EXPLANATION OF THE WUCWO LOGO

The WUCWO logo was created by a world renowned Mexican painter, Alejandro Rangel Hidalgo.

It depicts the following symbols:

The World: The place where the Christian acts and works so that the Evangelical values are lived: Peace, Justice, Solidarity, Mercy, Love.

The two hands of women, one white and another of color: The presence of the faith-filled woman contributing “Feminine Genius” to construct a more human world.

The dove with the olive branch: The peace that the world needs.

The Cross and the Crown: Jesus invites us to construct the Kingdom, bringing God to earth.

The WUCWO logo has in itself all the elements of WUCWO’s Mission: “To promote the presence, participation and coresponsibility of Catholic Women in Society and the Church in order to enable them to fulfill their Mission of Evangelization and to work for Human Development.”

According to WUCWO BYLAW V - THE SECRETARIAT

The Secretariat shall constitute the permanent working organ of WUCWO. It shall be organised in accordance with the requirements of the work of WUCWO, and it shall execute, under the direction of the officers of WUCWO, the decisions of the Assembly and the Board.

The Secretariat is here to help and support you. Never hesitate to ask about anything, we will always try to help!

Please note:

The Secretariat needs to be informed, preferably by e-mail, of any change of address, contact numbers and names of officers in organizations.

Lavinia Rocchi Carrera	Virginia Pastor Bayo	Maria Bruno	Mercè Alonso	María Lamas
Secretary General	Finance	Graphic design	Press and communication	Translations

 

Piazza di S. Calisto 16 00153 Rome, Italy Tel: +39 0669887260 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

	President General Mónica Santamarina
	Vice President General          Isabella Eunyoung Park
	Treasurer General                  Myriam García Abrisqueta
	Secretary General Lavinia Rocchi Carrera
	Ecclesiastical Assistant Father Marcelo Gidi Thumala, SJ
	ARGENTINA María Isabel Giménez Díaz
	AUSTRALIA Karen De Sousa
	CAMEROON Marie Salome Ngo Bibout Epse Biongla
	CANADA Barbara Dowding
	CUBA Mercedes Padrón Prada
	ESWATINI Doris Makhubu
	GHANA Cecilia Asobayire
	GUINEA Titi Kamano
	HUNGARY Borbala Csehne Vadnai
	INDIA Juliet Ramamurthy
	INDONESIA Justina Rostiawati
	MALAWI Lucy Joceylin Vokhiwa
	MALI Thérèse Arama Somboro
	MEXICO María de Lourdes Espinoza Rosas
	NIGERIA Mary Asibi Gonsum
	PHILIPPINES Clarita Adalem
	SENEGAL Beatrice Tavares Da Souza
	SOUTH AFRICA Veronica Malan-Lebona
	SPAIN Susana Fernández Guisasola
	TANZANIA Evaline Malisa Ntenga
	UGANDA Florence Namatta Mawejje
	UNITED KINGDOM Maureen Meatcher
	UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Esohe Maria Asemota
	VENEZUELA María García De Fleury

International Organisations

ACISJF (International Catholic Association for Girls)

CARITAS INTERNATIONALIS: Stephanie MacGillivray

UISG: Sr. Caterina Ciriello

Africa  |  Asia-Pacific  |  Europe  |  Latin America and the Caribbean  |  North America

2023-Present Mónica Santamarina (Mexico)

2018-2023 María Lía Zervino, Servidora (Argentina)

2010-2018 Maria Giovanna Ruggieri (Italy)

2006-2010 Karen M. Hurley (U.S.A.)

1996-2006 Maria Eugenia Díaz de Pfennich (Mexico)

1987-1996 Marie-Thérèse van Heteren-Hogenhuis (Netherlands)

1983-1987 Eleanor E. Aitken (Canada)

1974-1983 Elizabeth Lovatt-Dolan (Ireland)

1961-1974 María del Pilar Bellosillo (Spain)

1952-1961 Marie du Rostu (France)

1922-1952 Mrs. Steenberghe - Engeringh (Netherlands)

WUCWO / UMOFC

1910-2010

WUCWO's aim is to promote the presence, participation and co-responsibility of Catholic women in society and the Church, in order to enable them to fulfil their mission of evangelisation and to work for human development.

