Margaret Ann is a retired teacher who lives in Elmvale, Ontario. She is married to Michael, who currently publishes a local newspaper from their home, and is the mother of three adult sons. She is also a grandmother to Ethan and Sean, who live in Cochrane, Alberta, and Sophie, Mazie and Porter, who live in Hamillville, Ontario.
Over the years Margaret Ann has been actively involved in her church as a lector, Eucharistic minister, minister of hospitality and counter. More recently volunteer work includes nursing home visitation, Birthright, Women's Institute and of course helping with the newspaper.

As a committed member of The Catholic Women's League of Canada, she has served in most positions at various levels. From parish level she went on to serve on the Northern Region executive and then on the Toronto Diocesan Council (education and health, resolutions, organization chairs). After serving as president for the Toronto Diocesan Council, she served as spiritual development, education and health, resolutions, organization chairperson and president for the province of Ontario. At national level she has served as spiritual development, Christian family life, organization chairperson, national president and currently serves as past president and chair of laws.

Margaret Ann has enjoyed presenting leadership courses and other workshops for the League. She has a passion for liturgy and pursues opportunities to develop her spirituality and journey in faith with other Christians.

It has been a humbling and challenging experience representing the Catholic Women's League members at various conferences and official functions. It has been a privilege to meet members from across the country, journey with them in faith and share the good news, ideas and resources that The Catholic Women's League of Canada has to offer. She firmly believes that the greatest gift we can give another woman is a membership in The Catholic Women's League of Canada.

Certainly, a highlight in her life was the presentation by Cardinal Thomas Collins of the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal at the Ontario Provincial Annual Convention closing banquet in Toronto July 2018. It was an honour to celebrate this prestigious occasion with so many colleagues, friends - truly sisters in the League. Currently

Margaret Ann is getting reacquainted with parish life and reconnecting with family and friends who have supported and encouraged her on this amazing journey with the League.

Karen was born in Kirkland Lake Ontario. The eldest of five, she grew up in Northern Ontario and Quebec and has been a League member since her teens. She was married in 1963 and belonged to Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Etobicoke, then moved to St. Patrick's Parish in Mississauga two years later where she became more active in the League and still is to this day. Over the next few years, as her children grew, she served on the executive in different positions, eventually becoming President and Past President during which time the prayers of her CWL sisters sustained her through a bout with breast cancer.

She courageously let her name stand for the Diocesan Council and was elected to Corresponding Secretary Position where she was in the company of Betty Anne Brown (Historian) and Moira St. Marie (President) Also on the executive at that time were, Patricia Beattie, Dorothy McGuigan, Margaret Anne Jacobs and Mary Ellen Stinson. At the Diocesan Council she also held the positions of Spiritual Development, Christian Family Life, President Elect /Organization and Historian after serving her term as President in 1999. During her term as President she suffered a heart attack and again with breast cancer in 2001 and once again the support and prayers of her League sisters carried her through.

Karen served as Convention Convener along with Kay Marks and others, organizing Diocesan, Provincial and National Conventions. She has been a facilitator for the Leadership and Public Speaking and Executive Training courses through the years, sharing her talents and love of the League with her council at St. Patrick's and beyond. A few years ago she became a co-president with Kay Marks in order to help keep their parish council going.

During her years on the Diocesan Council, Karen served on the board of the Catholic Biblical Association, organized 2 Development Days, taught Grassroots, Fieldworkers, presented Spirituality Day of Discovery and Grow and served on the Share Life Board.

Karen is also active in her home Parish of St. Patrick's in Mississauga serving on the Pastoral Council, on the Liturgy Committee, helped with St. Vincent de Paul Society and was a member of the choir.
She received her CWL Life Membership and then the Patricia Beattie Mentoring Award in 2019. Currently she is the Life Member Liaison for Toronto Diocese.

Karen was trained and worked as an x-ray technologist at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. She has been happily married to husband Bill Lawless since the age of 21, they have 4 children, 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

"The League continues to be a blessing in my life" - Karen Lawless

Mary Ellen is married to Vaughn and is the mother of two, Michael and Simone. Simone resides in B.C. And has gifted them with two grandchildren, Sierra and Logan,

She joined the CWL at St. Joseph's Parish, Leslie St., Toronto in 1976 and over the years proceeded to serve the League in many chair positions, in her parish Council, Toronto Region and Diocese.

