The Catholic Women of the Year...

....are celebrated at a great Luncheon with a guest speaker, etc, and 2008 sees the 40th anniversary of this venture. Who are the Catholic Women of the Year? Unsung heroines, mostly. They are women who are nominated by anyone and everyone across Britain: ordinary women, serving their local communities and families, women who care for the frail and elderly, who foster children with special needs, who clean and take care of community property, who help run First Communion groups, assist in pilgrimages to Lourdes, visit prisons, do dull but neccessary paperwork to help organisations run smoothly, speak out in defence of human and moral values, are good neighbours and colleagues and friends...you can nominate any Catholic woman who who feel deserves this honour (and, yes, most of those so honoured are very embarrassed). The idea was launched in 1968 - a difficult year for the Church and one in which a group of Catholic women felt it would be useful to bring together people in a spirit of loyalty and service. It's all still thriving. The women nominated get no cash prize or medal, just an invitation to lunch, and there's a guest speaker, and money is raised for charity.

We had the organising committee meeting yesterday - various Catholic groups are represented on the committee - and we have great plans for this 40th year.

How to nominate some one? Simply write a letter to the Chairman: 22 Milton Rd, Ware, Herts, giving the name of your nominee and stating the reasons for nomination....