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

Submitted by: Marilyn Van Dongen

Family Life in our modern world has gone through many changes that have affected our society and culture. In the quest for materialism many people have lost sight in what it means to nurture the family. Children are no longer viewed as blessings but as hindrances. Many moral values that we held sacred have now been discarded and viewed as old fashioned. What can we do to make a difference?

National council has started a Catholic Girls’ League (CGL) encouraging parish councils to organize a council in their parishes with guidelines based on faith, fun, friendship and formation. The only CGL council that I know of in BC is in the Alberni Valley. The counselors are Myrna R……. and Debbie M…….. They are excited to see a way to draw our youth into service and community before the catechism years end. They are hoping that this will promote continued participation in their parish community and they will be encouraged to join the CWL when they become 16. » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Marilyn VanDongen

My term is quickly coming to an end but my involvement in Christian Family Life will never come to end. A big thank you to our Diocesan Counterparts: Betty Kuntz, Catherine Stroman, Eileen Bouvier, Sammy Nelligan and the members in the Whitehorse Diocese for all the time and effort you put into these important issues. Eileen and Therese’s term is finished while the other chairpersons will be carrying the torch for another year. And, where would we be without Ann Doucet, our National Counterpart. I have enjoyed working with Ann and getting to know her both through her communiqués and emails.

Ann welcomed her newest granddaughter into their family on March 30, Lily Suze-Ann. Not to be outdone by Ann, I welcomed a granddaughter into our family the night of April 16, Taylor Mae. She is named after my Mother, Mae. I was out of town every other weekend (four day weekends) in April so I was fortunate that our Diocesan convention was in Kamloops April 17 – 19. I was able to attend the convention and also spend time with Taylor Mae. Babies bring so much joy and hope! » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Marilyn Van Dongen

Dear League Sisters,

As I am writing this communiqué, I am watching the snow fall, quickly piling up in my yard. We are into the Lenten season but it is hard to think of preparing for Easter and spring, with all this snow.

We were back at Rosemary Heights for our winter mid-term meeting January 25 – 27. I have attached my mid-term report with this communiqué.

Marriage and Family

St Joseph’s Workers for Life and Family has a 10 CD audio set entitled Naked Without Shame – A Crash Course in the Theology of the Body. The series explains John Paul II insights on marriage and sexuality in a clear and dynamic way. I will snail mail information. It can also be accessed on their website www.sjw.ca. This is a fantastic course that, with the tapes, you can facilitate it in your parish. Hopefully you have ordered copies of Families, where are the saints of the third millennium? at only .40 each from Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF). It can be ordered online www.colf.ca, or by phone (613) 241-9461. It can also be printed off their website. » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Marilyn Van Dongen

Dear League Sisters,

Advent is just around the corner. “Advent means the coming, and is used by the church to represent the four thousand years of preparation for the coming of the Redeemer and at the same time points us to His second coming as our judge.” Goffin’s Devout Instructions, copyright 1896. This was my Grandmother’s book; she would have been 11 years old when it was copyrighted. Our Catholic church was the same yesterday as it is today. We must be ready for the second coming of Christ. “Keep awake therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” Matt 24:42.

The Provincial Executive was at Rosemary Heights in Surrey for our Fall Mid-Term meeting October 11 – 14. Our time at Rosemary Heights was wonderful. The Spiritual Programs were awesome thanks to Dodie Bond. We attended Saturday evening Mass at Star of the Sea parish in White Rock where we were warmly welcomed. Sandra Stajduhar gave copies of the fall issue of our provincial newsletter to diocesan presidents for each parish council in their diocese. We received our newsletter by email before the meeting. There are two newsletters per year. Ask someone, your diocesan president or me your committee counterpart, to forward the newsletter to you. I have attached my National Convention Report that was submitted with my Midterm Report. » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Marilyn Van Dongen

Dear League Sisters,

WELCOME back from the land of summer! Enjoy the summer weather while it lasts while at the same time respond to our CWL responsibilities that are calling us. I had an awesome time at the National Convention in Montreal. I found the Commissioning of Life Members was very emotional. I am so thankful to God for choosing me to be a Life Member; it was only with a lot of help from God that I was able to fulfill the criteria. Our theme Love One Anther ran through the full convention. I am sure you will hear a lot about the convention. After the convention my husband, Casey, joined me and we traveled around the province of Quebec.
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Submitted by: Marilyn Van Dongen