Mary Ellen received her Life Membership in 2005 from her mentor, Mary Dobell, who was a Charter Member of St. Joseph. At the time, she was serving at the Provincial Council as Corresponding Secretary and as Treasurer the following term.

After Provincial they moved to Ajax, ON and she became a member of St. Francis de Sales CWL. This was an active council but was missing the League "big picture" understanding. The Spiritual Advisor at the time asked if she would mentor the council and educate the women about the many aspect of League outside the actual parish. In the following years Mary Ellen served as President, Historian, Treasurer and one or two Chair positions. She currently manages the fundraising and Religious Gift Shop for parishioners.

Mary Ellen has represented the League on Boards of Directors at Catholic Children's Aid, Sharelife and Catholic Charities and served Cornerstone Community Housing, in Oshawa, as a board member including President.

Over the years, she has facilitated most National Programs designed for presentations to parishes and the Leadership & Public Speaking Course. All of this participation allowed her to meet and become friends with many League sisters and many have become dear and lifetime friends.

"I always say the greatest gift we receive from membership is the incredible women we meet, sometimes friendships across the country"

Toronto Archdiocesan President 2003 - 2005
Member since 1971
Life Member 2007

Celestine belongs to the St Dunstan CWL council, Scarborough.

These are the Executive positions held and level during her time in the CWL: at the Parish level- president-elect/organization; president; past president; treasurer. At the Regional level- treasurer; organization; resolutions; communications; regional chair; past regional chair.

And at the Archdiocesan level- recording secretary; resolutions; spiritual development standing committee chair; president-elect/organization; president, past president
The following is the list of work done on special League projects (briefs, archives, committees, meetings, presentations, etc), including work as a provincial sub-committee chairperson.

At the Parish level she encourages members to assist in the parish/community. She established volunteer mixed group to decorate/clean church, and encouraged training courses for ladies of parish.

At the Regional level she organized fundraising. Then for the both the provincial/national 1996 conventions she was the registration chair and organized the ladies from Scarborough Region to assist. Celestine was also one of the original GROW presenters. She also set up archives for region Time at the Archdiocesan level was very busy- preparing 5 resolutions in 2 years; public speaking course facilitator, co-convener for provincial convention 2005; and presentations to new councils. Also, her League work included training new executives; work on Millennium committee for the Archdiocese of Toronto; member of board and promoter of Holy Childhood Assoc. Plus was a member of the Pontifical Missions Society. Celestine also prepared communications workshops, skills for entire archdiocese; prepared skits for meetings.
As the League is always growing and changing, there are needs to update resources available to the members, Celestine spent two years modifying The Parish Executive Training, training the trainers, organizing the groups that are to deliver the program to the councils and keeping records and preparing reports for the Archdiocesan President. She personally delivered the program to 10 councils in the archdiocese.
Celestine was also a co-convener for the 2009 Toronto Archdiocesan Convention Again in 2011, Celestine brought together the Ladies of Scarborough Region to assist at the National Convention. Celestine was the Chairperson of the Registration & Credentials and Tickets for the 2011 National Convention which Toronto Diocese hosted.
As a Life Member she has always assisted in Scarborough Region when called upon.
Standing committees of most interest to Celestine are: Resolutions; communications; spiritual development & Education and Health

Celestine has a varied educational background which she has brought the skills learned to assist the League: the list is varied and unique: Graduate in Horticultural Sciences - University of Guelph and Humber College; Graduate of Psychology Program - George Brown College; Graduate of Library Sciences - Seneca College.

Her work experience also has been beneficial to the League. Celestine started her work experience in offices and banks, giving her concept skills for organization and financial responsibility of any organization to its members.

Her work experiences require her to understanding Microsoft office applications; as she was an administrative assistant (5 years) for landscaping firm; instructor, 6 years Humber College horticultural sciences and design courses, set exams.

The career choice at this time is that of a School Librarian, and she has been 20 years with the TCDSB maintaining 3 school libraries, 2 computer labs; computer course instructor, maintain databases for online catalogue.

In planning for her retirement, she has written a novel waiting on publication and one children's book, same.
Between Family & CWL responsibilities, her next career with be that of a writer, something she wanted to do her whole life.

& As Celestine would say "Not really retirement, but continuing to use the gifts given to me by GOD."

