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

Submitted by: Rose Sehn

The Nelson Diocesan Council reports for 2009 indicated that most parish councils are doing quite well. Some Standing Committee Chairs are not filled. However, most councils submit reports of activities in all committees. The challenge for all councils is to attract younger women to join and take responsibility on the executive level.

There has been an increase in our membership in the past two years and we hope that this trend continues. A majority of councils divide the meetings in the business/spiritual/ social components and this leads to better attendance and interest in league work. The best notes about parish councils were the ones which stated the camaraderie among the members is great, as is the love for one another.

We honored two women for their exceptional service to the League with the Bellelle Guerin Award. Perhaps, we could honor more of our deserving members with this award.

Nelson Diocese will host the 2011 B.C.& Yukon Provincial Convention in Penticton. Sharon Vaillancourt, of St. Ann’s Council is Convention Chair; she reports the convention is now a work in progress.

Our Past-President, Alice Hallgren, attended the Provincial Midterm meetings, and presided at the diocesan meetings, finding this a rewarding experience.

The Nelson Diocesan 74th Annual Convention was held in Osoyoos, April 29-May 2, 2010. It was well attended, 25 out of 28 councils were represented. We were very pleased to have a resolution brought forward which was approved for presentation to Provincial Council.

Our new Spiritual Adviser, Fr. Rex Velmonte was installed last September. At convention, Fr. Rex gave us a presentation on the Year of the Priest, by giving us his journey of his decision to become a Priest and his life as a priest today.

The Provincial Workshop presented by Provincial President-Elect, Nancy Simms, assisted by the Organization and Community Life Chairpersons, was well received. We were taught how good leadership helps to encourage members to participate, to take responsibilities and duties which uses their gifts and talents.

Agnes Bedard, 1st Vice-President for North America, of WUCWO widened our vision of the world scene; she gave us an insight to Catholic Women’s Organizations and WUCWO. It is all about connecting with the women of the world, being the voice for our sisters, who have no voice; it is about doing what we can do, because we can.

We did indeed have a wonderful convention.

As for my hopes and expectations for this year I would like to reach out to every Council in the Diocese by visiting the outlying areas, especially the small councils who have problems recruiting any members, let alone younger members. I believe personal contact with the councils fosters growth.

I hope to increase the locations of doing workshops, reaching out to some of the smaller communities. In the past we have had four workshops each fall. I would like to increase this to six.