Sisterhood in Service: Growing with the Catholic Women's League (CWL)

When my husband Jim and I moved back to Calgary, I needed to find a way to meet like-minded, faith-filled women. I thought, what better way to do so than to join the CWL? So I did. At my first meeting with CWL, I volunteered to be the treasurer, and thus began my journey with CWL.
 
Our council holds many activities and projects to help our parish, St. Peters; be it ministry masses where my League sisters serve as lectors, ushers, greeters, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion or sacristan; the fundraisers to help our beloved charities; collecting items for KARA or Elizabeth House, or offering an education bursary for girls going into post-secondary education.

As I grew in my knowledge of the Catholic Women’s League, I realized that we were not just funeral lunch ladies, although this service that we provide to grieving families is very important to us. But we are much more than that.

​Our three pillars—Faith, Service, and Social Justice—perfectly describe what we are all about. We hold powerful prayer services, living rosaries, and annual spiritual retreats, to name a few. We advocate for important issues such as the sanctity of life, from conception to natural death.

In 2012, I was honoured to attend the National CWL Convention in Edmonton, as a resolution that our own council researched and presented “to increase Employment Benefits for Adoptive Mothers” was adopted and then presented to the federal government.  It has since come to fruition, as adoptive parents now receive the same benefits as parents who have their biological children. 

I was proud to serve as the President of St. Peter’s CWL council, as I loved working with and building relationships with my League sisters. As a servant leader, I grew in my faith, especially with the support of our spiritual advisors. 
 
In 2013, I was appointed diocesan CWL secretary by president Carol Schlachter. Jim said he’d support me, and my CWL journey with Calgary Diocesan Council began. I had no idea what I had agreed to, but it changed my life. 

Reflecting on this eleven-year journey, there were many highlights. Here are just a few:

• many trips with my League sisters to various meetings, conventions, celebrations all over Canada.  Some of these were road trips which consisted of getting lost or even worse, speeding tickets (whoops);
• members of the Calgary diocese coming together in 2019 to host a very successful national convention, where we welcomed over 800 League members from all across Canada, and I was honored to represent Calgary Diocesan Council as the diocesan president;
• building relationships with members throughout the Calgary diocese, mentoring council presidents, celebrating milestone council anniversaries. St. Patrick’s Council in Medicine Hat just celebrated their 100th Anniversary as a council;
• working with our bishop appointed Diocesan Spiritual Advisors over the years;
• attending and participating in powerful spiritual programs and retreats, which always helped me to grow in my faith.

​Yes, there were sad moments too, when we bade farewell to two of our diocesan presidents, Carol Schlachter and Sharon Malec, as well as many other League sisters. And grieving alongside our sisters when they lost loved ones.  Crying together is part of this amazing sisterhood we belong to.

During the CWL Convention on Friday, we wore red to honor the military, as well as murdered and missing indigenous women.

We recently held our 102nd Annual Calgary Diocesan CWL Convention in Calgary (May 3&4, 2024), where the theme was based on the Diocesan Parish Renewal, and Called by Name to Community. CWL members throughout the diocese gathered for a weekend of inspiration, reflection, celebration of our successes, and in prayer through the Eucharist. 

​Although my time on the Diocesan CWL executive is complete, I look forward to where God will lead me next. Catholic Women’s League has been a gift for me, and I am truly blessed to be a part of this national organization. I am grateful to my sisters of the League for walking this walk with me. 

---

Written by Jan Myhre, St. Peter's Parish, Calgary. ​Jan lives in Calgary with her husband Jim.  She is a member of St. Peter's Parish where she volunteers as Sacristan and Extraordinary Minister of Communion.  She enjoys travelling and spending time with her 13 grandchildren.