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

Submitted by: Pat Battensby

My Dear Life Member Sisters,

I do wish you a happy and mainly HEALTHY New Year. We have lost so much in the last few months with the passing of Mabel Allan, Pollyanna Kilgour and Ruth Hazlett that I feel we must hold each other close in our hearts and prayers and cherish the special sisterhood that we share. Please note in the Canadian League magazine page 28 notes the passing of these three very special women. We are grateful for this notice. We are already too few in number. Please be assured that I have sent condolences in your name to the above concerned and also sympathy and empathy cards in the loss of Lucie’s husband Stephen as well as Ruth’s husband Cliff. Our hearts and prayers are with you Lucie as you adjust to this new state in life for you. I have passed on the many prayer requests that I have received from National office and even though we don’t know these people, the golden thread runs through us all because they are our Life Member sisters.

Welcome to Marion Nygren, Nelson Life Member Liaison who kindly took over after we lost Pollyanna. We know that you will enjoy this role as our main thrust is just to keep in touch!

Thank you Lucie and Marjorie for the most interesting notes that you have sent about your Diocesan Members and for the birthdays that you sent on. I would love to hear from the rest of you about what’s new with you all.

I have received instructions from Shirley Bernier as to how my Annual Report should be structured. One of the questions asks how you inform your Life Members after you receive my communiqués. Please answer this for me and send it back a.s.a.p. because I really do not know. I know how Marjorie does it in my Diocese but not anything about how the other four of you carry this out. Please let me know.

Shirley Bernier has also asked that in my annual report, I include any special events that might have happened with any of our members. Please inform me of that as well. She also asked about Life Member’s service at the parish level. So you can see all in all what I need from you is a mini annual report with these questions answered. Let’s try and give a good comprehensive report from our province this year.

Our second Life Members Annual Arts and Culture Award will be awarded again this year at the provincial convention. Please note that this year the application forms will be distributed through the Health and Education Chairpersons down the line. Our job is to encourage our members to have a look at it and see if they or their families would qualify. We had wonderful applicants last year and hope to increase those applications this year. We hope to see many of you at the convention this year as it is an election year. We have also received a wonderful boost for the Arts and Culture Award fund this year. Shirley Armillotta has received a donation of $150.00 in memory of Pollyanna so we are indeed grateful for this and will indeed remember our dear Pollyanna through this award.

In Vancouver, this is a very exciting time as we prepare to welcome the world or at least 300,000 of them to our beautiful city for the Olympics. Many of us are involved in volunteer capacities both within our own chancery office and also with More than Gold. Please check this websites out on your computer and catch up with our activities. Our diocese is very involved and with great enthusiasm and participation. Pray for the success of the games, that people remember most about the welcoming approach of our people and not the access of trafficking through prostitution or any terrorist acts. We need your prayers to have a good clean safe Olympic games. We need your prayers for snow as well PLEASE.

Much love to you all and thank you for your work in this special mandate that Life Members have in the League. I hope to see many of you at convention.