HISTORY

The organization can be traced back to the time of Pope Urban IV, who in 1378 encouraged the Catholic Women to emulate St. Anna in her fidelity to God and to her husband Joachim.  The organization is an association of Catholic Married Women, which was founded in Quebec, Canada, in May 1850 by Fr. K. Honorat, OMI.  By 1872, the first constitution was published with the approval of the Bishops of Canada. In 1934, Bishop Joseph Cyprian Buhomme, OMI, introduced the organization in Lesotho.  Bishop Heane and R. Abel of Gweru Diocese in Zimbabwe encouraged the organization to grow.  Initially it comprised of couples, but later on men started meeting on their own as St. Joachim Men Lay Organization. In Zambia, the organization was introduced by Zimbabweans (the Shonas) who came as refugees and settled in Lusaka, Mumbwa, Mungule, Keembe, Shibuyunji, Chongwe, Chinyunyu and Shakumbila.  They used to meet on their own, as the organization was looked upon as being for Zimbabweans only.