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The Catholic Women’s League Celebrate the life of Sr. Mary Xavier Walsh – Religious Sister of Charity

Founder of the Catholic Women’s League in Zambia

Eternal Rest Grant unto her O

Lord, and let perpetual light

shine upon her.

May her soul rest in Peace.

Amen.

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Sr. Xavier was born on 3rd July 1936 in England and was baptised as Christine Walsh. She unfortunately lost her mother at the age of 4 years and was brought up by her father until at the age of 12 years when he remarried. Sr. Xavier had 11 siblings of which 10 are alive today. One of her siblings is a Catholic Sister in the congregation of the Holy Spirit Sisters in Ireland.

In September 1960, a 24 years old young sister from the Congregation of the Religious Sisters of Charity arrived in Chivuna, in the then Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia. She stayed in Chivuna for 3 weeks only and she was relocated to Lusaka‟s Kabwata Parish where she spent 1 year learning the local language – Bemba. She learnt the language very well and this helped her communicate with the local people easily.

Sr. Xavier‟s apostolate was pastoral and she did this by visiting people in their homes, especially in Chawama and Kabwata on Fridays while She visited the sick in the hospitals on Saturdays. Because Sister had no car at that time, she used to ride a bicycle or walk wherever she went.

Sr. Xavier‟s work increased tremendously and she could not cope on her own, therefore she decided to start the Catholic Women‟ League (CWL) – a women‟s organisation which was started in 1906 in London, by Margaret Fletcher.

In 1985, Sr. Xavier‟s health started failing her and she was relocated back to her home country where she was diagnosed with cancer. Despite her illness, Sister continued her apostolate of evangelisation and worked with recovering alcoholics.

Due to the quick spreading of the disease, Sister lost sight in one eye, but this did not stop her from evangelising and praying. She continued praying, writing and visiting those who needed her care. She also continued praying and reminding the CWL members to pray for the holiness of priests.

Over the years news of her deteriorating condition were received and CWL members continued praying for her.

On 12th March 2011, a message was received that Sr. Xavier‟s condition had worsened and she finally answered the Lord‟s call on 13th March, 2011 around 13:00hrs (1pm). “Eternal Rest Grant unto her O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul rest in Peace. Amen.”

In honour and to celebrate the life of Sr. Xavier, the Lusaka Archdiocese CWL organised a Mass on 15th March at 13:00hrs to coincide with the time of her burial in Ireland.

Hundreds of CWL members attended this mass at Kabwata‟s Good Shepherd Parish - A parish where she spent 25 years while in Zambia.

The main Celebrant was the Parish Priest – Fr. Toon Van Kessel and in attendance were Fr. Mashilipa, Fr. Lubunda and Fr. Mwalilanda. These Priests have associated with the CWL at different levels.

Who was Sr. Xavier?

S.J.

Relocation to Ireland

S.J.

Celebrating the life of Sr. Xavier

S.J.

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Also in attendance was one founder member – Mrs Margaret Chisanga who was very grateful to God for her life especially that most of the founding members have gone to be with the Lord. Mrs Chisanga has been a model to most of the up-coming CWL members. She has continued to work even though she is an honorary member now.

A couple of CWL Leaders were accorded an opportunity to speak about this humble woman of God whose life was being celebrated.

Ms. Rose Nzala – Lusaka

Archdiocese Chairperson

started by welcoming

everyone to the memorial

mass and said that the reason why the mass was being conducted on that day and time was to coincide with the burial which was taking place in Ireland.

Mrs Clotilda Phiri – the National

Chairperson informed the gathering that the CWL

started with 11 women, but now

it had grown to over 12 thousand women throughout the country. She said that the small seed that Sr. Xavier planted had grown so big and it would continue growing for the greater Glory of God.

Sr. Mary Catherine

Chileshe read Sr.

Xavier‟s life History

and this is what she

said: “Sr. Mary

Xavier: Religious

Sister of Charity. Rest

In Peace.

Rev. Fr. Toon – Parish Priest, Fr. Lubunda, Fr.

