The Catholic Women’s League Australia (CWLA) National Executive for 2012-2013 was installed during a Mass celebrated by Father Jose Koyickal at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Townsville on Sunday 12th February. The members of the new CWLA National Executive are Jean Tanzer OAM (President), Margaret Toomey (Vice President), Joy Gray (Vice President), Maureen Gilmartin AM (Treasurer), Veronica Box (Public Relations & Community Engagement) and Marcia O’Donnell (Secretary). The new National Chaplain is Father David Lancini.
CWLA’s seven Member Organisations provide women for the National Executive for a term of two years on a rotational basis. CWL Queensland is responsible for contributing the CWLA leadership team for 2012-2013.
In a written message to the new CWLA National Executive, the Most Rev Michael Putney, Bishop of Townsville, said: “The Diocese of Townsville is particularly delighted to welcome the incoming Executive of Catholic Women’s League Australia, from our own Diocese and from the Diocese of Rockhampton and the Archdiocese of Brisbane. These ladies are valued members of the Church in Queensland. The bishops have been grateful for their service for so long and we now look forward to their new service for the Church in Australia as a whole. May God bless each and every one of you and the members in each of your States, and may your numbers grow so that you can continue to make a vital contribution to the life and mission of the Church in Australia.”
This is an exciting time for the League in Australia. CWLA recently established a Research Centre in Hobart, managed by Dr Brigid McKenna MBBS MBioeth, so that the League may better anticipate the many complex and specialised issues emerging in the Australian and international communities as well as providing some original research, backed by sound evidence and ethical expertise.
In response to the Holy Father’s invitation to “…join the network of relationships which the digital era has made possible…”, CWLA has embraced social media and also built a dynamic online presence through our new website. Through these mediums, the League hopes to bring the light of the Gospel to a wider audience and to contribute to the transformation of our culture into a civilisation of life and love.