There is no shortage of resources for the issues dealt with in this standing committee. I always carry reading material with me in case I am stuck waiting somewhere. Conferences are fun to attend and are a wealth of information. Right now Edmonton is the place to be. A conference on euthanasia and end-of-life issues was held in May 25 in Edmonton.The newly formed Diocesan Vocation Directors of Canada are holding a conference in Edmonton June 11 – 15. Novalis has published an excellent resource aimed at teens 12 – 17 years old titled “It’s Your Call”. It reminds young people who feel lost and aimless that God has a call for each one of them. Also in Edmonton June 15 & 16 is a conference on Towards a New Sexual Revolution, National Symposium on the Theology of the Body. Margaret Beardon, as national sub-committee chairperson, will be representing our league. Watch out for conferences you are able to attend. It will be well worth your time and money. What you do with your time and money shows what is important to you. » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Marilyn Van Dongen

Dear League Sisters,

HAPPY EASTER! “I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.” Ps 30:2
During winter nature seems to die. Leaves drop off the trees and other vegetation droops. Next comes the yucky time of year when the snow melts and everything looks so dirty and unkempt. Out of the mess new life appears. Buds appear on tree branches and shrubs. Tulips break through the ground, their green leaves appear. Resurrection, new life! During Lent we tidied up what was yucky in ourselves, we prayed “I cried out to you and you healed me; you brought me up from the nether world” Ps 3-4. Jesus triumphed over death and has given us new life! » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Marilyn Van Dongen

Dear League Sisters,

During this time of lent we reflect on Jesus’ life, suffering and death. I ordered leaflets titled Living, Suffering and Dying: what for? from the Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF) <www.colf.ca> and will mail them to the Diocesan Christian Family Life Chairpersons. I will also mail the brochure and leaflet order form from COLF; they have many good titles.

Towards a New Sexual Revolution
COLF are putting together their first National Symposium on the Theology of the Body. » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Marilyn Van Dongen

Dear League Sisters,

Winter has now come of all parts of Canada. I am sure Eastern Canada was hoping that winter would forget about them this year but January is known to be the worse weather month of the year.

Marriage and Family
The vote taken on December 7, 2006 to decide if the same-sex marriage debate should be reopened was defeated by 175 – 123. Polls have found that the majority of Canadians want traditional marriage to be restored but the Bloc and the NDP did not allow their members a free vote. Groups that have been defending the traditional definition of marriage have stated they will continue to do so. “We will not give up our efforts to restore marriage to Canada because it is so vital to the future we bequeath to our children and to future generations.” Taken from Restore Marriage, Canada Newsletter, December 8. “I am convinced that families who follow God’s design and His teachings on grace, loving one another and selflessness, will be a witness for Christ in our communities at a time when hope is needed by so many.” Focus on the Family Canada December 15 email.

September 27 – 28, 2006 Ann D., National Chairperson of Christian Family Life, attended the Family Service Canada Conference Celebrating the Power of Families and Communities held in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her report on this conference is on the national website on the Christian Family Life page . » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Marilyn Van Dongen

Dear League Sisters,

September has arrived. Welcome back to both first and second term Christian Family Life Chairpersons: Iris B.-Kamloops Diocese, Catherine S.-Nelson Diocese, Paulette D.-Prince George Diocese, Afra N.-Vancouver Archdiocese, Therese J.-Victoria Diocese, and our members up north in the Whitehorse Diocese.

We are blessed to have Ann Doucet as our national counterpart. … On the National Council she has been Chairperson of Education & Health and Community Life. Read more about Ann on our National Website www.cwl.ca then click on the Christian Family Life icon.

I joined the League in 1979 in a new parish in Kamloops, St. John Vianney. I was Parish President 1988 – 1990 and Diocesan President 1999 – 2001. I have served in many positions on those levels. On Provincial Council I have been Communications and Legislation Chairperson.
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