IN response to the press statement from the Archdiocese (St Helens Star, July 29) we, the lady members of the former St Austin's CMS Club, would like to make the following points.

The aims of the Catholic Mens Society are spiritual - namely to have masses said, planned discussions, retreats and community service. St Austin's male parishioners were proud to be a part of this, the social side being secondary to these aims.

St Austin's was one of the main branches in the whole of the country. In the early years it was a 'Men Only' club, as the name suggests.

However, on the opening of the new building in 1958, to move with the times, the ladies of the parish were allowed to participate on a monthly basis. This graduated to full access to all ladies of the parish in the 1960s and ladies of other denominations as well.

The former St Austin's CMS has always reached out to the wider community and proof of this is the vast membership we have always enjoyed with the full and willing support of every parish priest.

Extract from Sunday's readings - St Paul to the Romans: "Nothing can come between us and the love of Christ even if we are troubled, worried or being persecuted, or being threatened or even attacked. These are the trials through which we triumph by the power of him who loved us."

J. Wright, Rita Pennington, Hilda Savage, Monica Joyce and P. Pennington.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.