Regional Information
Alys MacAlister - Durham Regional Chair
Alys has been a dedicated member of the CWL at Holy Family Parish, Whitby, since 2010. She has served as Education & Health Convener, President-Elect and President from 2014-2016 and Past
President/Historian. She received the Maple Leaf Service Award in 2018. She has enthusiastically helped her council with their various endeavours (bake sales, parish breakfasts, Christmas Bazaar, fashion shows) as well as being available for collecting Spiritual Bouquets and speaking at membership drives. She has served at the Regional level as Community Life Chair and Secretary over the last eight years.
Alys has also been busy at Holy Family Parish, which her family joined in 2003. Alys is currently on the Parish Council as the CWL representative. She also heads the Greeter Ministry, which she greatly enjoys, and is also Volunteer Coordinator and a member of the Screening Committee. She has participated in the Alpha program as a table convener on more than one occasion. She has been involved in the Children's Liturgy program in the past.
Alys has two grown children Alexa, who lives in Kelowna B.C. And Niall who lives in Ottawa. She is looking forward to becoming a grandmother in August 2022. She has been married to John for 46 years.
Alys is grateful to the wonderful women in the CWL who have helped her grow so much, spiritually, and personally and looks forward to this next challenge.
| Durham Regional Executive | |
| Spiritual Advisor | Rev. David Bollo |
| Regional Chair | Alys MacAlister |
| Durham Region Parish Councils | Spiritual Advisors | Presidents |
| St. Gregory the Great Parish, Oshawa | Rev. Marijan Sisko | Joanne Bone |
| Holy Cross Parish, Oshawa | Rev. Marijan Sisko | Kim Beatty |
| Holy Family, Whitby | Rev. Laszlo Nagy | Evette D'Cunha |
| Immaculate Conception, Port Perry | Inactive | Inactive |
| St. Francis de Sales, Ajax | Rev. Steven Kwon | Rosemary Plantinga |
| St. Gertrude, Oshawa | Rev. Michael Hughes | Linda Butler |
| St. John the Evangelist, Whitby | Rev. Francisco Fernandez Siles | Lynne Childerhouse |
| St. Joseph the Worker, Oshawa | Rev. David Twaddle | Diana Petre |
| St. Leo the Great, Brooklin | Rev. Mounir El-Rassi | Donna Shaddick |
| St. Mary of the People, Oshawa | Rev. David Bollo | Josephine Gangemi |
| Sacred Heart, Uxbridge | Rev. Gerard Pilon | Mary Donnelly |
Karen McKeown - Humber Valley Regional Chair
Karen was born in Midland Ontario and moved to Toronto to attend St Michael's School of Nursing. She retired after 40 years of nursing in 2005.
She has been happily married for 49 years to Gerry and is blessed with a daughter and two sons and doubly blessed with four grandsons and four granddaughters.
At a CWL membership drive in September 1972, Gerry said "you need to join with those nice ladies, I will put the children to bed". And so began a career with the Catholic Women's League of Canada
She served as spiritual development chair at the parish and regional levels. She has co-chaired at many parish bazaars.
Karen served as parish president at St. Andrew's in 2000 -2002 and as Humber Valley Regional Chair in 2003-2005.
Fr. Mark Van Batten asked Karen in 2006 to be the president at Transfiguration of Our Lord. She served for nine years and currently is the past president.
She assists at Transfiguration as a lector, RCIA and Altar Society.
She recently accepted to help at the national level for the 2022 mentoring project.
Karen wishes to pass on the joys and encouragement to like-minded women about life as a Catholic Women's League member.
| Humber Valley Executives | |
| Spiritual Advisor | Rev. Donatello Iocco |
| Council Chair | Karen McKeown |
| Humber Valley Region Parish Councils | Spiritual Advisors | Presidents |
| Immaculate Conception | Rev. Eugene Chianain | Pia Civichino |
| Nativity of Our Lord | Rev. Michael A. Machacek | Stacey Thompson |
| Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal | Rev. Valentin Batic | Rose Nesich |
| St. Ambrose | Rev. Donatello Iocco | Marg Gombita |
| St. Charles Borromeo | Rev. James Reposkey | Ginetta Rizzo Duadlin |
| St. Gregory's | Rev. Sean Lee Lung | Darlene Pedlar |
| St. John the Evangelist | Rev. Andrew Maderak | Cherry Ann Koylass |
| St. Margaret Mary | Rev. Rony D. Grayda | Rita Zanatta |
| St. Padre Pio | Msgr. Gregory Ace | Debbie Fisher |
| St. Roch's | Rev. Phillip Smith | Rose Stange |
| Transfiguration Of Our Lord | Rev. George Parayil | Carol Mcerlain |
Elisabeth Quail - North York Regional Chair
Elisabeth has been an active member of the CWL since 2001. In 1989 she was received into the church at St. Timothy's Catholic Church in North York. She held executive positions there including recording secretary and spiritual development.
