Christian Family Life Communique #7
Submitted by: Marilyn Van Dongen
Dear League Sisters,
As I am writing this communiqué, I am watching the snow fall, quickly piling up in my yard. We are into the Lenten season but it is hard to think of preparing for Easter and spring, with all this snow.
We were back at Rosemary Heights for our winter mid-term meeting January 25 – 27. I have attached my mid-term report with this communiqué.
Marriage and Family
St Joseph’s Workers for Life and Family has a 10 CD audio set entitled Naked Without Shame – A Crash Course in the Theology of the Body. The series explains John Paul II insights on marriage and sexuality in a clear and dynamic way. I will snail mail information. It can also be accessed on their website www.sjw.ca. This is a fantastic course that, with the tapes, you can facilitate it in your parish. Hopefully you have ordered copies of Families, where are the saints of the third millennium? at only .40 each from Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF). It can be ordered online www.colf.ca, or by phone (613) 241-9461. It can also be printed off their website.
Sanctity of Life
The following was copied from the Ann Doucet’s Communiqué #6 which was submitted by National sub-committee Chairperson Margaret Beardon. LifeCanada is marking the 20th anniversary of the Morgentaler decision regarding abortion. It has come up with a proactive plan to refocus public attention on the real issue of life and death entitled Abortion: Have we gone too far. It is not too late to order postcards that may be sent to members of parliament (MPs) and physicians then handed out to the general public by calling (866)780-5433 or by emailing gschultz@lifecanada.org. The cost is .10 per card plus shipping.
Have you ordered the new DVD/video, Turning the Tide: Fighting for our Lives, produced by Salt † Light Catholic Media Foundation and the EPC, one copy $50, two copies $70, or four copies $100? To order call (877) 439-3348. You may be able to borrow it from your diocesan resource center.
Also from Ann’s communiqué: The Knights of Columbus would like to see everyone participate in the National March for Life May 8, 2008. Councils that cannot attend the national march in Ottawa are being asked to go to their provincial legislature on the same day to participate. There will be more information on this worthy initiative from the Knights of Columbus at the national winter executive meeting the end of February.
Make sure you read Ann’s article in the winter 2008 League magazine entitled How Pro-Life Are We? then order our Pro-Life pamphlet from national office at $1 each.
Ministry to Youth – Catholic Girls’ League (CGL)
Our first CGL in BC is in Port Alberni! If there are any other BC councils, please keep me informed. I know there are a few parish councils that are considering starting a CGL council.
A discussion at the fall national executive meeting on the future of the CGL brought forward the following three motions:
- that the designation “pilot project” be removed from all references to the CGL
- that the national Christian Family Life standing committee chairperson support parish councils’ efforts to develop faith-based youth groups for girls
- that the existing CGL group leaders network to develop basic guidelines, including steps to organizing and the process of screening, for presentation at the winter executive meeting with expenses to be covered by the national treasury
From Ann’s communiqué she states that there are presently 17 CGL councils in three provincial councils; five in Alberta Mackenzie, 11 in Ontario and one in Quebec.
Ministry to Disabled, Seniors, Widowed, Separated and Divorced
On Friday I was at the ribbon cutting for The Hamlets Westsyde with 62 units of seniors assisted living and 112 bed residential care. One building is for those that are not seniors but require care. There is a need for facilities that offer care for non-seniors. They could have dieses like MS or brain damage from an accident. The Hamlets Penticton is under construction.
There is a great need in our church to make widowed, separated and divorced Catholics feel accepted. This is an area where our members can make a difference with our compassion and love.
Vocations
On the Archdiocese of Vancouver website, www.rcav.org, there is information under Fishers of Men and also under Vocations. Other diocesan websites also have good information.
Those that attended the Christian Family Life lunch at the provincial convention last year received a pamphlet It’s Your Call. Promote this pamphlet which can be ordered from Novalis at $2.50 each. There is information on Novalis’s website www.novalis.ca or by phone 1-800-387-7164.
The Christian Family Life standing committee has such a wealth of information. You don’t have to look very far to find it.
Your Sister-in-the-League,
Marilyn
No comments