Patricia Cross was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, the eldest in her family with two younger brothers. She moved to Toronto in 1963 as a young married woman with one infant son, eventually to have five children - two boys and three girls.

Patricia joined the Catholic Women' League through the invitation of a friend in 1974, so has been a League member for more than 45 years, always active and a willing worker. After serving on the CWL Parish Council executive of her home parish of St. Edward the Confrssor in Willowdale for several terms, she was elected president twice. She then served on the North York Region executive and was appointed chair of the North York Regional Council from 1993 to 1995.

The next leg of her CWL journey began when she was asked by Dorothy McGuigan to join the Toronto Archdiocesan Council as the Christian Family Life Chair for a one-year appointment. The rest is history - she continued on in different positions until being elected as the Toronto Archdiocesan President in 2005 - a place she never dreamed she would be.

Patricia had been actively involved in her community as a Brownie leader, canvassing for charities and raising funds for church and school projects. She was also very active in both federal and provincial politics for many years, but withdrew to make sufficient time for her duties as archdiocesan president and for her five grandchildren.

Patricia was honoured to receive her Life Membership in 2009, presented to her by Honorary Life Member Mary Matthews, also a parishioner of St. Edward the Confessor Paarish. As a Life Member, she intends to continue living her CWL life to the full.
As she says, "my CWL sisters are my second family - I cannot imagine my life without their prayerful companionship and support."

Marlin joined St. Paul the Apostle Parish - Alliston CWL in September 1979 and served as President of St. Paul's council from 1987 to 1990.

She served as committee chair on 3 Standing Committees on the Northern Region before serving as Northern Regional Chair from 1996 to 1998.

She held four positions on the Toronto Diocesan Council from 2001-2009 and was elected as Toronto Archdiocesan President from 2009 to 2011. Upon completion of her term as Past President on the Toronto Diocesan Council, she was honoured with an appointment as Life Member of the CWL.
From 2011 to 2013 she served as the Education and Health Chair for the Provincial CWL Council and was elected two additional terms as Christian Family Life Chair on the Provincial CWL. She has served as a committee member for Conventions and Catholic Women's Leadership fundraising campaign.

Her current parish is St. John Chrysostom Parish in Newmarket where she also assists in various church and CWL activities.

Marlin was married and has one son who is now married and has three children, making her a proud grandmother. She became a widow in 2019. She continues to work for God and Canada and serves the League wherever there is a need.

Mary joined Holy Family Council, Whitby, Ontario in 1986 and was president of the council twice as well as holding other convenorships.

She was Durham Regional Chair in 2001-2003.

While continuing to be active in her parish council, she moved to the Toronto Diocesan Council in 2003 where she held a number of positions before becoming President in 2011.

In May 2015, Mary was honoured to be awarded her Life Membership at the Toronto Diocesan Convention.

She is involved in family life and holds a special interest in the comings and goings of her three nieces and two nephews - her sister's and brother's children. Four of them are now married and so there is more to share at family gatherings.

Mary was an educator for over 32 years and worked as a classroom teacher and special education teacher. She was a Co-Ordinator of Special Education as well as serving as a Principal.

Her CWL life since receiving her Life Membership has been exceedingly busy and rewarding. At present, she is part of the planning committee of the 2021 National Convention and is the Chair of the Committee for the 100th Anniversary Celebrations of the Toronto Diocesan Council also in 2021. She also represents the Toronto Diocesan Council on the ShareLife Advisory Board.

Mary's greatest delight has been in seeing so many of the women she has worked with, blossom into the wonderful leaders in whom she recognized the strengths they possessed when she first met them.

She has learned that her strongest contribution to the League, in 34 years as a member, has been her ability to mentor so many. In return, they have given her true affection and knows that she is part of their CWL lives and is humbled to have so many put their trust in her as confidant, advisor and friend.

"I could not have dreamed in 1986 that my life would be so transformed by my participation in the Catholic Women's League of Canada" 

Donna Shaddick is a retired teacher of 36 years and has been married to her husband Alan for 50 years, together they have two sons and five grandchildren.

Donna started her CWL journey in 1977 in Pembroke Ontario and was Parish Council President three terms before serving as Past President, Secretary, Communications Chair, Christian Family Life Chair and Community Life Chair.