Mashilipa and Fr. Mwalilanda Representatives of

the Regional team of the Religious Sisters of

Charity (RSC), Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

It‟s wonderful to belong to the Church, the body of

Christ, the family of God. As already mentioned –

our faith has gathered us to praise our God for the

gift of Sr. Xavier to us, to the Church. It is with

gratitude that we recall her life among us. Indeed

she was a gift from God, not only to her parents,

brothers and sisters, but a good gift to the R.S.C,

the church and as we can see today she was the

hand of God to start the Catholic Women‟s League.

Sr. Xavier was born on 3rd of July 1936, in England.

Her mother died when she was 4 years old. Her

father remarried when Sr. Xavier – then Catherine

was 12years. Sr. Xavier belonged to a big family –

there were 12 and 10 of these are still alive. One of

her step sisters is a Nun in the Congregation of the

Holy Spirit Sisters in Ireland.

Sr. Xavier, a young sister of 24 years came to

Zambia before our independence in 1960 and

missioned to Chivuna in Monze Diocese. However,

after 3 weeks there, she was transferred to

Kabwata. In 1961, she studied Bemba, so that she

could talk to the people in the compounds and

evangelise them in their own language. She loved

to be one of the people she was ministering to.

Her apostolate was pastoral; she visited homes,

hospitals and prisons. These three ministries

characterise the spirit of Mother Mary Aikenhead,

our foundress and so Sr. Xavier was very much one

of the „Walking Nuns‟ as we the R.S.C were

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nicknamed in Ireland when the congregation

started.

However in 1964, Sr. Xavier felt, she could do

more, not alone, so she started the Catholic

Women‟s League and some founder members are

among us here. Through this group of committed

women, Sr. Xavier saw she could have continuous

prayers for the holiness of the priests, for the poor

in a meaningful way. So the „Praying Hands‟ we see

is a symbol of the praying being offered by the

Catholic Women‟s League for the Holiness of the

church.

Sr. Xavier left Zambia in September 1985 for

Ireland. While there she ministered to the needs of

the local people.

She would have come back to us but her health

started to deteriorate. She had to be near medical

facilities but her heart was very much here. She put

up a good fight – but the Lord was slowly and gently

calling her home. She went to her reward on

Sunday 13th March 2011 and is being put to rest

today. May she rest in eternal peace.”

The following are some of the highlights in pictures:

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Sr. Mary and Sr. Christina

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Sr. Christiana

reading a letter

from Sr. Xavier

Something extraordinary happened during her memorial mass, one of the sisters from her congregation based in Lusaka, - Sr. Christina O‟Brien stepped forward and read a letter which was written by Sr. Xavier a few days before she died and this is what she said:

“My Dear Friends, I would love to write each one personally but I know that you will understand if I write a general letter. My desire is to express my very sincere gratitude to all for your support over all the years and in particular for your kindness and goodness to me during my illness. Your prayers, Masses and good wishes are a constant source of consolation to me during this stage of my illness. At present I have lots of time to reflect quietly on the past and I often ponder on the achievements of the Catholic Women‟s League in Zambia.

I arrived in Zambia in 1960 and began my work as Parish Sister at Kabwata Parish. It did not take long to perceive the enormous potential of local women and my great desire was to develop this potential. It then occurred to me that the introduction of the CWL would be the most effective means of realising and developing this potential. I discussed the possibility with the women I had come to know, and I learned a lot from the discussions. A group of six or seven came forward to approve and encourage the idea and in this way a seed was planted – a seed which has yielded a hundredfold as the organisation has grown from strength to strength.

The Logos for the organisation bears the letters „CWL‟ (Catholic Women‟s League) and they embody the spirit of the organisation: Charity, Work and Loyalty. This great group of loyal

women has empowered many Zambian women who in turn have supported the Catholic Church at many levels. At one point when communism under the title of „Scientific Socialism‟ was being brought into the country, the CWL in Lusaka opposed it so strongly and vehemently that the introduction of Scientific Socialism was defeated once and for all.

Of course beginnings were difficult but we received tremendous support and encouragement from Archbishop Adrian Kozlaviecki, Archbishop Adam Mung‟andu, Father Patrick Walsh SJ, Father Max Prokoph SJ. We also received great support from our own sisters and in particular Sr. Joseph Helen, Sr. Madeleine Kelly and Sr. Michael John Collins.

