The Catholic Women's League of Canada (the League) was organized nationally on June 17, 1920 and granted federal incorporation on December 12, 1923. The League is officially recognized by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) as a lay association of women and is affiliated with the World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations (WUCWO), a world-wide federation holding membership in the conference of International Catholic Organizations (ICO) and having consultative status with agencies of the United Nations.

The objects of the League shall be to unite Catholic women of Canada:

• to achieve individual and collective spiritual development.
• to promote the teachings of the Catholic church.
• to exemplify the Christian ideal in home and family life.
• to protect the sanctity of human life.
• to enhance the role of women in church and society.
• to recognize the human dignity of all people everywhere.
• to uphold and defend Christian education and values in the modern world.
• to contribute to the understanding and growth of religious freedom, social justice, peace and harmony.

In order to allow councils maximum flexibility, each council shall determine the number of standing committees it requires, which shall include spiritual development and organization. Immediately after the annual meeting or convention, elected officers shall meet for the assignment of standing committee convenerships from the following designated list:

1. Spiritual Development: spiritual growth of members, study of Catholic teachings, role of women in the church, evangelization and mission assistance, lay ministries, and ecumenism and interfaith endeavours.
2. Organization: recruit members and maintain membership, leadership development, League resource material, annual reports, and life membership.
3. Christian Family Life: marriage and family, sanctity of life, ministry to youth, disabled, seniors, widowed, separated, divorced, and vocations.
4. Community Life: dignity and rights of persons, social and economic justice, refugees, immigration and citizenship, Canadian Catholic Organization for Develoment and Peace (CCODP), and developing countries
5. Education and Health: Catholic schools and catechesis, Rites of Christian Initiation, literacy and continuing education, scholarships and bursaries, wellness and sickness/disease, environment and genetics.
6. Communications: The Canadian League magazine, media, media relations, and pornography.
7. Resolutions: research and preparation of resolutions and briefs, study and implementation of resolutions passed by other levels, and presentation of resolutions to government.
8. Legislation: monitor and study legislation at all levels of government, and preparation of briefs and position papers on proposed legislation.
9. Parish Activities: (at parish level only) - liaison and cooperation with pastoral councils, and parish assistance.
10. Laws: (at national level only) - facilitate the study and implementation of Constitution & Bylaws, interpret the Constitution & Bylaws in consultation with the national president, chair the national amendments committee, and advise on parliamentary procedure.
11. International Relations: (at national level only) - liaison with World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations, and other international programs

The Feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel is celebrated on April 26. We pray through the intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel, the patroness of the League, who is our model to be imitated. How did the title of Our Lady of Good Counsel come about? In 1910, the World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations (WUCWO) was organized in Brussels, Belgium. Following the organizational meeting of the League on June 20, 1920 in Montreal, an invitation was received from WUCWO inviting the League to affiliate with the world-wide federation. Historical records indicate Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Good Counsel, had been chosen as the patroness of WUCWO. Subsequently, at the annual national convention in 1923 in Halifax, a resolution was passed to adopt Our Lady of Good Counsel as the League's patroness. It is interesting to note, from church records, that the title Mother of Good Counsel had been inserted into the Litany of the Blessed Virgin in the early 1900s by the pope of the day. The history and recognition of the picture of Our Lady of Good Counsel is explained in the historical section of the National Manual of Policy and Procedure.