She served the Pembroke Diocese as Recording Secretary, Communications Chair, Christian Family Life Chair and Education and Health Chair before being elected as Pembroke Archdiocesan President (2005 - 2007) and Past President following that. She was awarded her Life Membership in 2009.  Donna served as Newsletter Editor on the Ontario Provincial Council from 1987 (Joan Durand) - 2000 (Betty Anne Brown Davidson).

Donna has been involved in parish life as a Refugee Committee member and currently serves as the Coordinator of Extraordinary Ministers at St. Leo The Great in Brooklin ON, where she was instrumental in establishing a new council in 2010 where she also served as President and Past President. Currently she serves as President Elect for her council.

Her long list of work on special League committees, presentations, sub-committees and projects includes, Registration at Regional Convention, Information and National Supplies Committee for Toronto Diocesan Council and Co-chair of Protocol for the National Convention held in Toronto in 2011.She has enjoyed serving as a facilitator for Parish executive Training in the Durham region.

During her time in Pembroke Diocese, Donna was involved in Project Grow, League Development, developing manuals of Policy and Procedures for councils and presented the "Called To Be Living Stones" workshop. In 2008 she served on the hosting committee for the Provincial Convention in Arnprior, ON. She has served as a facilitator for resolutions at five Provincial Conventions and in 2007 - 2013 served as Provincial sub-convenor for Education and Health.

In 2011 - 2013 Donna was also a Provincial Life Member Liaison and has served for the National Council on the minutes editing committee and table facilitator for resolutions discussions at National Conventions.

A few years ago she served a four year appointment to the Women's Interchurch Council of Canada and also sat on the Quality End of Life Care Coalition of Canada.
Donna writes: "Having been without a council for a few months after moving to Toronto Diocese, I realized more than ever how important the League was to me"

Mary was born and raised in Toronto. Mary and her husband Vince were married in 1978, have two children and are blessed with three beautiful grandchildren. She retired from a career with Bell Canada in 2011 where she had worked for over 36 years.

Mary joined the CWL in 1992 at her home parish of Nativity of Our Lord after hearing an appeal from the pulpit during an annual membership drive. Soon after joining she was asked to fill the position of Spiritual Development Chair and this was the beginning of her CWL journey. She went on to hold various standing committee positions before serving as parish president in 2000-2001 and received her Maple Leaf Service pin in 2003. She then went on to hold various positions at the regional and diocesan levels including diocesan president 2013-2015.

Mary worked on a very successful Capital Campaign for her parish and she continues to be very active there. She is a member of the Parish Finance Committee, a lector and a counter.

In 2015 Mary was appointed Provincial Newsletter Editor and a member of the National Resolutions Committee for a two year term. She also served as the Toronto Representative on the Capital Campaign Cabinet for the Catholic Women's Leadership Foundation.

Over the years Mary has led the Leadership Public Speaking Course throughout the diocese, she rolled out the Catch the Fire initiative and delivered the Diocesan Parish Executive Training Course fondly known as PET to several parishes in the diocese. Mary co-chaired numerous Toronto Diocesan Conventions, was part of the organizing committees for the 2005 and 2009 Provincial Conventions and the 2011 National Convention.

In 2017 Mary was honoured to receive her Life Membership as well as her 25-year service pin. In 2018 Mary co-chaired the Ontario Provincial Convention and she is currently the co-chair for the 2021 National Convention Committee which will be held in Toronto.

Mary has served on the Board of Directors for the Toronto Catholic Children's Aid Society for 6 years. She is currently a member on the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities as well as a member of the Social Justice and the Catholic Agencies Committees for the Archdiocese of Toronto.
In 2017, Mary was elected to the Provincial council as Recording Secretary. She is honoured to now be serving as the Community Life Standing Chairperson.

Life Member

A retired Nurse Educator and practicing Parish Nurse, Shirley is a passionate member of the League since 1991. She has worked tirelessly, sharing her gifts and love of the League at the parish, diocesan and provincial levels.

She served as Parish Council President and Past President 1996 - 1998 and went on to become Peel Regional Chair 2001 - 2003. She began her work at the Diocesan Level in 1997 as resolutions sub-convenor and went on to serve as Resolutions Chair, Christian Family Life Chair, Spiritual Development Chair, Education and Health Chair and finally President Elect / Organization Chair before becoming Toronto Diocesan President 2015 - 2017 and Past Diocesan President 2017 - 2019. She was awarded her Life Membership May 3rd, 2019.