I feel truly proud of you as now your organisation has spread throughout all the Dioceses in Zambia. It is very strong at Parish level and in fact has reached remote areas. In Zambia distances are great and many parishes have „outstations‟ in the surrounding villages. The faith continues to grow in these villages despite the fact that in many cases because of distance and bad roads the Priest may only have the opportunity to visit the centre every two months. Each centre has trained leaders to conduct Sunday Prayer Service and the leaders receive great support and encouragement from the local members of the Catholic Women‟s League. It is a great joy to know that your presence is strong in remote areas. Truly the seed has yielded a hundredfold.

I now suggest that we rejoice together as we reflect with pride on the growth and achievements of the CWL in Zambia. I came to Zambia hoping to contribute my little best to help the people of Zambia but in every way, I have received much more than I had hoped to give. For this I thank you all unreservedly, as well as for your generous acceptance, hospitality and goodness all down through the years to this present day. May God Bless you all and all those dear to you now and in the days to come.” Sr. M. Xavier Walsh.

Well, those were the words of gratitude, encouragement and wisdom from our Founder in Zambia, Sr. Xavier - a Great Woman of God. May her Soul rest in Peace. Sr. Xavier, we implore you to intercede for us.

Sr. Xavier’s own Words

S.J.

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The Portrait of Sr. Xavier

The faithful dancing around The Portrait of Sr. Xavier

Mrs Maggie Kapihya reading the word of God

Mrs Clare Chibesakunda saying a prayer

Mrs Beatrice Grillo saying a prayer

Fr. Lubunda testing the Microphone

The aim of establishing this organisation here in Zambia was to help in evangelisation, assist the poor both spiritually and materially. The other aim was to assist and pray for the holiness of the Priests.

In the early sixties with the awakening of African politics and the social status of the African men being raised to Ministerial positions, an Irish sister by the name of Sister Xavier was able to identify the needs of the African women.

She was able to mobilise a few Zambian women whose husbands were already in influential positions in Society and sold the idea of forming a Catholic Women‟s League Branch to them, having known how Catholic Women‟s League operated in Ireland, her home country. Thus the first meeting was held in Rugambwa Hall, Kabwata on 8th February 1964 with eleven women present.

History of the CWL in Zambia

S.J.

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These were: Dorothy Konoso, Anna Chipimo, Jessy Lengalenga, Esther Mukela, Christine Mwamba, Margaret Chisanga, Victoria Kasonde, Felicitas Mutale, M. Muchangwe, M. Hamwemba, H. Ng‟andu and Sister Xavier.

The first office bearers elected were Dorothy Konoso as Chairperson with M. Muchangwe, M. Hamwemba and Anna Chipimo.

Five of the foundation members – Seated left to right – Mrs.

Konoso, Mrs. J. Lengalenga, Mrs. V. Kasonde, Mrs. M. Chisanga – Standing – Mrs. A. Chipimo with Sr. Xavier

For several months these few women struggled to establish the League and sensitise other women to join. They also realised that they needed funds in order to function. They started organising Social Evenings with a lot of help on how to do this from their spouses. The social evenings were very popular and became a monthly event for the next six years.

The women, after training, started offering Adult Literacy classes, Domestic Science classes in Cookery as well as sewing. They also opened a Poultry Co-operative and Vegetable Garden in Chawama, which eventually led to the opening up of Nutrition Depots at Kamwala Clinic and at Rugambwa Hall.

In April 1970 a Nursery School was opened where working mothers could leave their children at a nominal fee. This led to the training of Nursery School Assistants and still going on to-date. This was to help so many Form III dropouts find a career. The trainees were employed in so many Nursery Schools around the country.

On Spirituality the League organised the first Retreat in 1965 which became an annual event. Workshops were organised as well as visiting

prisoners. The League got involved in teaching catechism to small children every Sunday as well as during school holidays to older children to prepare them for first Holy Communion and Confirmation. At this time there was a full time Organising Secretary.