The World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO) was founded in 1910 and now represents nearly 100 Catholic women’s organisations worldwide, active in around 50 countries including all continents and some island states, counting on around eight (8) million Catholic women of every walk of life. WUCWO’s aim is to promote the presence, participation and co-responsibility of Catholic women in society and the Church, in order to enable them to fulfil their mission of evangelisation and to work for human development, particularly in increasing educational opportunities, poverty reduction and the advancement of human rights beginning with the fundamental right to life.

In 2006, WUCWO was erected by the Holy See as a Public International Association of the Faithful. This canonical status honours the efforts of Catholic women active in our Union at the parish, diocesan, national and international levels.

WUCWO unites Catholic women in the world to give them a voice on the international platform. Since their inception, WUCWO has held Consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Human Rights Council (Geneva), the FAO (Rome), participatory status at the Council of Europe (Strasbourg), and is an official partner of UNESCO (Paris).

WUCWO examines the critical issues that have an impact on the lives of women internationally and promotes the dignity of every human being.

WUCWO coordinates the activities of Catholic women's organisations worldwide, serving as a necessary link between them and the network of international organizations and faith communities.

Through them, WUCWO helps train those who are without resources or opportunities, provides victims of violence and poverty a means of subsistence for them and their children and helps enable them to fulfill their mission of evangelisation and to work for human development.

WUCWO’s principal areas of activity are:

• Promote the formation of women in order for them to face contemporary challenges
• Foster awareness and respect of cultural diversity
• Promote and coordinate the activities of Member Organisations at the international level and represent them in international bodies
• Network with other international organisations and faith communities for the respect of human rights, especially those of women
• Encourage ecumenical and interreligious dialogue.

The World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO) was founded in 1910 and now represents nearly 100 Catholic women’s organisations worldwide, active in around 50 countries including all continents and some island states, representing more than eight (8) million Catholic women of every walk of life. WUCWO’s aim is to promote the presence, participation and co-responsibility of Catholic women in society and the Church, in order to enable them to fulfil their mission of evangelisation and to work for human development, particularly in increasing educational opportunities, poverty reduction and the advancement of human rights beginning with the fundamental right to life.

• LAUDATO SI' MOVEMENT

https://laudatosimovement.org/

The former Global Catholic Climate Movement, today Laudato si' Movement, works within the Catholic Church to better care for our common home. The founding document is Pope Francis’ encyclical on climate change and ecology, Laudato si’ which is a compelling call to take urgent action against the injustice of climate change and the ecological crisis, to protect the poor and future generations. WUCWO has joined GCCM’s global campaign of divestment from fossil fuels, participates with the GCCM in the Laudato si' Action Platform and takes part in the Laudato si' Animators program.

• FORUM OF CATHOLIC INSPIRED NGOS

https://foruminternational.org/

The Forum is a place of encounter and exchange of Catholic NGO’s that usually work at the international level with status in international agencies. It is a social observatory that strengthens the Catholic voice and advocacy in the public international debate. WUCWO is co-facilitator of the Family thematic Group within the international Forum.

• COATNET - CHRISTIAN ORGANISATIONS AGAINST TRAFFICKING NETWORK

https://www.coatnet.org/

COATNET is a global network of Christian organisations working to combat human trafficking and assist survivors of modern slavery. The network, coordinated by Caritas Internationalis, links over 45 Christian organisations from 39 countries, and cooperates with other faith and civil society organisations worldwide. Together with Caritas Internationalis and Talitha Kum, WUCWO is involved in the "Bakhita Project" with its local organisations in Malawi, Eswatini and South Africa. 

• COMMITTEE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER AND AWARENESS AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING (IDPHT)

https://preghieracontrotratta.org/?lang=en

Talitha Kum, the worldwide network of consecrated life committed against trafficking in persons, is responsible for the coordination of the group of partner organisations that prepare the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking (IDPHT).  The organizations involved are: Congregation for Consecrated Life, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, the Vatican Academy of Sciences, Caritas International (CI), the World Union of Catholic Women Organisations (WUCWO) and the workgroup against trafficking of the Committee for Justice and peace of the UISG / USG (ATWG). WUCWO is represented by its former President General, Maria Giovanna Ruggieri, as one of the co-founding members of the Committee.

​WUCWO Women called to Holiness to sanctify the World for a Holistic Development​, is​ WUCWO's Priority for the period 2018-2022, ​chosen at the General Assembly held in Senegal from 15 to 22 October 2018.

