It was in 1910 that Madame de Velard, President of the Patriotic League of French Women (later Action Catholique Générale Féminine, ACGF) suggested uniting the leagues of Catholic women throughout the world.

This meeting, christened "the Committee for Initiative", took place in Brussels and united the Leagues from Germany, England, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Spain, France, Lorraine, Portugal, Switzerland and Uruguay, together with the International Catholic Society for Girls, ACISJF.

In her address Madame de Vélard outlined the aims of this meeting from which the International Union of Catholic Women's Leagues (UILFC) began and which became WUCWO in 1952:

".We have met because we want to enlarge our horizons .study the obstacles and the way to overcome them, and to arm ourselves better for CATHOLIC ACTION.

.Daughters humbly obedient to the Church ONE.we have felt we must work to realise the union of all Catholic Women throughout the world.

.Let us not dream ! We have no time to do so; besides dreams are disastrous: they waste our energy on imagining difficulties which

may perhaps never materialise.Let us prepare for the future: to do so let us share serious and well organised action."

Another delegate stated:

"Catholic women must understand that changing times demand changing duties. The time has come when we can no longer be satisfied with small associations narrow and enclosed, in which piety and charity are cultivated with discreet timidity; the time has come to have a broader outlook; the time has come for more adequate formation; the time has come to unite all the works and all the good will in strong federations, capable of being an active force in the service of Christian social renewal throughout the world."

In the course of this meeting, with the encouragement of the Bishops of Malines and Paris, decisions were taken:

This International Federation of Catholic Women's leagues adopted the statutes unanimously. They began:

Art. 1: An International Council is formed between the Catholic Women's leagues, independent of all political parties, the aim of which is to work to maintain the Faith, defend religious liberties and organise Catholic social action in a spirit of full and constant submission to the ordinances of the Sovereign Pontiff.

Art.2: The Council adopts the name of International Council of Catholic Women's Leagues.

1911 : Second International Council in Madrid (Spain). Danger of Freemasonry ; Work and women's salaries ; Morality. Six new leagues asked to join the International Council. They came from the following countries: Argentina, Canada, the United States of America, Hungary, Luxembourg and Poland.

1912 : Third International Board in Vienna: Morality, Religious education, Women at work. So that the Statutes could be approved by the Holy See, the League in England will study certain modifications which will be voted on at the next Council. This heavy task is undertaken under the responsibility of Miss Fletcher, president of the English League.

Margaret Fletcher is one of the founders of the World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations. Her biography is available from the CWL England and Wales

1913 : Fourth International Board in London. The Statutes were modified and approved by Pius X. The Federation adopted the name "International Union of Catholic Women's Leagues", simply called the"Union" which hence forward would have a Cardinal Protector. There were 27 Leagues from 17 countries, in the Union.

Nomination by the Holy See of the Countess Wodzicka (Poland) as president.  

THE FIRST WORLD WAR

During the 1914-1918 War the Union ceased to function and began again only in 1921. Nevertheless the president managed to keep in touch with the Vatican as well as with several national leagues.