Spiritual Development Communique #2

Submitted by: Dodie Bond

Hello once again;

I pray all is well with you and your families, and that the weather is kind to you all.

Have you had time to take a look at the fall issue of the League Magazine? It is full of awesome articles and great pictures of the banners that were presented for consideration for Love One Another competition. I wouldn’t have wanted to be the judge, I personally loved them all.

Are you praying to Stay Awake? He’s coming… It’s that time again (ADVENT). Do you remember the resolution that was passed in 1974 in regards to resolutions passed from 1966 and 1971?

Resolution 1974.01 resolved “that we reaffirm the national resolutions of 1966 and 1971 asking members to undertake a nationwide prayer for peace, which would request each member to participate in the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist on one week-day of each month for “Peace in the World”.”

Our National Spiritual Development Chairperson Cecile Miller and I ask that you consider doing some of the things listed below, please feel free to add to the list:

Pray for Peace in the World
Ask Our Lady of Good Counsel to intercede for us to her Son, the Prince of Peace
Say a prayer for Peace before or after meals
Try to attend a day of prayer or weekend retreat
Share your stuff (unwanted items) with the poor and less fortunate
Pass on the books you are finished with that have helped you with your faith journey
Love yourself and love others
Walk with your sisters in the League as you prepare for the coming of Christ
Read Isaiah 2:1-5 in your December meeting “then everything will be changed. We will walk in God’s paths, the Lord’s house will be the highest, and no nation will go to war”.

A request: I have been asked for prayers for “Married Life” to be submitted to national by January 15th, 2008. How would you like to ask your ladies to come up with a prayer regarding Married Life and I will submit it and maybe it will be chosen by Nationals Chairperson for Spiritual and Christian Family Life and be placed in a new version of League Prayer Card. Please be sure to put name of council, name of submitter as well as your diocese. Send submission to me and I will send them on.

49th International Eucharist Congress Temporary Voluntary Fund:
Some funds have come in, but the half-way mark has still not been reached for the League commitment to the Congress committee. Could you ask your councils to consider a donation to this worthy cause…? (Read your fall League Magazine for more details)

There are still rooms available at the Chateau Laurier in Quebec City, Quebec. If you are planning on attending you can contact our Provincial President Barb Dowding and she will give you the name of the contact person.

If you are planning on attending, you can save $30.00 by registering early before January 2008.

The Catholic Missions In Canada: is celebration 100 years of Mission (1908-2008) they are inviting us to help them celebrate this awesome event.

Their Mission today, as it has been for the past 100 years, is to foster and extend the blessings of the Catholic faith throughout the mission dioceses of Canada which cannot financially support their local church and its ministry. In 2007, Catholic Missions In Canada has committed over $4 million to support the needs of 600 missionaries working in 26 Canadian mission dioceses, and serving 1.2 million Catholics across Canada – from Newfoundland to British Columbia to Nunavut.

Six critical areas include the support of:

• Missionary priest, sister, religious and lay leaders;
• Teaching of religious education programs to children, youth and adults;
• Building and repair of churches, rectories and religious centers;
• Ministry to our First Nations’ peoples;
• Education of seminarians

Here is our challenge: (let the people know of this great happening and what they do) Very few people know that the Catholic Missions exist in Canada, and ever fewer support it.

Our challenge to each Provincial, Diocesan and Council across Canada is to help us raise awareness of Catholic Missions In Canada in our community through an event of our choosing. Whatever the event, be it a faith breakfast, a luncheon, a dinner or a gala, the focus should be to educate and communicate the immense values and need of the work being done by our Canadian missionaries today. They will assist you by providing educational materials, including, whenever practical, arranging to have missionary speakers at you event.

If the event includes a fundraising component, you wish to send the proceeds to National to support “The Catholic Women’s League of Canada’s National Catechesis Endowment Fund”.

To find out more about this, contact Anne Hanley of The Catholic Missions In Canada at (614) 934-3424, EXT. 227 or toll-free @ 1(866) 937-2642

Salt & Light DVDs:
Web site; www.saltandlighttv.org/shopping or call (888) 302-7181

DVDs available; Saints: Gospel Artists; Love Is a Choice, the life of St. Gianna Beretta Molla; the Journey of Light (journey to the Holy Land)

Good Reading: I personally recommend a book by Vinny Flynn called “7 Secrets of the Eucharist”. I have read this book as well watched a DVD of the same name. I would highly recommend this book to your council to read. It is very in tune with the eve of 49th International Eucharistic congress coming up next year. You can find more about this book and DVD by going on their web site www.mercysong.com or call them at 1 (888) 549-8009.

Stamps: Please remember to ask for Nativity – related stamps for all your Christmas mailings.

Dates to Remember:

Advent begins December 2nd
December 12th is the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
December 12th is the Catholic church’s National Day of Prayer for Aboriginal People
December 30th The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
January 6th Epiphany of the Lord
January 13th Baptism of the Lord (Thanksgiving for the Beloved Son
January 20-28, 2008 is Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The theme is Pray without ceasing. Materials are available from Novalis, 10 Lower Spadina Ave., Suite 400, Toronto, ON M5V 2Z2. Telephone (800) 387-7164; facsimile (800) 204-4140; e-mail living@novalis.ca ;

Website www.novalis.ca

This will be my last communique before the New Year. Please accept my prayers for you and your family. God Bless you all and may Our Lady of Good Council intercede for you and your family in all your prayers. Merry Christmas, Peace on Earth, and remember to keep Christ in Christmas always.

Dodie B….