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

Submitted by: Carol Penno

Greetings to all: As this is my first Communiqué for 2010 I wish you much success in your work promoting Spiritual Development in your Dioceses. I hope you have had a wonderful response from the parishes for the Annual Report. Please send me your report by February 15, 2010 and send it by email please. I look forward with great anticipation to read what your Dioceses have accomplished. We have many people needing prayers in BC and Yukon. Alice Hallgren, Nelson Diocesan President had successful surgery on a carotid artery. Pray for her complete recovery. Nancy Simms is asking for prayers for her sister, and Doreen Gowans is thankful that her Mom came through the health crisis.

Please pray for those running for executive at Diocesan, Provincial and National levels. Pray also for those casting ballots. May the gift of discernment prevail in your choices of what is best for the League.

Terri Scott, National Spiritual Development Chairperson has her Communiqué #5 ready for our perusal. This was sent to me January 31 but I had trouble with my email after going to Yuma for six days and five nights. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was already finished when Terry’s report was sent so hope everyone responded to the prayers from the pulpit to mark this important time.

Reporting Deceased Members: The Diocesan SD chairpersons know that I compiled the list of names AI had received and submitted that to National by January 15. Now it seems that I have until February 15 to submit the list. National notified me that the last submission of names were in the mail so I will have to add to my list. Please use the proper form dated 2008 for reporting deceased members. Please review with your parishes so they understand the process. One copy to National. The form is available at www.cwl.ca under supplies and forms in a printable or online format. The form is also in the Policy and Procedure manual, photocopy so you continue to have a copy of the form.

As you know, Lent is approaching and begins Ash Wednesday, February 17. This is a time of repentance, change of heart and prayer. Promote your parish activities to make this a time of spiritual renewal. If your parish has a mission, promote it. If you have nothing then start something.

World Day for Consecrated Life (February 7th, and the Year for Priests: February 7th was set aside by Pope John Paul II in 1997 “for consecrated persons to renew their commitment and enkindle the fervour which should inspire their offering of themselves to the Lord.”

Terri has many suggestions on how the League can encourage and celebrate priests:

Send: thinking of your cards, certificates of appreciation, letters at special times of the year, thank you cards in appreciation for performing ceremonies pertaining to the sacraments received in your families. Take: video pictures of priest in action and make a nice album for them to recall of their vocation after their retirement. Invite: them to dinner, rent a good movie and invite them over. Make a calendar with priest’s names on each day for prayer and/or a phone call. Other suggestions, priest appreciation dinners, promise cards, e.g.: I will help you when you need help, bade some cookies and individually wrap with a spiritual bouquet promise taped to each cookie. Thank your priest for an excellent homily, or their charitable works, and for excellent pastoral works. Chat with them after mass; give them a hand with house cleaning, baking etc. Pray for seminarians, deacons and priests. Prepare a spiritual bouquet for a week in February designated to recognize priests. Ask for a homily giving the story of their “call”, their reaction, their family’s’ reaction etc. Show them signs of respect.

Prayer for the victims of the Haitian earthquake. The Daughters of St. Paul have a prayer book: http://www.pauline.org/FreeEbookofPrayersforHaiti/tabid/375/Default.aspx The prayers are offered for use “in bulletins, prayer groups, parishes or in the silence of your own heart. Support the Missionaries who provide food, shelter and medicines to the victims. Also support our Canadian Missionaries and remember to pray for them.

Saint Teresa of Avila said. “Christ has no body now but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walk to do good, Yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world”.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER will take place Friday March 5th. Many CWL councils are hosts for this event. We are a part of the Women’s Inter Church Council and participation is desired. This is an ecumenical event.

Feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel April 26th Plan now for special events to honour the patroness of our League. Many councils have a procession with members bringing a rose to place in a vase at the foot of a statue of Mary and reciting the rosary. This is followed by mass and a time of sharing food and conversation. Use the CWL Activities kit and promote a suggested activity to foster the theme “Women of Peace and Hope” and the” Day of Peace and Hope”.

I pray that this Lent will be a peaceful time for you; a wonderful examination of conscience for Lent is to use the Peace Prayer of St. Francis. It matters not what you do for lent, just do something. And in your prayers remember those in military service, may God keep them safe and hasten their return to their families. Remember to wear RED on Fridays and remember to bring something red to the conventions to wear on Friday.

May God bless your inexhaustible works for God and Canada. May our Patroness Our Lady of Good Counsel guide us along the way.