Catholic Women’s League (CWL)

Our Igbo-Nigerian Community founded the Igbo Catholic Church Ottawa on February 28^th, 2010. We began to hold monthly masses in our native Igbo language thereafter. Our young church went through its teething problems and had come of age. We now observed all the rites and observances like our other Catholic counterparts.  We observed all the seasons and times, baptism, and funerals, etc.  Our choir was getting stronger every day. The one institution missing was the Catholic Women’s League (CWL). 

Our current President, Mrs. Bernadette Ojiaku, had floated the idea for the establishment of the CWL, but the time was not suitable for it. She raised the idea again after the tenth anniversary of our Church in 2021 and it was universally well received. She was a long-time member of Assumption parish and Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Orleans, (Ottawa) and had so much experience.

Bernadette contacted the then, current President of the Ottawa Diocesan Catholic Women’s League, Lynn Lavictoire. She was warmly received and invited to one of their virtual meetings and guided through the process of setting up a CWL council. After several on-line and in-person meetings with Lynn and other members from her parish, the Council was born. Our Chaplain Father Paul Nwaeze and Fr. Godwin Eke (a military student at the time) swore in the first CWL executive of the church. We were inaugurated on October 17, 2021.  

Our Igbo Catholic Church CWL has seen significant growth in membership. We are presently about 45 members. WE have accomplished a lot in our short existence. This is  due to the contributions of its dedicated Executives and members. There is the willingness to accept various roles and responsibilities from our pool of talented members. We live by our Catholic faith.

The current President of the Ottawa Diocesan Catholic Women’s League, Claudette Langdon has continued to work with our President Mrs. Benedette Ojiaku to have our Nigeria Igbo council formally established. 

Our President Mrs. Benedette Ojiaku represented our parish league in many of the activities held in different Ottawa Parishes. Our parish league also participated in voting for the amendment to the constitution and Bylaw.

The League ensured that members are kept abreast of what was happening with the National League through the dissemination of information received via email and through our monthly meetings.

Mother’s Day of 2023 was marked with pump and pageantry.   We had the Ottawa Diocesan Secretary, Catherine Gasper attend our meeting and provide us the Unity Outreach Program also in attendance was Sister Nkechi who visited from Holy Spirit Parish, Stittsville, Ontario

The year began with the continued observance of Covid-19 protocol, however, there was some easing off around social distancing and number of people that can gather in a physical space by first quarter of the year. Our parish returned to full time in-person in April 2022

Our fledgling league, less than a year old, continued to work with the guidance of the past President of the Ottawa Diocesan League Lyn Lavictoire and life member Moira Matthews in setting up the structure and familiarizing ourselves with the protocols and procedures of the Catholic Women’s League (CWL). A meeting was held by our President Mrs. Benedette Ojiaku, the Vice-President Mrs. Nwanneka Ejiofor and the duo to educate us on these issues.

In the month of May, Mother’s Day was marked with pump and pageantry.  Our parish League invited guests including the past President and current President Claudette Langdon of the Ottawa Diocesan League. The current President sent her regrets. Our invitation was honored by the past President and the President of the CWL Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, Joan Lepage. It was a pleasure to have them there.

In keeping with our cultural tradition of bringing the fruits of our harvest to the Altar of the Lord, the Igbo Catholic Church had their annual Harvest and Bazaar in October. The Igbo Catholic Women’s League played a significant role in supporting the event financially. Our League also honored the marking of Fr. Ben Ubani (one of the Igbo priests) 25 years of priesthood and his birthday celebration at St. Philips Neri Church, Toledo, Ontario. The league gifted him with a free will donation by members of the league.

Our President Mrs. Benedette Ojiaku represented our parish league in many of the activities held in different Ottawa Parishes. Our parish league also participated in voting for the amendment to the constitution and Bylaw.

The League ensured that members are kept abreast of what was happening with the National League through the dissemination of information received via email and through our monthly meetings.

With the near total relaxation of Covid-19 protocols, our parish League hopes to be more physically involved in the coming year 2023.