1 - A HEALTHY PLANET DEPENDS ON ALL OF US. In accordance with the whole Magisterium and in particular with the Encyclical Laudato Si

Below you will find the texts corresponding to the Homilies given by our Ecclesiastical Assistant, Father Gerard Whelan, during the General Assembly. We hope they will be a source of inspiration for a deep spiritual work, both personal and community.

Homily October 17, 2018

Homily October 18, 2018

Homily October 19, 2018

Homily October 20, 2018

Below, you will find the material for each conference of the Study Days. We thank all the speakers for their dedication and rich contributions.

Enjoy them!

Video Dr. Anne T. Gallagher: Family and Migration

Conference of Dr. Linda Ghisoni: WUCWO Women carriers of "living water" in the light of Evangelii Gaudium and Amoris Laetitia

Conference of Dr. Maria Teresa Compte: Laudato Si. Women carriers of "living water"

Conference of Dr. Donna Orsuto: Gaudete et Exsultate  -  PowerPoint Dr. Donna Orsuto

Conference of Dr. Isabel Recavarren: A world thirsting for peace

Conference of Sister Therese Samake: What is happening to our common house? - PowerPoint Sister Therese Samake

Read below the Final Declaration made by our General Vice President, Maribeth Stewart Blogoslawski, on the last day of our General Assembly in Senegal. 

We are glad to present the new members of the WUCWO Board, of the Executive Committee and the International Representatives, which were ratified by the WUCWO General Assembly 2018 in Senegal.

Yesterday, Tuesday October 9th, a press conference was held in Dakar, Senegal, with local and ecclesiastical media in order to communicate all the information related to the upcoming General Assembly.

October 15, the opening day of WUCWO General Assembly, is just a few weeks away. Get ready for this extraordinary event by checking the official programme of the GA.

SENEGAL will welcome us with Madame Zahra Iyane Thiam Diop, Minister Counsellor to the President of the Republic and with a long history of working with Muslim and Catholic women to promote peace and development in the democratic social fabric.

The HOLY SEE will be represented by Dr. Linda Ghisoni, Undersecretary of the Lay Sector of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life, one of the most senior women recently appointed by Pope Francis in the structure of the Vatican Curia.

WUCWO President General, Maria Giovanna Ruggieri, the Ecclesiastical Assistant, Father Gerard Whelan, SJ and the Secretary General, María Lia Zervino, Servidora, were received on April 11 from the Under Secretary for the Laity, Dr. Linda Ghisoni, and the Under Secretary for Life, Dr. Gabriella Gambino, together with Grazia Villani.

The most important WUCWO event, the General Assembly, is about to take place. Senegal is waiting for us!

Please be informed that the deadline for registering to WUCWO General Assembly has been extended until June 1st, 2018.

The countdown to the registration has already started and we have less than a month to register for it. Deadline: May 1, 2018.

The General Assembly in Dakar, from 15 to 22 October 2018, will welcome its participants with a splendid airport recently inaugurated by the President of Senegal, His Excellency Macky Sall.

There are less than 8 months left before a new big international WUCWO event can take place: the DAKAR GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

For the first time in this millennium, our African sisters are waiting for us so that Catholic women from very different places, cultures and ages can live together an ecclesial experience, a synodal encounter, as the Holy Father has asked us to do.

Thousands of Senegalese women, the Church and the local government prepare the Assembly.

On 10 February, the official launch of WUCWO's preparations for the Assembly was a success. The Church and civil authorities as well as a large number of Catholic and Muslim women participated.

The most important and beautiful of WUCWO events is now open to women members from all over the world.

Please find below the brochure with all the information about the upcoming General Assembly.

THE NEXT WUCWO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

in Dakar, Senegal, will be called:

WUCWO Women, Carriers of “living water”

to a world which thirsts for Peace

15 - 22 OCTOBER 2018

Click here to discover the new board members

Click here to discover the new executive committee members

October, 23th 

Ana Cristina Villa - Pontifical Council for the Laity :

Maria José Pereira - "Sowing Hope for the Common Good : Money Love & Virtue"

Sister Teresa R. Dagdag - "Wear hope like a skin"

Discover the 2014 General Assembly video :

October, 24th

Flaminia Giovannelli

Margarita Zavala

Final Declaration of the
World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations General Assembly 2014

The General Assembly of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO) met in Fatima, Portugal 23-27 October 2014.  In light of the difficult world situation and encouraged by the inspiring words of Pope Francis,  nearly 500 women from 35 countries and 56 organisations worked and studied guided by the Assembly theme of Women of WUCWO: Sowers of Hope.

