In 1923 at an Annual Meeting of the Central membership of the Catholic Women’s League, His Eminence Cardinal Bourne spoke strongly about the question of religious instruction for British children. He emphasised that in Great Britain, numbers of boys and girls received no religious instruction, while thousands were compelled to attend non-Catholic schools. Cardinal Bourne reminded his audience that in Canon Law, it was laid down that there should be a Confraternity of Christian Doctrine in every parish and mission throughout the world, and that there were very few places in England where it was established.
Cardinal Bourne asked Margaret Fletcher, who founded the Catholic Women’s League in 1906, to help. He felt it was the work the League could do. The Reverend Mother of the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Hammersmith Road, London, offered to provide classes for members who were desirous to undertake this apostolic work. The then National President, Lady Sykes, made a strong appeal to all Branches to organise a Confraternity for giving religious instruction to children in places where none was provided.
By the end of 1923, Our Lady’s Catechists came into being. All the work undertaken was with the approval of the Hierarchy and the clergy. Members passing an examination at the end of the Course were given a certificate of competence to teach. Two years later, there were 52 trained catechists and an equal number in training. In 1931, a standing Committee of Our Lady’s Catechists was established and in 1956, became a Special Committee of the League with a representative of every Branch of the League.
Our Lady’s Catechists was (and is) financed by donations from Associate Members. By this time (1931), 111 members were teaching 1,000 children. A Postal Course was prepared to meet the needs of children living at a distance from a Catholic school. In 1950, the work extended to parts of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. In 1960, the OLC Certificate was recognised by the Hierarchy and the Bishops agreed to countersign the certificates. At the request of Cardinal Heenan, men were included in Our Lady’s Catechists. A new Postal Course of Home Study with a corresponding Tutor was produced and became known as the Diploma Course.
In 1976, Qualified Teachers of (Catholic) Religion were invited to receive special membership of OLC, subject to a period of probation. In 1980 in response to the increasing demand from priests of parish catechists, and from parents and others, who wanted to update their knowledge of Scripture and Doctrine after Vatican II, the Foundation Course, a postal course, was started. Certificates were awarded after successful examination and countersigned by the Bishops. Our Lady’s Catechists was invited and agreed to organise and run the Service through Religious Education (Roman Catholic) for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
From 1986 to 1998, OLC co-operated with the National Project and Diocesan training courses and became a member of the National Board of Religious Inspectors and Advisers. Although OLC is a Special Committee of the Catholic Women’s League, its membership is not restricted to members of the League and it does include men. The service offered is complementary to the religious education provision in each diocese. Course fees are kept at a minimum and nowadays, courses can be postal or e-mail. Our Spiritual Adviser is Rev Harry Curtis MEd, STL, BSc – Professor of Dogmatic Theology, Oscott College.