Catholic Women’s League of Canada | BC and Yukon Council

Please see below for the greeting delivered by President Barbara Dowding at the Knights of Columbus State Convention on April 26, 2008:

Your Excellencies Archbishop Miller, Bishops Monroe and Nowacoski, Mr. O’Hara, Worthy State Deputy, delegates and guests,

Greetings and blessings from nearly 9000 members of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada in British Columbia and the Yukon!

It is an honour, and a pleasure, to extend to each and every one you heartfelt best wishes, as you gather in convention. Imagine – 97 years of dedication and service! A milestone of its own, made even more meaningful, by your legacy. Evidence of your stewardship abounds in the residences you have built, the funds you have raised and the care given to those who need it the most.

The Catholic Women’s League, while not quite as old as you, has a similar history – one that grew out of a need to help young women new to Canada in the 1920′s – and which continues to serve, as our prayer says, at home and abroad sharing the good things He has given us…..

We know our world is changing at an alarming pace, before our very eyes to the extent it seems we can’t keep up. There is evidence of profound changes around personal identity, attitudes and relationships between the sexes, where terms like ‘gender ideology’ have become commonplace. In addition there is the even more worrying phenomenon, which is the crisis affecting the entire world – the refusal of people to accept God – of God being pushed out of society.

And yet, as Catholic women and men we know there is great hope – Hope for the future, hope for the Church and for society. We also know that by working together will be able to give a clear and positive Christian response in the world.

As members of our great organizations, this is what we do and this is our challenge. We are called to collaborate and to find ways to offer authentic witness and action.

Your theme, Follow Me, brings to mind examples of many saints, but in particular our modern day saints like Mother Teresa, Edith Stein and of course your founder, the venerable servant of God Michael McGivney. These seemingly ordinary people were followers of the Jesus first, before they gave everything they had, and were, to others, as they lived out the Gospel. It is from them we learn to follow.

And, Knights of Columbus – you are doing exactly that! Congratulations on the work you’ve done regarding trafficking of persons, prostitution and women’s rights. The CWL will be there to support your March for Life, which is sure to be a resounding success and to join you in the Eucharistic Adoration in June and so much more.

Your theme is an exhortation to follow Christ, whatever it takes, wherever it takes us. The Catholic Women’s League of Canada applauds and thanks you for all you do. We look forward to many more fruitful years of collaboration and partnership. Our voice nearly 20,000 strong – Let us then, follow joyfully, with hearts full of wonder and hope.