The Catholic Woman’s League reaches out to the community and provides women the opportunity to do philanthropic work for community needs, socialize and gather for Mass and recitation of the Rosary with women of other parishes.

The Catholic Woman’s League also supports the Carmelite nuns with monthly donations to help them with their budgetary needs. At our monthly board meetings we collect goods such as socks, toiletries, diapers and winter clothing, which are donated to various charities.

If you are looking for a way to meet other Catholic women who want to be of service to the diocese and the community a membership in the Catholic Woman’s League might be just the right fit for you.

In future weeks watch the Intermountain Catholic for more articles concerning the CWL.

For information, contact President Linda Burt at 435-649-9812, or Shirley Callanan at 801-581-9277.

Watch this space for future articles about the CWL, there is so much more and we are just getting started.

Linda Burt is president of the Catholic Woman’s League.