The National Council of Catholic Women was formed in 1920 at the request of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops to serve as a relief effort for causes resulting from World War I. On the International level, the National Council is a member of the World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations (WUCWO), which is affiliated with the Secretariat of the Laity at the Vatican. The World Union comprises the largest women's organization in the world.

In 1925, Bishop Henry Tihen directed the formation of an outreach to migrant workers in the Denver-Greeley areas to serve their spiritual and temporal needs. This was the foundation for the Council of Catholic Women in the Denver Diocese with many different women's groups joining together to serve the Church, the community and the individual.

Today, both national and local councils promote and implement the Bishop's programs and initiate their own. Members who join all levels of Council, including Interparochial Affiliations, remain autonomous, but are united in heart and purpose in the apostolic work of the Church.

The National Council of Catholic Women acts through its affiliated organizations to support, empower and educate all Catholic women in spirituality, leadership and service. National Council of Catholic Women programs respond with Gospel values to the needs of the Church and society in the modern world.