Stock Photo – Canva
By Linda Maddaford
This is our time – adapted from an article in the October, 2024 Saskatchewan Provincial CWL Newsletter.
This is our time – CWL on the path to renewal. What a wonderful and accurate headline for reports on the Catholic Women’s League of Canada’s 105th National Convention. This is our time to honour, salute, and celebrate all that we have accomplished since 1920 and invite the next generation of women to discover “our time”.
We recognize and honour Saskatchewan’s new Life Member. Janette Rieger – Regina diocesan past president was welcomed to the rank of Life Member in a moving ceremony at the CWL national convention in Toronto, this August. We also recognize and honour Regina diocesan past president Marilyn Schuck who received the Bellelle Guerin award at the provincial convention in June.
We salute all members who have received long-standing member certificates this year. Two members in the Regina diocese received a certificate for 70 years of service! The example of faith, service, and social justice modelled by these long-standing members, and their devotion to the League is outstanding.
The Regina regions have not been idle. In July, St. Joseph’s, Indian Head (Our Lady of Peace region) hosted a birthday tea for Fr. Francis Hengen. On Sept. 27 the Morning Star region hosted a retreat with Leah Perrault, and the Regina region held their fall meeting and workshop. On Oct 18 Southwest region’s workshop took place, and Weyburn region held a retreat day facilitated by Deanna Pellatt and Christine Shuya. It is good to see activity across the regions of the diocese; every gathering is a time of renewal and celebration.
CWL Visibility – you just need to know where to look:
Did you know there is a Canadian Catholic News website? And a Canadian Catholic News Saskatchewan page? You will find a wonderful report about the CWL 105th National Convention on the Ontario page, https://canadiancatholicnews.ca/this-is-our-time-cwl-on-path-to-renewal-at-105th-national-convention/ posted Aug 17, 2025. Another well written report was published in the Saskatoon Diocesan news page, Aug 18, 2025, https://news.rcdos.ca/2025/08/18/this-is-our-time-catholic-womens-league-cwl-convention/.
An article in the ArchRegina News, written by Peter Oliver, executive director of the Catholic Health Association of Saskatchewan, Oct 3, 2025, is a reflection on the richness of women’s contributions to Catholic health, https://archregina.sk.ca/newsstory/women-shape-the-catholic-health-association-of-saskatchewans-priorities-and-focus/.
Across our communities, across the province and across Canada, the contributions of Catholic women and the CWL are evident. Tell our story, celebrate the service, proclaim the voice of social justice, and share the blessing of companionship of this great sisterhood. This is our legacy, this is our story, this is our time.
For God and for Canada.
Linda Maddaford is currently serving as president for the Regina Diocesan CWL. She is a retired business woman and accountant now living in rural Saskatchewan. Gardening, berry picking, pickling, preserving and jam making occupy the summer months and provide balance to her many volunteer commitments. Her motto is: “Bloom where you are planted.”
