The St. Augustine's Cwl

is the oldest Council in the Winnipeg Archdiocese.

This almost didn't happen.

The early CWL Council

had a rival

in the St. Augustine's Parish.

The Ladies of St. Anne

was organized on January 17, 1909.

It's object was to aid the church,

to prepare the bazaars

and

to conduct monthly socials.

They also visited

the sick and shut-ins of the Parish

and

saw to the upkeep of the Catholic Cemetery.

In 1921

along comes the Catholic Women's League,

part of a National Association

and

mandated to perform many of the same services

as the Ladies of St. Anne were already providing.

Many parisioners felt

the CWL was forced on them

and

the rivalry reached its climax

in 1931

when the CWL failed to register

due to the fall in membership.

Archbishop Sinnott heard about this

and contacted Fr. Lynch

strongly advising that the CWL reorganize.

In May 1931 they reorganized

and

the Ladies of St. Anne became

the St. Anne Subdivision of the CWL.

By 1936

records show

the St. Anne subdivision

was working loyally

to uphold the principles

of

the Catholic Women's League

and

be of service to God and Country.

 

Click to go to history page 4