Bellelle Guerin was the first president of The Catholic Women’s League of Canada. This award is being presented to individuals who have worked tirelessly to keep the spirit of the League alive in the spirit of the first president.
The League’s roots began in 1920 with its first National President, Bellelle Guerin, who had a vision, faith and a dream “to see it [CWL] rooted in every major centre from Halifax to Victoria.” At the first dominion convention, Toronto 1921, she stated, “We have before us some days of serious and strenuous work. Let us approach it with all the zeal and good will that is in our souls. Shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, let us go forth from this convention bound by a solidarity that nothing can break, gentlewomen, but brave soldiers holding aloft our banner of patriotism to our beloved country and of inviolable fidelity to our glorious faith!”
The women nominated should be individuals who have kept the vision and the dream of Bellelle Guerin alive in Canada and the world by dedicating themselves to the work of the League in their parish, diocese and/or province.
Nominating councils are reminded that the nominees must be exemplary members of the League who are not now and will not ever be eligible to provide service to national council as a life member.
The League’s roots began in 1920 with its first National President, Bellelle Guerin, who had a vision, faith and a dream “to see it [CWL] rooted in every major centre from Halifax to Victoria.” At the first dominion convention, Toronto 1921, she stated, “We have before us some days of serious and strenuous work. Let us approach it with all the zeal and good will that is in our souls. Shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, let us go forth from this convention bound by a solidarity that nothing can break, gentlewomen, but brave soldiers holding aloft our banner of patriotism to our beloved country and of inviolable fidelity to our glorious faith!”
The women nominated should be individuals who have kept the vision and the dream of Bellelle Guerin alive in Canada and the world by dedicating themselves to the work of the League in their parish, diocese and/or province.
Nominating councils are reminded that the nominees must be exemplary members of the League who are not now and will not ever be eligible to provide service to national council as a life member.
Bellelle Guerin
The Guerin family crest dates back to France in the 700s A.D., with members of the family immigrating to Ireland in the 17th century and Thomas Guerin coming to Canada where he founded the Canadian branch of the family. His eldest daughter, Mary Ellen Guerin, was born on September 24, 1849 in Montreal.
She was educated at the Mount St. Mary Convent of the Congregation of Notre Dame where she became renown throughout Canada as a writer and poet of distinction. It was during this time that she adopted the name of Bellelle Guerin.
Bellelle never married but assisted her brother, widower Dr. James Guerin, in raising his two children and served as Lady Mayoress when James became the mayor of Montreal in 1910.
By 1917 Bellelle became president of the Catholic Women’s Club, formerly the Loyola Club.
By 1920 the Montreal branch grew to 440 members and and by June, at Bellelle’s instigation, a meeting was called to unify the branches of the CWL. She was elected first president of The Catholic Women’s League of Canada.
The following year at the first national convention, held in Toronto, Ontario, she expressed her belief in the future of the organization. “we may be said to be laying the cornerstone of an edifice that will arise fair and beautiful, strong and proud before the eyes of the world.”
Bellelle’s role in the League was recognized in 1922 at a meeting of the International Union of Catholic Women’s Leagues in Rome, where she became the first woman in Canada to receive the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal. She said, “I hold the honour as belonging to every individual member of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada.”
Mary Ellen (Bellelle) Guerin died in 1929 and is buried in Cote-des-Neiges Cemetary.
She was educated at the Mount St. Mary Convent of the Congregation of Notre Dame where she became renown throughout Canada as a writer and poet of distinction. It was during this time that she adopted the name of Bellelle Guerin.
Bellelle never married but assisted her brother, widower Dr. James Guerin, in raising his two children and served as Lady Mayoress when James became the mayor of Montreal in 1910.
By 1917 Bellelle became president of the Catholic Women’s Club, formerly the Loyola Club.
By 1920 the Montreal branch grew to 440 members and and by June, at Bellelle’s instigation, a meeting was called to unify the branches of the CWL. She was elected first president of The Catholic Women’s League of Canada.
The following year at the first national convention, held in Toronto, Ontario, she expressed her belief in the future of the organization. “we may be said to be laying the cornerstone of an edifice that will arise fair and beautiful, strong and proud before the eyes of the world.”
Bellelle’s role in the League was recognized in 1922 at a meeting of the International Union of Catholic Women’s Leagues in Rome, where she became the first woman in Canada to receive the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal. She said, “I hold the honour as belonging to every individual member of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada.”
Mary Ellen (Bellelle) Guerin died in 1929 and is buried in Cote-des-Neiges Cemetary.
Award Forms
Previous Award Winners
Bellelle Guerin Award 2020
|
|
On October 7th, St. Vital Parish Council (Beaumont) gathered for an awards ceremony. Rose Goudreau was presented with the Bellelle Guerin award for exemplary service in the League, having served for 45 years.
|
|
|