We resolved that:

2. The following resolutions were adopted:

Family:  WUCWO will encourage and support its member organisations and its representatives working at international fora to give priority to the urgent challenges facing the family and youth.

Human Trafficking:  WUCWO, its member organisations and its representatives at international fora will work individually and in network with other confessional and non-confessional related organisations to end the tragedy of human trafficking.

Dialogue for Peace and Tolerance:  WUCWO will create a climate of understanding and mutual respect to contribute to the achievement of peace around the world, cultivating and promoting a respectful dialogue with the world, with people from other Christian denominations and other religions, within the Catholic Church and among WUCWO’s member organisations.

Addiction Prevention for a Life With a Future: WUCWO shall promote through its member organisations the incorporation of prevention and elimination of alcohol and drug addictions in its action programs.

Prevention and Fight Against Corruption:  WUCWO, its member organisations and its International Representatives shall work with international bodies and national governments, communities and families, to eliminate corruption.

Right to Have Access to Clean Drinking Water and Sanitation: WUCWO member organisations shall encourage amongst its members good practices in the sustainable use of water and shall encourage governments to accomplish the same.

3. Women of WUCWO will continue in their efforts to pray and act to attain a world that is just and secure so that all persons everywhere can flourish and fulfil the mission for which they were created.

From Vatican 1 October 2010

SECRETARIAT OF STATE

Mrs. Karen Hurley

President

World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizatons

Dear Mrs. Hurley

The Holy Father was pleased to be informed that the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organization it’s celebrating its Centenary this year with an Assembly in Jerusalem from 5 to 12 October, and he sends cordial greetings and prayerful good wishes to all who gathered for this significant initiative.

Noting that you have chosen as the title for your Assembly the words of the Risen Lord, “You will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8) His Holiness gives thanks for the many blessings that have been bestowed on the Church through the witness of faithful Catholic women living and working in the world, transforming it from within, and proclaiming the Gospel in the word and in deed. In its one hundred years of history, the members of WUCWO have contributed to the Church’s mission at local, national and international levels, according to the special dignity and vocation of women, enriching the Church with “the fruits of feminine holiness” (Mulieris Dignitatem, 31). The Holy Father invokes a fresh outpouring of the Spirit’s gifts upon your Organization, so that it may continue to foster the unique contribution of women to the life and mission of the Church, both in the public sphere and in the home.

Commending all those present at the Assembly and their families to the loving intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, the Holy Father gladly imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of unity and peace in the Risen Lord

Your sincerely in Christ

Secretary of State

Resolution 1

End the Use of Information Technology in Sexual Exploitation of Children

Resolution

In an attempt to minimise sexual exploitation and harassment of children through Information Technology use, and to maximise parental obligations relating to it, WUCWO Member Organisations, where appropriate, will advocate for:

(i) Diocesan and other institutions training programs for parents to improve their levels of understanding of and guidance for their children about Information Technology, to include

(ii) Strategies to enhance quality of parental relationships for young and/or dual-working parents, and to assist them to be Christian role models for their children.

Resolution 2

Promote a Covenant between Human Beings and the Environment

WUCWO Member Organisations resolve to facilitate educational programmes that enhance our understanding of local, regional and global ecological issues and the teachings of the Magisterium on ecology. These programmes should integrate respect for life and our responsibilities to future generations.

Resolution 3

Rescue the Children of the Street

All WUCWO Member Organisations will fight against poverty and social exclusions because ‘children of the street’ are a new expression of growing poverty, of extreme distress and of the fragility of the formal and informal social welfare system.

Resolution 4

Campaign for a Culture of Life

WUCWO Member Organisations will assist women to understand that the ‘right to life’ must be preserved, by

(i) facilitating study of the teachings contained in Pope John Paul II’s catechesis: “Theology of the Body,” in order to enable them to build their understanding of the meaning of life and therefore

(ii) to act on it with greater involvement wherever possible.

Resolution 5

Work to Abolish Forced Marriage

WUCWO, as a Public International Association of the Faithful, will uphold the dignity and rights of women and children by making a strong statement against forced marriage of girl-children.

In order to raise awareness of this inhumane and abusive practice:

(i) The official spokeswoman of WUCWO will advocate for a changed attitude to forced marriage

to leaders of civil society at international level and,

(ii) WUCWO Member Organisations will do the same to leaders of civil society at local and national levels.

