On June 3rd, Calgary Diocesan Council (Alberta Mackenzie) held a poignant ceremony at St. Mary’s University to unveil a commemorative bench marking the League’s 100th anniversary. League members across the diocese gathered to witness the unveiling by university president Dr. Sinda Vanderpool, diocesan president Kathleen Winter, diocesan past president Renee Spohn, and the blessing by Deacon Rey Tadifa.
The bench offers more than a welcoming place to sit; it is an enduring tribute to the generations of women who shaped the League’s vibrant history in Southern Alberta and their unwavering commitment to Catholic education. It also symbolizes the longstanding relationship between Calgary Diocesan Council and St. Mary’s University, which began in 2010 when members contributed $1.2 million toward an endowment fund to support a permanent CWL Chair for Catholic Studies. The fund has since grown to almost $2 million!
May every woman who sits on the bench be inspired by the Holy Spirit to achieve her God-given potential and share her gifts as a valued member of The Catholic Women’s League of Canada.
Submitted by Diane Miedema