As more members joined, Branches were opened at other Parishes like Regiment, Chelstone etc. and those who belonged to St. Ignatius Parish just joined the already existing League there. A formal structure was then set up comprising, the Executive at various Branches as members of Central Committee. As members moved to other Provinces, Branches were opened in most Parishes so that to-date the Catholic Women‟s League is represented in all the 10 Dioceses. (Courtesy – Zambia CWL Archives)

Margaret Fletcher was born in 1862 in Oxford and lived up to 1943. She was born and confirmed an Anglican. Her father was a clergyman and her

mother was very prayerful. She was very well educated

for her time when women were only expected to be “domestically contented”.

Margaret went to Art School in London at the age of seventeen (17) and to Art School in Paris at the age of twenty (20). In groups of students, she was involved in discussions in a variety of topics. However when Margaret was in Paris a couple of years, her mother died and she had to come back home to keep house for her father and her four siblings who were still at home.

Margaret felt unfulfilled in her faith. She therefore started reading widely and extensively searching for a deeper meaning of her faith. She said, “I longed after the secret springs of the mystical life.” In her readings she came across the writings of St. John

Historical background of Margaret Fletcher Founder of Catholic Women’s League

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of the Cross, which changed her spiritual life and she wished to become a Catholic. She said, “The reading of these was like breathing mountain air after the stagnation of the plains. It would be difficult to say how much I took in, probably very little indeed of the rough and painful paths up the mountain of spiritual ascent. But it was the leaving behind of amateurism and hearing the voice of a master.”

On 9th September 1897, at the age of thirty-five (35), Margaret was received in the Catholic Church. At Mass the next day, she said, “The joy and the full realization of what I had done flooded my soul, and my spirit said, „I have come home, I am home at last‟.

Once in the Catholic Church, she found that women could only visit the sick, occasionally instruct adults and advise wayward girls. She was interested in social clubs, however, the few which existed were purely parochial with no contact no system of co-operation or mutual help between them. She was interested in secondary education for girls which she felt at the time was still inadequate to equip them for life. She wanted equal opportunities for both men and women.

Margaret felt there was a need for a National Council of Catholic Women to deal with the various problems. She looked for a way to start such an organization going, win approval and publicity for it. She decided to put her ideas and those of some of her friends into a leaflet to be published quarterly. She sought the approval of Archbishop Bourne and that is how the magazine “The Crucible” begun. It ran for eight (8) years. It was in the “The Crucible” that the idea of forming a Catholic Women‟s League was first mooted.

The first meeting was organized and held in London in a private home in 1906. It was attended by seventy (70) women and was led by Margaret Fletcher. An Executive Committee was set up with Margaret as President and Ada Streeter elected Secretary. This was the birth of the Catholic Women‟s League. Many of the women went for training in public speaking so that the message they would convey would have maximum impact. Contacts were made with many other secular women‟s societies. Material and information was

collected in a central office and was available to anyone interested. The Executive Committee members travelled all over England opening new branches. Parish Priests were often hostile to the idea, but the work went on and gradually the new branches grew.

The first annual general meeting was held in Cathedral Hall, Westminster, with Archbishop Bourne presiding. Father Bernard Vaughan, S.J. was the first Spiritual Director.

The qualities looked for in the Catholic Women who wished to join the League were:

That they be intelligent in order to learn and be able to teach others,

That they be available, and

That they be able to use their own resources.

Cardinal Hinsley addresses a meeting of The Catholic

Women‟s League, December 1942

Source: Zambia CWL Archives AND http://www.catholicwomensleague.org/margaret_fletcher.html

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CWL members are urged to spread the spirit of the league to all nations by caring for the less privileged in society and should be available for duties at all times.

In order to emulate the founders of the Catholic Women‟s League in different countries and the whole world, league members should be humble and love one another.

The motto of Charity, Work and Loyalty (CWL) can also be interpreted as:

C “Concern with Care” (Caring)

W “Working with Love” (with)

L “in League with Others” (Love)

Virginia Kalubi-wabo-Simushi Author and Photographer

kalubisimushi@gmail.com

cwlstignatiusbranch@gmail.com Mobile: +260-977-765852

The author is the CWL Branch Secretary St. Ignatius Parish, Lusaka, Zambia

To God Be the Glory!

S.J.

Conclusion

S.J.