2009 Convention Press Release

Submitted by: Doreen Gowans

The 62nd Annual Convention of the BC & Yukon Council of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada was held in Prince George, BC hosted by the councils of the area, May 27 – 31, 2009.Reports from the Executive, Standing Committees and the six Diocesan Presidents were informative as well as educational. Six resolutions came to the floor, were passed with five going forward to the CWL National Council for presentation at its convention in August. Fr. Tien Tran, Provincial Spiritual Advisor spoke on “Prayer and Worship”, while National President Danielle McNeil Hessian made a presentation on the new theme “Women of Peace & Hope”. Other presenters were Sean Murphy on “Protection of Conscience & Religious Freedom.” Members watched a DVD by Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk entitled “Cutting Through the Spin” which examined the science and ethics of stem cell research and cloning. Life member Pat Battensby and Past President Barbara Dowding gave an educational presentation on Trafficking. This included an overview of the Provincial CWL’s involvement in the trafficking issue since 2004 and recognition of the BC and Yukon Bishop’s Pastor Letter on Human Trafficking as well as “Buying Sex is not a Sport” the initiative to raise awareness as the 2010 Olympics in the city of Vancouver draws near. This was followed by a moving meditation of Stations of the Cross for Trafficked Victims.

Life Member Shirley Armillotta presented the Life Member’s first Arts & Cultural Bursary to Kayla Perrin, from St. Ann’s Academy, Kamloops, BC. The Molly Boucher Bursary went to Pat Carter from Duncan, BC.

During the closing Mass the Executive and table officers were reaffirmed in the presence of his Excellency Most Rev. Gerald Wiesner, OMI, Bishop of Prince George, Fr. Tien Tran, Coquitlam, Fr. Frank Franz, Duncan, Fr. Tony Ackerman, Armstrong, Fr. Terry Brock, Terrace, Fr. John Garden, Prince George, and Fr. Richard Beaudette, OMI, Prince George.

Educating and encouraging members to reach out in their parishes and communities as women of Peace and Hope serving with Faith and Joy is the goal of President Marianna Caldwell and her executive for the following year.

For more information or to view reports, please visit our web site www.cwl.bc.ca