Resolution 6

Strengthen Training of Catholic Leaders

WUCWO Member Organisations will spread tools for the formation of Catholic leaders and facilitate the exchange of experiences in this regard among its Member Organisations and through dialogue between men and women.

Resolution 7

Defend and Support Migrants

(i) WUCWO Member Organisations will promote and support initiatives to protect migrants and their families and defend their human rights.

(ii) WUCWO Member Organizations will support and / or establish programs that provide care and protection for migrants and their families.

Resolution 8

Commit to Ecumenical and Interfaith Dialogue

WUCWO will establish permanent relations with the representatives and organisations from different faiths at the international and regional levels and will incorporate in Assemblies and Regional Conferences an Ecumenical and Interreligious space such as round tables, discussion panels etc. It will promote this among its Member Organisations and encourage joint actions of service to the community with organizations with whom it shares ethical and spiritual values, especially those that favor the promotion of women.

Resolution 9

Produce a Statistical Evaluation of Poverty According to Sex

All WUCWO Member Organisations will exhort governmental and non governmental agencies, in their country and on a regional and international level, to conduct a statistical evaluation of poverty according to sex. The Organisations will also commit to associating themselves with all their ability and skill to this effort which is the only way to influence national and international policies to make them more effective.

Resolution 10

Prevent Inappropriate Sexualisation of Children

WUCWO Member Organisations will contact their respective governments, civil society authorities and Church agencies relating to the prevention of inappropriate and/or premature sexualisation of children, by limiting:

(i) Sexual information that is inappropriate for young children and

(ii) Aggressive marketing methods that promote the sale of sexually provocative children’s clothing.

Resolution 11

Mobilise to Halt Infanticide

WUCWO Member Organisations make a commitment to exhort their governments to develop policies of job creation, immigration management and the integration of education in family life into their official programs in order to halt infanticide in countries where this occurs. Further, WUCWO member organisations will request their relevant church agencies to promote the sexual formation of young people through catechesis and pastoral social counselling.

Resolution 12

Reaffirm the Family Unit

WUCWO Member Organisations will contact their respective governments, together with religious bodies of all Christian denominations and those of other faiths, requesting that governments and civil society authorities give clear and unambiguous support in defence of heterosexual, monogamous marriage. Further, that those governments acknowledge and affirm parents’ right to protect their children from external influences which seek to negate parental responsibility and which may be detrimental to relationships within that Family Unit.

Homily of His Beatitude Fouad Twal

Openning Liturgy 6th October 2010

World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations

Dear Sisters in Christ of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organization, it is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the Holy City of Jerusalem, and even to the Co-Cathedral of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. Ever since meeting your President, Karen Hurley in Rome last year, I have very much desired to know you and your organization better. But even more than that, I have desired that the women of this diocese, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, might know you better, and that your sisterhood in Christ might help sustain the faith and mission of our women and families here. So, whereas it is always a great pleasure for me to welcome pilgrims here to the Holy Land, and indeed a sacred duty, there is a special joy that I have in welcoming you. Welcome!

 The World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations

Centenary General Assembly
Jerusalem, 2010

● We acknowledge with gratitude the 100 years of vision, endeavour and commitment that leaders and members of what began in 1910, as the International Union of Catholic Women‟s Leagues, now known as the World Union of Catholic Women‟s Organisations have given to society and the Church throughout the century.

● We acknowledge that because of such vision and endeavour that Catholic women, working in accord with the Church and its teachings, were able to identify the many societal inadequacies and injustices impacting on the lives of women and families and worked assiduously to overcome them. WUCWO women do the same today.

● While acknowledging the many areas of service that Catholic women have already undertaken, we reaffirm the aim of WUCWO which is, “to promote the presence, participation and co-responsibility of Catholic women in society and the Church, in order to enable them to fulfil their mission of evangelisation and to work for human development” in unity, particularly for increasing educational opportunities, poverty reduction and the advancement of human rights beginning with the fundamental right to life.

● WUCWO women reiterate that the dignity, value and “genius” of women should be universally recognised, and that the importance of intergenerational relationships and the involvement of youth, and the cultural and theological contributions of women be supported and recognised for the attainment of a more humane, just and compatible society.

● Gathered together in Jerusalem, city of peace “a microcosm of our globalised world…this city,…a place that teaches the universality and respect for others, dialogue and mutual understanding; a place where prejudice, ignorance and fear that fuels them, are overcome by honesty, integrity and the pursuit of peace” [Pope Benedict XVI, Jerusalem 2009], with this perspective, in solidarity we commit ourselves to the study and witness of the Word of God and the Social Teachings of the Church, to ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue and to peacemaking.

● At the beginning of the 2nd century of such commitment, WUCWO women pray through their Patroness Mary, Queen of Peace, that they too will, ‘Receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses……………indeed to the ends of the earth’ [Acts 1:8.] just as the Lord said the Father „had promised‟ the apostles in Jerusalem. [Acts: 1:5]

Taken at the Ratification of C.W.O. Aberdeen on the 16^th of May 2023 

The Catholic Women Organisation (C.W.O.) Aberdeen was approved as a member body by WUCWO in June 2021, awaiting ratification. When the date for the general assembly was fixed for the 14^th – 20^th of May 2023, we were excited and 11 of our members registered to attend. It was a rare privilege that WUCWO’s GA this year (2023) was preceded by the audience with Pope Francis, making our first attendance of the GA very special.

You will find the speakers' presentations from the General Assembly in this space.

• Sr. Nathalie Becquart - Undersecretary of the synod of Bishops

"Women on the road to a synodal Church"

2001

In March 2001, the WUCWO General Assembly was held in Rome (Italy) on the theme «The Prophetic Mission of Women». More than 750 women were present representing all continents. At the dawn of the new Millennium WUCWO women gave a strong message of hope. Priorities voted: Education, Violence against women, and human rights.

Maria Eugenia Díaz de Pfennich (Mexico) was reelected President General.

1952

Thirteenth International Congress in Rome: “Peace in the world and the contribution of Catholic women”; the new statutes were voted in by the Bureau and approved by Rome.

The Union officially adopted the name of World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO). Marie du Rostu (France) already Vice-President of the Youth section in 1926, was elected President by the Bureau (not nominated by the Holy See).

WUCWO comprised 166 organisations from 66 countries from all over the world, numbering 36 million women. From 1952 onwards many countries from Africa, and also from Asia Pacific and Oceania joined WUCWO, consolidating it as truly international in scope.

Among these 166 organisations were large international organisations such as International Association of Charities (IAC). Also, since its foundation, the International Society for Girls has taken part in Board meetings with the right to speak but not to vote.

1945

Contacts were made for the resumption of international work.

In 1946 the United Nations created the Commission on the Status of Women before adopting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948.

1947

Eleventh International Congress in Rome preceded by a study week “Christian Women’s contribution to the Human Community”. In order to obtain consultative status with UNESCO the “Youth Section” broke off from the Union to become the World Federation of Young Catholic Women. However, it remained closely linked to UILFC and its president took part in meetings of the Bureau. In the same year, IUCWL obtained consultative status with ECOSOC.

May 14, 1940, Mrs Steenbergh-Engeringh destroyed the archives in Holland “so that the invaders could not lay hands on them and use them to find people who had collaborated with us (the Union).” (Notebooks February 1946)

In June 1940, the German police searched the UILFC offices. Dr. J.H.E.J. Hoogveld, chaplain to IUCWL since 1930 was arrested by the Gestapo and died as a result of the ill-treatment he suffered. During this time work went on locally in some countries depending on their circumstances.

1921

In 1921 there was an executive meeting in Cracow (Poland) to re-launch the Union and prepare for the fifth International Congress taking place in Rome the following year.

1922

Fifth International Congress in Rome: “Preservation and Propagation of the Faith”; women’s campaign for morality; against traffic of women; for preparation of women for civic responsibilities.

Mrs Steenberghe-Engeringh (The Netherlands) was elected president (nominated by the Pope) and remained so for 30 years. Under her guidance the Union (IUCWL) expanded rapidly and was in a position to become WUCWO in 1952. With 19 new organisations the Union numbered 40 leagues in 20 countries.

During the 1914-1918 War the Union ceased to function and only resumed activities in 1921.

Nevertheless the President managed to keep in touch with the Vatican as well as with several national leagues.

It was in 1910 that Madame de Vélard, 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, called “the Committee for Initiative”, took place in Brussels (Belgium) and brought together the Leagues from Germany, England, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Spain, France, Lorraine, Portugal, Switzerland and Uruguay, along with the International Catholic Society for Girls, ACISJF.