Catholic Women's League

The CWL is a national organisation open to women of all ages. This year we are supporting Women’s Refuges. We knit for the Catholic Clothing Guild, providing beautiful garments for the underprivileged.

Here in Leigh we are a small group of 14. In recent years we have organised Lenten Lunches – they are always very popular. We sent the proceeds to the Syrian Relief Project run by Father Dominic in Basildon. For the second year running we have organised the hugely successful Afternoon Tea on the Terrace – enjoyed by 90 parishioners and friends. We cater the annual Corpus Christi afternoon tea and the Marriage Preparation course. We help with catering for the annual Parish Garden Party. We help with the annual Christmas Bazaar, with most of our members running their own stall. We support a number of charities during the year: the bishop’s Lourdes Fund, B.E.E.F., Cafod–just to mention a few. We also support the Parish Centre with our fundraising.

Our meetings are lively and interesting and not too serious! Over the last year we have had a variety of interesting speakers, including a lady who grew up in the Tower of London, a classical music session, talks on local history and a presentation by an archaeologist. Come and join us – new members are very welcome. We meet twice each month, with a business meeting on the 2nd Monday of the month, and a Social meeting on the 4th Monday of the month. We meet at 2pm in the Newman Room in the Parish Centre. Cynthia Bush is our Chairperson.

Saint Vincent de Paul Society

The SVP is a Christ-centred organisation with the mission to seek and find those in need, to help them in the spirit of justice and to tackle the causes of poverty where it can. Members visit and befriend people living in loneliness and isolation, be they elderly, homeless, hospitalised or in care-homes, people with mental health issues or offenders.

We meet on Wednesday evenings at 7.30 in the Parish Centre, St Clement room. Francis O’Brien is our contact for the local Conference.

Knights of Saint Columba

Phil Patterson

Carmelites

Brian Holt