A standing ovation for great Catholic women

Joanna Bogle hails the Catholic Women of the Year luncheon, which has honoured the Church’s unsung heroines for almost 40 years Next year is a landmark for the Catholic Women of the Year luncheon. It was established in 1968 – that year of student rebellion, Humanae Vitae, and defections from the Church – and so marks its 40th anniversary.
This year’s luncheon therefore has a special feel, with a sense of celebration that something which began as a moraleboosting gesture has remained to become a recognised event in the Catholic calendar.
The idea of the luncheon was to show that, at a time of confusion and much change, Catholic women had no intention of abandoning the Church. Someone came up with the notion of honouring women who gave specific service to the Church and the community, often “unsung heroines” who made a difference to people’s lives and were a force for good locally or nationally.
This year’s Catholic Women of the Year are in the great tradition, and, as always, there is a splendid mix. For 2007 they are a pub landlady, a convert from Islam, a friend to seafarers, and a prominent politician. They don’t get a medal or a cash prize, but they do get a lunch in London, and a standing ovation from their fellow Catholic women at a packed event in an atmosphere of friendliness and good cheer.
Anyone can nominate a Catholic woman for the honour. All nominations are carefully sifted and read, and then there is a secret ballot by committee members representing a range of major Catholic organisations.
Bridie Morrissey, nominated by fellow members of the Union of Catholic Mothers, ran various pubs with her husband over a period of 40 years. After a childhood in Ireland spent partly in a sanatorium after contracting TB, Mrs Morrissey worked for a while in an orphanage before coming to Britain. The pubs she ran with her husband John, a former bus conductor, became famous for their warmth and hospitality. Each year she invited anyone who could come to join the family for Christmas lunch and often catered for 40 people.
In addition, Mrs Morrissey – while raising her own family of five children – took in children requiring care for temporary periods, became a good friend to a number of needy families and lonely elderly people, did the catering for innumerable parish events, including funerals and ordinations, helped raise funds for charities, and still found time to run a prayer group and take part in pilgrimages to Lourdes. Now elderly herself and busy with her grandchildren, she also helps to run a playgroup in the parish and a Christian discussion group bringing together people from different denominations.
Mrs Morrissey’s work is matched by that of Jo Norton in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, who has become a friend to seafarers from across the world. A former Wren, Mrs Norton first met the work of the Apostleship of the Sea when living in Australia. On moving back to Britain, she became deeply involved.
Meeting ships as soon as they arrive in Berwick, she offers help to the men – who often have only a few hours in port because of the high-speed turnaround demanded by the global economy – so that they can do basic things such as make telephone calls or go shopping to replace worn clothing. At Christmas and Easter she helps them to attend Mass, and always brings gifts of prayer books and rosaries. She also travels to local parishes to explain the needs of seafarers and raise funds for the work of the Apostleship.
Aghi Clovis was nominated because of her work promoting the Church’s teaching on love, marriage, and family life. With her husband Greg she runs a mail-order scheme distributing tapes, DVDs, books and other materials, and helps to organise conferences and talks in schools.
Brought up in Iran, Mrs Clovis experienced the Islamic Revolution as a teenager and arrived in Britain never having encountered Christianity. She was given a copy of the New Testament after meeting a priest at the Catholic-run student hostel where she was staying, and later described how this changed her life, making her question her whole belief system. “I was astounded to discover this wonderful person, Jesus Christ,” she said. “It was an extraordinary experience. I learned about the wonderful things he had said and done. How had I never been told about all this before? I felt challenged in the very core of my being.” Converting to Christianity, Mrs Clovis went on to marry and raise a large family in south London. Opening their home to other families for various gatherings, the Clovises would also invite people to join in the family rosary, helping many people to experience the value of family prayers.
In recent years Mrs Clovis has given talks about her conversion story, and will be a speaker at this year’s “Towards Advent” festival at Westminster Cathedral Hall on November 3.
Among this year’s Catholic Women of the Year the bestknown is Ann Widdecombe, nominated for her forthright public defence of Catholic and Christian values as a Member of Parliament and prominent media figure. A letter nominating her said she “is prepared to state her case in no uncertain manner for the good of all”.
Miss Widdecombe has long been a pro-life campaigner and frequently appears in the media defending the Christian position. She is a former Master of the Catholic Writers’ Guild and is the author of two novels. As Member of Parliament for Maidstone, she is one of the country’s best-known parliamentarians and in recent years has also become increasingly involved with the work of the Church, of which she is an enthusiastic member. She attends Mass regularly at Westminster Cathedral.
The speaker at this year’s luncheon on October 4 will be Sarah Johnson. Over 200 women will be present, and it all happens at the Thistle Hotel, near London’s Marble Arch