Papal honours for Sydney CWL members
Catholic Weekly (24 December 2000) by Chris Hook
Two members of Sydney's Catholic Women's League (CWL) have been made Dames of the order of St Gregory the Great.
The rare Papal honours were bestowed on Joan Carolan and Noreen Keoghan by Cardinal Clancy at a recent ceremony.
Both Mrs Carolan and Mrs Koeghan expressed great surprise, believing the presentation function to simply be an occasion of seasonal cheer.
"It's a tremendous honour, and I accepted it more for the Catholic Women's League than myself," Mrs Carolan said.
"It's a great honour," Mrs Koeghan said. "But why me? There are a tremendous number of women doing very good work."
Mrs Koeghan, a mother of two with eight grandchildren, joined the CWL in 1961 and became a member of the CWL Archdiocesan Council in 1970, holding positions on the Council ever since.
Mrs Koeghan has chaired the Board of Management of the Marian Complex (Aged Care) since 1991.
Mrs Carolan, mother of six and grandmother to 12, joined the CWL in 1962 and has held a number of positions within the organisation.
She currently serves on the CWL Sydney management Committee, the board of the Marian Complex (Aged Care) and as International Secretary.
"The Catholic Women's League has brought a dimension into my life I wouldn't have had … I'm very grateful," Mrs Carolan said.
Mrs Carolan added that the CWL encouraged its members to take a wide role in the community, and helped give a voice to those who had none.
Mrs Koeghan said she had joined the CWL because, "I felt that God had been good to me and I wanted to do what I could to help."
Mrs Koeghan said she could not have been as active in the CWL with-out the loving support of her husband.
"Without his support and encouragement, I wouldn't have done it," Mrs Koeghan said.
