WUCWO NORTH AMERICA REGION CONFERENCE 2025
WUCWO North America Region Conference 2025 SummaryOn a beautiful August 10, 2025 summer day in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, women and some of their spiritual advisors gathered in the ballroom of the Toronto Marriott Downtown hotel for the WUCWO North America Region Conference. Seated at tables of ten, attendees found small Canadian and US flags as a centerpiece and an attractive handout at each place that noted the four WUCWO member organizations from North America: The Catholic Women’s League of Canada (CWL), hosts for this gathering; the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada; the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW); and the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary as well as a listing of the present and past WUCWO officers and Board members from North America. The stage was graced with large Canadian and American flags behind the dais and podium. A giant screen completed the view attendees had of the front that ensured that the speakers and their presentations were visible to all in the room and those attending virtually. We settled into our chairs after many happy exchanges of greetings with dear friends when Barbara Dowding, representative from Canada to the WUCWO Board and the WUCWO Vice President from North America called us to order. She reviewed the Indigenous people who originally lived on the ground where we were gathered after which we sang the national anthems of the USA and of Canada. Marlene Bodner, President of the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada, led us in a beautiful Opening Prayer Service that centered us on the Conference theme, Building a Future of Hope for Migrants and Refugees and the Sub-theme of Mary, Model of the Synod. Chair, Barbara Dowding, introduced Monica Santamarina, WUCWO President General, the representatives from the four member organizations, Bishop Lobsinger, Spiritual Advisor of the CWL of Canada, and those present who are previous members of the WUCWO Board. The Chair then called for the reports of the four WUCWO member organizations that were to highlight their work regarding the WUCWO resolutions adopted at the 2023 General Assembly in Assisi. The reports were presented by Shari Guinta, President of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada; Marlene Bodner, President of the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada; Lucy Johnson, Parliamentarian of the National Council of Catholic Women (USA); and Hilda Wiltz, Supreme Lady of the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary. It was interesting to learn of the various programs undertaken by each organization and to recognize the common thread of providing prayer, awareness, advocacy, and aid to the most vulnerable of our sisters and brothers around the world. Next, we heard from Claire Heron of how the WUCWO Endowment Fund started in Canada. We then adjourned for a break where we enjoyed delicious muffins and beverages as we resumed catching up with those friends we see only at these conventions but who are always in our hearts. We next reconvened for the keynote address by Monica Santamarina, President General of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO). Monica provided a thorough introduction to WUCWO though its mission, history, organizational structure, and present work, all of which aim to enhance the faith and action of its more than eight million members world-wide. She next described the work of WUCWO’s project, the World Women’s Observatory (WWO) that seeks to make visible those vulnerable persons who are never recognized by society and who have no voice. Currently active in Latin America and Africa and opening new studies in Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions, Monica indicated that the WWO would appreciate hearing of potential projects for the North America region. More information on all this can be found at www.wucwo.org and at www.worldwomensobservatory.org. Monica’s report was met with a standing ovation.Bishop Lobsinger then led attendees in the Angelus and Grace Before Meals after which we broke for lunch. After obtaining salads and wraps from the buffet, attendees settled into the room set for luncheon and enjoyed the speaker, Dr. Josephine Lombardi, who spoke of Mary, the Model of Synod. She indicated that we should look to Mary as a model for how to walk the path of truth to her Divine Son. She reminded us that Mary is known as the Lady of the Way and that from Mary we can learn to listen to each other and to the Spirit. In our organizations, we listen to those who need assistance and we answer their needs by our prayer, action, and advocacy. In doing so, we provide light in the darkness. Following lunch, we returned to the meeting room where, after prayer and reflection, Leah Watkins spoke to us about the plight of migrant workers in Canada. She detailed how they were lured with the incentive of financial security and decent housing only to find when they arrive that not only is the housing very substandard but the pay they were promised is much less and they are bound by a closed contract meaning they cannot work for anyone else or they would be in an illegal status. They are then faced with a dilemma: Most borrowed money to make the trip and have no means to repay that debt other than by staying and working. They have little recourse against this exploitation. Leah asked attendees to help migrants in their churches and communities to obtain the legal resources needed to ensure their just rights. Barbara Dowding then reminded us that the synodal method that we are asked to use in our organizations and in our lives opens us to listening to each other intently, letting go our own preconceived ideas, and letting the Spirit guide us to consensus. Attendees then utilized an abbreviated synodal Conversations in the Spirit method to ponder two questions: What can WUCWO do for you to help you in your mission? and What can you do for WUCWO to ensure the great work and outreach continues? We were asked to agree on one or two concrete actions to which the Holy Spirit is calling us and some then shared their table results with all.Bishop Losinger closed the afternoon with thoughts on the Jubilee of Hope asking us what hope really means. He spoke of the importance of walking together and listening to hear the Holy Spirit through “the One, the Son, and the many.” He then closed with his clear and concise definition of hope: Hope allows us to believe in God and all His promises when it would be easier for us to just give up. This wonderful day ended most fittingly with a beautiful Closing Prayer. It was a day packed with information, prayer, and friendship. We “walked together” as a region reflecting on our resolve to continue to pray and work for the betterment of our sisters and brothers around this world we share. May Mary, Queen of Peace, Patroness of WUCWO, grant that our WUCWO North America Region receives the grace to persevere in our sacred commitments to humanity and to our Earth. - Maribeth Stewart Blogoslawski