In 2016 her husband David was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate for the Archdiocese of Toronto. He was then assigned to St. Edward the Confessor Parish. They welcomed this new challenge together and quickly became involved in all aspect of the parish community.
Elisabeth transferred her CWL membership to St. Edward's and stood for election as president-elect and went on to become the president for 3 years during the challenging times of the pandemic. She now holds the position of past president.
Elisabeth has been happily married to David for 43 years and has two beautiful daughters and 2 wonderful grandchildren.
Elisabeth is looking forward to this interesting and challenging position.
| North York Executives | |
| Spiritual Advisor | Rev. Boniface Perri |
| Regional Chair | Elisabeth Quail |
| North York Region Parish Councils | Spiritual Advisors | Presidents |
| Blessed Frederic Ozanam | Rev. Ricardo Davis | Carmela Ientile |
| Blessed Trinity | Rev. Edward Murphy | Mary Ellen Lawless |
| Good Shepherd | Rev. Anthony Iaccobeli | Alana Papeo |
| Our Lady of Annunciation | Rev. Peter Lacmanec | Veronica Sadehanbi |
| Immaculate Conception/ Our Lady of the Lake |
Rev. Paul Hanko | Ann Palmer |
| Our Lady of Grace | Rev. John Bertao | Annette Brennan |
| Sacred Heart | Rev. John Arulthas, O.H.A. | Beverly Flanagan |
| St. Bernard de Clairvaux | Rev. Boniface Perri | Danette C. Dantes |
| St. Bonaventure | Friar Peter Knaapen, OFM Conv. | Waveney Duarte |
| St. Edward the Confessor | Rev. Patrick O'Dea | Marie Barry |
| St. John XXIII | Rev. David Gikonyo. | Elaine Shaver |
| St. John Chrysostom | Rev. Landorff Garcia Mariona | Emily-Ana Filardo |
| St. Joseph the Worker | Rev. Stephen Kwon | Mary Lynn Porto |
| St. Justin Martyr | Rev. Msgr. Vid Vlasic | Belinda Cua Sia |
| St. Luke | Rev. Mark Van Patten | Gillian D'Souza |
| St. Mary Immaculate | Rev. Pawel Zborowski | Maria Bizjak |
| St. Mary, Nobleton | Rev. Ignacio Pinedo | Vacant |
| St. Patrick, Markham | Rev. Dominic Barber | Lalita D'Souza |
| St. Patrick, Schomberg | Rev. Ignacio Pinedo | Zephania Gangl |
| St. Timothy | Rev. Galen Bank | Editha Maillet |
Dianne Hunter - Northern Regional Chair
Dianne has been a CWL member at St. Mary's in Barrie since 1976, and part of her parish executive since 2007, chairing the Health and Education, Christian Family Life and Community Life Committees. Dianne became President of St. Mary's council in January of 2019 and continued in this position until the end of her term in December, 2021. In 2011 she was awarded a CWL Maple Leaf pin in recognition of her contributions to the League.
Dianne is a twin and the youngest of a family of 11 children with three sets of twins. She is married with two sons. After 31 years as a secondary school Business teacher and Guidance Counselor, Dianne retired and leads a very busy life volunteering with St. Vincent de Paul, Rosary Apostolate and, of course, CWL. She is also an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister … the most important volunteer work of all!
In her spare time, Dianne enjoys being active with her husband Roy, biking, hiking, skiing, kayaking and playing golf. She also enjoys taking part in Zumba and aerobics classes.
