'Real women, real values'
By SHARYN MARCHANT 02/03/2008
THE Catholic Women's League is keen, through its involvement in WYD08, to cast off its image as an organisation that just makes cups of tea, and to appeal to the next generation.
"We know how wonderful it is to have WYD in Australia, to have the Pope visit, to support our cardinal, and also to look at the ongoing desire that this bring to the Church a vocational resurgence," said Moya Potts, Archdiocesan president of the league.
"We're very excited that we can play a role; we know the target is the youth and we want to support that."
The Catholic Women's League is making creative, practical and financial contributions to WYD08. In 2007, it gave nearly $20,000 to the Wilcannia - Forbes diocese, part of which will go towards bringing pilgrims to Sydney in July.
"We are also partnering groups in Papua New Guinea to help them come to WYD," she said.
League members across NSW have also been recruited to sew altar linens that will be used at WYD Masses.
State president Catherine McGrath says: "We are responsible for about half the altar cloths, a few purificators and a few corporals. Everyone in every branch in every parish is doing everything they can to help."
The organisation is also sponsoring a performer to appear at the youth festival.
And while not a strict vocation, the league will have a booth at the Vocations Expo, showcasing its members' devotion to family life, issues affecting women, and their core: the Church.
"We're going to bring together a national presentation for the expo, showing off each state. We want to bring in the flavour of the whole country with what women are doing in CWL Australia - wide," said Moya Potts.
She and Catherine hope WYD08 will introduce young women to the Catholic Women"s League and encourage them to join a long - standing organisation which will help them through their daily struggles while campaigning for the rights of women around the world.
"We are real women living out there in the real world, and our members are dealing with issues with family, divorce, abortion," said Moya.
"So we're not these angels: we are women who have to deal with everyday issues in our own family life as well."
"And that's one of the greatest things I admire about our members.
"They are out there, they've got families, but they have value as women of the Church."
Copyright © 2008. Catholic Weekly - Sydney
