Written by NSW National Executive
At a Eucharistic celebration on February 6 at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral in Hornsby, Sydney, the National CWLA Executive for the 2014 – 2015 were installed by Fr Vince Casey, Administrator of the Broken Bay Diocese.
The Executive, from three Diocese in New South Wales includes: Carolyn Metcalfe - President and Pauline O’Malley – Treasurer, from Broken Bay Diocese. From the Wollongong Diocese are Margaret (Peg) McEntee OAM - Vice President (former National President, 2002/04), Robyn Miller - Secretary and Diana Lyon - PR and Community Engagement Officer with the second Vice President, Ann Pereira, from the Lismore Diocese.
Fr Casey, on blessing the badges of office, invited all League members present to affirm the new leadership of CWLA. Standing on the Sanctuary, the new Executive received a candle as a “symbol of office” from the outgoing Queensland National President, Jean Tanzer OAM, and pledged their commitment to the aims of the League stating, in part, that they were willing to:
- enable women to participate in working for and building the Kingdom of God on earth.
- promote the spiritual, social, cultural and intellectual formation of women
- uphold the role of lay women in the Church
- promote and support vocations to the priesthood
- foster ecumenism and interfaith dialogue
- uphold the role of lay women in the Church
- provide a national and international forum for the voice of CWLA.
The ceremony, attended by 250 people from across Australia, included the wife of the Australian Prime Minister, Margie Abbott, NSW State Member for Hornsby, Matt Kean MP, the Mayor of Hornsby, Steve Russell, four CWL State Presidents and three CWLA National Convenors.
In his Homily, Fr Casey thanked the past and present Executive for their generosity in taking on leadership roles and said, “how important the work of CWL is to the life and mission of the Church in Australia”. President Carolyn thanked everyone for attending, especially those CWL members who had travelled from interstate and those who couldn’t attend but had sent letters of support and congratulations.
She spoke of the need to “Open our ears to hear God’s word…by entrusting ourselves fully to Him and to believe in His love” – words which she has chosen as the theme for her term taken from the first Encyclical of the pontificate of Pope Francis given in Rome in June 2013.
The Maris Stella Diocesan Choir with Cantor, Isaac Reefman, were led by renowned musical director, Donrita Reefman, with Veronica Hannagan-Street on the organ. Hymns included, Help of Christians, Guard this Land, The Magnificat, We Know and Believe and Praise to You, O Christ, Our Saviour.
A lunch was provided in the adjacent Light of Christ Centre at Our Lady of the Rosary Primary School.
Installation of the CWLA National Executive 2014-2015
