Back in 1961 a group of Mums met each day at the school gates when dropping off their children at St George’s RC Primary School. An invitation to meet for coffee lit the spark of what would become an active organisation within the parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel & Saint George here in Enfield. This small group calling itself the Young Wives Club soon became very active within the parish. It organised itself to have a President, Secretary and Treasurer and meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month.
Guest speakers are invited and the range of topics can vary widely. The year is divided into two ‘terms’ with a programme of events and each term ends with a ‘Tasty Bit’ when members bring food for a shared supper to which the Parish’s clergy are invited.
In 2011 the Mount Carmel Ladies Group celebrated its 50th anniversary. To mark the occasion the Ladies have donated a lamp (pictured right) for Our Lady’s Shrine in the church in memory of deceased members.
The Group also regularly makes charitable donations to the local community, raising money through our meeting raffle.
Apart from social events, the group also provides a warm welcome to new parishioners as well as providing a supportive role of fellowship to parishioners who suddenly find themselves alone, perhaps through bereavement.
The group also has outings, perhaps a meal at a local restaurant, a coach trip through the streets of London at Christmas time to see the festive lights and have been on several coach trips, e.g. Constable country, Oxford, the churches of Essex and many more. There is also a spiritual element to the group, with an annual Retreat or Day of Recollection.
After 50 years, the group is now known as the Mount Carmel Ladies Group, a thriving active group, one of the largest groups of its kind within the Diocese of Westminster. New members are very welcome to join us.