Harrisburg woman is first U.S. head of international women's group

Published: 2006-06-12

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Karen Hurley of Harrisburg, Pa., is the new president-general of the World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations, becoming the first U.S. woman to hold that post in the group's 96-year history. Hurley, pastoral associate at St. Margaret Mary Parish in Harrisburg for the past 16 years, began her four-year term during the organization's general assembly in Arlington, Va., which concluded June 7. She succeeded Maria Eugenia Diaz de Pfennich of Mexico. Joan McGrath of White Bear Lake, Minn., was elected the new U.S. representative on the WUCWO board. In a telephone interview with Catholic News Service June 12, Hurley said she considers her election "quite an affirmation for all the women in the U.S. who have worked so hard," as well as an "affirmation of the gifts we bring." Hurley, 48, has served as vice president for North America of the World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations for five years and was a member of the board for five more.

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .