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

Submitted by: Lois Charlebois                   

Dear League Sisters and Father Tran, 

Hello again to all of you!  I hope you all received Communique #1 sent out in early September. Since then the Provincial Executive Fall Mid-term meeting took place in Kelowna      

October 23^rd to 26^th . To begin our few days together, Father Tran gave an excellent Spiritual presentation about St. Paul. The we began our very busy and “fruitful” few days as we had much business to attend to. I sent  all of you a copy of my “Report to Mid-term Meeting” and hope you received it.  

In my report, I mentioned the Vancouver YWCA Research project titled “Mothers Without Legal Status”. Mary Nordick-National Community Life Chairperson replied to me wondering if someone might make a Resolution on this topic. Is there any one who has knowledge about this and/or access to materials regarding Immigration and/or Family Law which would pertain to this topic?

Also, at Mid-term, I received information on BC & Yukon Resolution presented by Kamloops Diocese at our Provincial Convention and passed. It was 2008:07 – Protection of Human Trafficking Victims, a Priority. The National Resolutions Committee did not recommend accepting this Resolution for this years Convention. In November, I received information that this matter was being addressed through Bill S-218 “An Act to Amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act”.  It had passed 1^st and 2^nd readings but was referred to the Human Rights Commission-and I have not heard if  it did proceed any further. If it did not proceed further, we would like to re-work this Resolution and present it again this year.  If anyone has information about these matters, please send it to me. I would welcome any information and/or assistance with these two matters as soon as possible-as titles of Resolutions must be submitted in January 

I would remind all Community Life Chairpersons that you should soon be working on your Annual Reports, as Diocesan Reports must be submitted to me by January 15^th, 2009. Please share your Communiques or reports to your Councils with me and with the other Diocesan Chairpersons. My preferred means of communication is by e-mail, but I will gladly send paper copies if you need them. I also wish to thank all of our Community Life Chairpersons for the work you are doing.  

As we begin this Advent season, and prepare ourselves, with our families, and with our Church Communities for the coming of our Savior at Christmas—I send warm wishes to all of you for a joyful celebration of the birth of Jesus. I also extend to all of you my best wishes for a healthy, happy year ahead in 2009.  May Our Lady of Good Counsel bless us all at this special time of the year.