| Northern Regional Executives | |
| Spiritual Advisor | Rev. Laurence Leger |
| Regional Chair | Dianne Hunter |
| Northern Region Parish Councils | Spiritual Advisors | Presidents |
| Guardian Angels, Orillia | Rev. Allen Lepay | Rose Carpino |
| Holy Martyr's of Japan, Bradford | Rev. John Pak | Sharon Bellon |
| Holy Spirit, Barrie | Rev. Bartek Palczewski | Gioia Flynn |
| Our Lady of Lourdes, Elmvale | Rev. James Bussanich | Margaret Ann Jacobs |
| Sacred Heart, Port McNicoll | Rev. John Asadoorian | Lorraine LaCroix |
| St. Andrew's, Brechin | Rev. Allen Lepay | JoAnn Emons |
| St. Columbkille's, Uptergrove | Rev. Allen Lepay | Lynn Morris |
| St. James, Colgan | Rev. Eric Mah | Diana Figueiredo |
| St. John Vianney, Barrie | Rev. Biju Kannampuzha | Helena Hedrich |
| St. Margaret's, Midland | Rev. Roselle Azares | Sandra Morson |
| St. Mary's, Barrie | Rev. Lawrence Leger | Dorothy Cepas |
| St. Mary's, Collingwood | Rev. Charles Forget | Jean Stewart |
| St. Mary's, Victoria Harbour | DISBANDED | |
| St. Patrick's, Phelpston | Rev. James Bussanich | Gail Hall |
| St. Paul the Apostle, Alliston | Rev. Norberto Eyule | Martha Whelton |
| St. Patrick's, Stayner/St. Noel, Wasaga Beach | Rev. Thomas Kulger | Brenda Weel |
Diana Gamboa - Peel Regional Chair
Diana is a proud and dedicated chartered member of the CWL at St. Francis Xavier Church in
Mississauga, Ontario. She started her leadership role as President Elect/Organization Convenor in 2000. From there, she served her Council as President and Past President.
At the Regional level, Diana has been a Legislation/Resolutions Chair and Recording Secretary. As the new Regional Chair, she is committed to serving the 18 Peel Councils in Mississauga, Brampton and Orangeville to the best of her capability.
Because of the pandemic, Diana retired as a Bank Officer in 2021. Little did she realize that retirement meant more work with no pay, only hugs and kisses. She was called to assist her young grandkids in virtual learning, a job that meant driving to Burlington earlier and longer than her former commute to work at Square One.
This volunteer job however made her realize the great impact a grandparent has in the life of the family, especially the grandchildren. She now ensures all her 6 grandchildren know how to pray and be grateful to God for life's blessings.
Diana continues to be active in her parish of St. Francis Xavier and provides help whenever and wherever it is needed. In addition to CWL, she is part of the Stewardship and Finance Committees and Bible Study in the church.
Recently, she accepted a part time teaching position with the Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board. Saturdays now find her teaching Tagalog (Pilipino language) to Grades 5 -8 elementary students in the Mississauga & Brampton areas.
Diana wants to keep herself busy long after retirement. The Peel Regional Chair job, her church activities and the Tagalog classes are enough to keep her going. She lives the CWL theme Go Make A Difference and the CWL motto For God and Canada.
| Peel Executives | |
| Spiritual Advisor | Fr. Michael Simoes |
| Regional Chair | Diana Gamboa |
| Peel Region Parish Councils | Spiritual Advisors | Presidents |
| Guardian Angels Parish | Rev. Jan Gogolewski | Chinwe Bello |
| St Anne's Parish, Brampton | Rev. Joel Pabilona, Jr | Christine Corsino |
| St. Anthony of Padua, Brampton | Rev. Joseph Pham | Pam Munjal |
| St. Francis Xavier, Mississauga | Rev. James Cherickal | Maria S. D'Souza |
| St. Ignatius Loyola | Rev. Timothy Hanley | Debbie Bates |
| St. John The Evangelist, Albion | Rev. Robert Glynn | Dorota Bzdzikot |
| St. John Fisher, Brampton | Rev. Regulo Imperial | Rosana De Luca |
| St. John of the Cross | Rev. Joyson George | Debbie Price |
| St. Jerome Parish | Rev. Msgr. Michael Busch | Fidelia Fredua-Kwarteng |
| St. Joseph's, Streetville | Rev. Fr. Paul Dobson | Rashmy Lobo |
| St. Leonard's, Brampton | Rev. John Nosan | Amelia Hazell |
| St. Marguerite d'Youville, Brampton | Rev. W. Gomi Fernando | Catherine Sanchez-Estuart |
| St. Martin of Tours, Mississauga | Rev. Gijo Muthanattu | Lawina L. Notario |
| Sts. Martha & Mary, Mississauga | Rev. Gigi Philip | INACTIVE |
| St. Mary Star of the Sea, Port Credit | Rev. Fr. Michael Simoes | Angela Menezes |
| St. Mary's Brampton | Rev. Fr. Liborio Amaral | Patricia Persaud |
| St. Patrick's, Mississauga | Rev. John Facey | Ramona Da Cunha |
| St. Patrick's Wildfield | Msgr. Owen Keenan | Anna Alonzi-Peever |
| St. Timothy's, Orangeville | Rev. Fr. Luis Calleja | Pat Dougan |
| Sts. Peter & Paul, Mississauga | Rev. Mario Salvadori | Lynn Barron |
Patricia Lobo - Scarborough Regional Chair
Patricia was encouraged to join the CWL at St. Aidan's Parish in Scarborough in 2017. Since then, she has served as Community Life Chair (2018-2019) and President of St. Aidan Council (2020-2022). One of her great joys of being a CWL member is the lovely group of faith-filled, kind, and energetic women she has come to know in the League. Serving at the parish executive level for the last four years, Patricia understands the commitment required and the challenges in building vibrant councils, and as incoming Scarborough Region Chair, Patricia wishes to be a support and resource for the councils in her region.
