Celebrating the life of ‘Faith and Service with Action’ exemplified by St Margaret Clitherow, members of the Wellington Archdiocese Catholic Women’s League gathered in August at St Thomas More Church, Wilton, for Mass celebrated by Fr Joy Raphal Thottankara, parish priest of the Catholic Parish of Otari. Lunch and social activities followed, filling the day with fellowship and blessings.
St Margaret Clitherow was an English laywoman, wife and mother who lived during the 16th century. A convert to Catholicism, she valued Mass as essential in Catholic life, at a time when practising Catholic Faith was a serious offence and English Catholics were persecuted under the rule of Queen Elizabeth I. Margaret was martyred for her Faith, especially for harbouring priests. She was canonised in the 1940s as one of the English martyrs at the request of the UK Catholic Women’s League. St Margaret is the patron saint of professional women and converts as well as the Catholic Women’s League worldwide. Words and photo: Christine Paterson, Chaplain