Shirley has been a facilitator at the diocesan level for Development Days ongoing, for the Leadership and Public Speaking course since 2006 and for Parish Executive Training since inception. In 1999 she facilitated an Intergenerational workshop in several parishes as well as at the Kingston Provincial CWL convention.

At all levels of the League Shirley is known for her passionate advocacy for promoting the sanctity and dignity of life and for reclaiming Spiritual Care for Holistic Health. Her related role modeling actions emphasize the importance of promoting collaborative cooperative relationships between like minded faith filled organizations.

Shirley has responded to invitations to speak whenever requested by council presidents, parish priests, Cardinal Collins and /or the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute, and Right to Life Mississauga and Area (RTLMA). Topics have varied from describing CWL themes or projects, to nurturing the spiritual dimension for whole person health to advocacy for the sanctity of life. In 2016-17 as RTLMA CWL liaison she spoke on Ethical Palliative Care and in the fall of 2017 she was part of a panel in-service for Toronto Archdiocesan priests on Catholic Perspectives of End of Life care.

Ann moved to Canada having lived in Goa, Mumbai (Bombay) and Dubai.  She is married to Oswald and has two married sons and a  grandson. Working in the corporate world and involvement with CWL activities keeps her busy, but her family has been instrumental in helping her carry on with various activities, juggling life as a mother, wife, career woman and volunteer at various charities.

Ann joined The Catholic Women’s League, when her parish council St. Francis Xavier Parish in Mississauga was newly formed in the year 2000.  Joining the League provided her with an opportunity to meet women who have, in many ways, influenced her personal and spiritual life.  She went on to hold various standing committee positions, as well as serving as the Parish Council President, Peel Regional Chair, Toronto Diocesan president in 2017-2019 and Ontario Communication Chair (OPC) for three years 2019-2022.

Additionally, Ann is part of the team of facilitators that leads the Public Speaking & Leadership Course and facilitates Parish Executive Training (PET), in the Peel Region.  She was part of the organizing committee (Secretariat) for the 2011 National Convention, held in Toronto; was a sub-convener for the Toronto Diocesan Convention in 2012 and chaired the Toronto Diocesan Convention in 2013. She was awarded the CWL Maple Leaf Service Pin in 2012.

Ann also volunteers her time for fundraising for charities like MaterCare, Vita Centre and ALS.  She joined the board at MaterCare when the founder and now deceased Dr. Walley invited her, and only stepped down in 2017 when she became the diocesan president.   In 2013, Ann was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, for her work in her community and parish.

On April 25^th, 2023, Ann was honoured to receive her Life Membership.  She is currently part of the committee for the 2025 National Convention Committee which will be held in Toronto.

Ann’s favourite quote “always do your best and what is required” ... “It's your road and yours alone.  Others may walk it with you, BUT no one can walk it for you.”

Hilarion joined St. John Fisher CWL Council in Bramptonin 1998 on her mother's advice. She credits the League for the influence in raising her family, Catholic values, professional life and the importance of volunteerism.

Hilarion is privileged to have completed her 3-year term 2019-2022 as President for the Toronto Diocesan Council which was historic with the 100th anniversaries for national (2020) and the Toronto Diocesan Council (2021). The term was transformative with the evolving COVID-19 pandemic which required the ability to adapt using virtual and livestreaming to engage members when in-person gatherings were not possible.
Hilarion is delighted to now serve as Toronto Diocesan Council Past President/Historian. She is also serving on the Ontario Provincial 2022-2024 Executive as Education and Health Chair.

Hilarion received her Maple Leaf Service Pin in 2009.At the diocesan level, she served as President-Elect/Organization, 2nd VP/Spiritual Development, 1st

VP/Resolutions, Legislation, Christian Family Life, Peel Regional Chair, various committees and relaunched the Leadership & Public Speaking Course (2017).Hilarion was national CWL Catch the Fire Spark for Ontario (2012-2014) and member of the Strategic Plan Working Group Embrace Diverse Cultures and Ages (2020-2021). Hilarion is a lector at her parish.

Hilarion is married to Glen and they have three sons. She is a late convert to football with her youngest son in the CFL. She is a Registered Dietitian and promotes healthy eating throughout the lifespan. She likes to cycle and take long walks. She grew up listening to Desiderata and maintains that "God is in Control". Hilarion strongly believes that the CWL is an excellent organization for Catholic women.