Patricia immigrated to Canada from Pakistan almost 30 years ago first living in Montreal and then moving to Scarborough, Ontario in 1997. Her two daughters Jessica (21) and Diana (almost 18) are the light of her life, and her beloved husband John is a huge fan and supporter in all her endeavours. Patricia's mother Alice and two cats Bella & Bolt make up the rest of the household. Patricia works in the wealth management industry and makes time for piano lessons, gardening, choir & other parish activities, reading and walks with friends.
| Scarborough Executives | |
| Spiritual Advisor | Rev. Peter Marr |
| Regional Chair | Patricia Lobo |
| Scarborough Region Parish Councils | Spiritual Advisors | Presidents |
| Annunciation | Rev. Joseph A, Chandrakanthan | Helen Lewis |
| Immaculate Heart of Mary | Rev. Charles Collins | Alice Warford |
| Precious Blood | Rev. Xavier De Pinto | Marie Claire Ng |
| St. Aidan | Rev. Fr. Steven Szakaczki | Artimizia Tellis |
| St Barnabas | Rev. Hansoo Park | Maria Fan |
| St. Bartholomew | Rev. Fernan Serrano | Sheilah D'Souza |
| St.Boniface | Rev. Peter Marr | Rosemarie Gaglione |
| St. Dunstan | Rev. Jeffrey Masterson | Inez Fernandes |
| Our Lady of Fatima Shrine | TBA | Vacant |
| St. Joseph Highland Creek | Rev. Francis Folleh | Therese Baduria |
| St. Maria Goretti | Rev. Edwin Galea | Luzviminda Chattergoon |
| St. Lawrence Martyr | TBA | Vacant |
| St. Rose of Lima | Msgr. Edgardo Pan, PH | Liemy Tagsa |
Mary Jane Domingo - Toronto Regional Chair
Mary Jane has been a member of the CWL for 6 years at Holy Rosary Parish. She has held the role of secretary (2017 - 2018) and president (2019 - 2021) and presently the role of past- president/historian (2022 - 2024).
Aside from being a member of the Catholic Women's League in her parish, she also has been of service in other ministries in the church. She has served as a lector and Eucharistic minister in her parish and to some of the residents of Christie Gardens Senior Home.
She joined the League because she was looking for a place to give back to the community and grow more in her faith. Given her mother's long standing devotion as a member of the CWL at St. Anthony of Padua (Peel Region) it had seemed to her that if this organization could keep a woman for as long as her mother has been a member of over forty years, then there must be something there to explore.
Mary Jane enjoys singing, dancing, exercise (when motivation strikes and because motion is lotion). Also, if time permits, to be with nature and taking strolls.
She hopes in this role that she can discover her God given talents and use them to serve Toronto region parishes and the Toronto Diocesan Council and that it helps the Catholic Women's League to continue thriving.
Leading Through Change: Toronto Diocesan Council 2022-2024
| Toronto Executives | |
| Spiritual Advisor | Rev. Damian Young-Sam-You |
| Regional Chair | Mary Jane Domingo |
| Toronto Region Parish Councils | Spiritual Advisors | Presidents |
| Holy Cross | Rev. Godofredo R. Claudio | Claudette Wilson |
| Holy Rosary | Rev. Peter Turrone | Glendine Lowe |
| Our Lady Help Of Christians | Rev. Valentin Batic CM | Vacant |
| Our Lady of Lourdes | Rev. William Mbugua | Prescy Alumaga |
| St. Alphonsus | Rev. Michael Mateyk C.P.P.S. | Marylou Sears |
| St. Helen | Rev. Willyans Rapozo | Susana Pimentel |
| St. Joan of Arc | Rev. Bob Langone | Maryanne Chard |
| St. John- Kingston Rd. | Rev. John-Mark Missio | Maryse Ristuccia |
| St. John Bosco | Rev. Jose Miras | Daisy Macatangay |
| St. Matthew's | Rev. Andre Grecki | Anges Passee |
| St. Monica's | Rev. Damian Young-Sam-You | Susan Kobus |
| St. Pius X | Rev. Brian Sea | Jane Cleary/Janet Kotyk |
| St. Thomas Aquinas | Rev. Ruggiero Dibenedetto | TBA |