Catholic Women’s League of Canada | BC and Yukon Council

Bursary guidelines and application form can be downloaded here: Molly Boucher Bursary Application. Deadline for applications is MARCH 31st each year. See application form for details.

Molly Boucher

1959 – 61    Provincial President BC/YK
1962 – 63    Archdiocesan President of Vancouver
1972 – 74    National President

Molly was born in Lancashire, England in 1921, emigrating to Canada with her family in 1929. She married Andre Anthony Boucher in 1943 and they had eight children. Molly was employed as Secretary to the Archbishop of Vancouver in 1971.

Molly joined The Catholic Women’s League of Canada in 1951 and served at all levels of the League, culminating in her election as National President in 1972.

Following her term of office, Molly continued to be a nationally prominent Catholic laywoman. She served as President of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development & Peace (CCODP – B.C.) and was a member of the Canadian Non-Governmental Delegation to the United Nations Conference on Population. Deeply involved in the Vancouver Catholic School Board, Molly was elected first President of the Federation of Independent Schools of Canada in 1978. In 1977, she received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal for her service to the Church. As President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Lay Associations (CCCLA) from 1986 – 88, Molly organized the first-ever Canadian Congress of the Laity, which took place in Ottawa in November 1988, as a follow-up to the 1987 Synod of Bishops on the Vocations and Mission of the Laity.

During her years of League service, Molly wrote many articles for the magazine and from 1982 – 84 she was appointed Editor.

Molly Boucher died in January 1990 at the age of 69. The Vancouver Archdiocesan President summed up the feelings of so many of Molly’s CWL friends when she said, “We say farewell to Molly Boucher – a special lady much respected for all her accomplishments.”

At the 1990 Annual Provincial Convention of the BC & Yukon Provincial Convention of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada a $500.00 bursary in memoir of Honorary Life Member, Molly Boucher, was established. Molly Boucher was the mother of eight children. She worked for the Archdiocese of Vancouver as Secretary for Archbishop Carney from 1970 to 1981. She was involved in the Catholic Women’s League for many years and was National President from 1972 to 1974.

Between 1970 and 1988, Molly Boucher was President of the following organizations: Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace for BC; Catholic School Trustees Association (BC); the Federation of Independent Schools Association (founding President); Canadian Catholic Schools Trustees Association, and the Catholic Lay Associations group. She was Director of Administration for the Papal Visit to Vancouver in 1984.

In May of 1987, Molly Boucher wrote: “For me the most important development since Vatican II has been my personal realization that each person is called by God to a special vocation within the world, just as a Priest or Religious is called to his or her particular vocation”. Molly was working to complete a University degree when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She died January 15th 1990.

The work that Molly Boucher did for the Catholic Women’s League and for the Church (especially in the field of Education) is an inspiration for all Catholic Women. This Bursary was established to provide some financial assistance to a member of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada in BC & Yukon who wished to further her education.

Bursary guidelines and application form can be downloaded here: Molly Boucher Bursary Application. Deadline for applications is MARCH 31st each year. See application form for details.