I started this March 13 and didn’t finish as I was waiting for some information. Easter is upon us and this has to get out. I wish you all a blessed Easter. Christ is Risen, he is risen indeed. Alleluia. We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song.

I think this is my last communiqué as Provincial Community Life Chairperson and it should provide you with some material to use for your oral reports to convention. Dr. Rayleen DeLuca recently prepared communiqué #8. I submitted my annual report to National on March 7. Thank you for your excellent annual reports, Rayleen congratulated us. If Rayleen sends out more info I will be sure to communicate again.

I read an interesting news article on Life Canada regarding Liberal MP Dr. Keith Martin (Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca riding) wanting an end to Human Rights Commission Assault on Free Speech. Dr. Martin introduced his private member’s motion M-446 on January 30,2008 calling for the removal of subsection 13 (1) of the Canadian Human Rights Act from the Act. This subsection deals with so called “hate speech” against individuals or groups. I have read stories of complaints against Maclean’s Magazine, Catholic Insight and the Christian Heritage Party. It seems the case against Ezra Levant (editor) was dropped in February. Write to your MP and pray.

I’ve received numerous emails from ECP centre in Langley where a convention is taking place March 28-29th 2008. The headlines say “Freedom of speech for Christians is a fairytale”. Theme: New media and a Christian perspective on free speech

Free Speech is under attack in Canada as never before. The Mark Steyn and Ezra Levant prosecutions before various Human Rights Commissions have brought the issue into sharp focus. What should the Christian response be in the midst of all the hype? Are free speech rights absolute? Does government have a role in regulating speech? How does the media fit into the picture? And how does all of this relate to “New Media” in this Internet age? Join us for an insightful weekend of discussion, analysis, and perspective on one of the most important issues facing Christians in our day. There is a registration fee. Regular conference price after March 17, 2008 Town hall only event – $55.00; Full conference event – $95.00 LOCATION Willoughby Christian Reformed Church, 20525 72nd Ave, Langley, British Columbia, V2Y 1T2. SPEAKERS Tristan Emmanuel, ECP Centre , Connie Fournier, Free Dominion , Ron Gray, Christian Heritage Party of Canada, Stephen Pidgeon, Lawyer , Al Siebring, No Apologies News Michael Wagner, Author. I don’t believe any speakers are Catholic but we should pray for the success of this conference as the topic affects us very much.

Excerpts from Dr. DeLuca’s Communique

Clemency for Canadians

The headline of the Toronto Star on March 5th read: “Canada to seek clemency over beheading sentence”. The article stated that according to a high level government source, Prime Minister of Canada, The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper “…has ordered Canadian officials to seek a reprieve from a death sentence for a young Canadian man sentenced to beheading in Saudi Arabia. …The young man is jailed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where he was arrested along with his younger brother Sultan, who turns 17 this week, in the death of a participant in a large schoolyard brawl.” The family of the young man has articulated that “clemency is not enough and that a fair retrial is necessary”. Canada abolished the death penalty in 1976 and for years have pressured foreign governments for clemency when its citizens faced execution. It is critical that members write to their members of parliament (MPs) requesting that the government continue to pressure foreign governments for clemency when Canadian citizens face execution. Further, it is important that members include a strong message that the young Canadian be given a fair retrial.

Call for Peace

Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops President Archbishop James Weisgerber of Winnipeg, recently called on the federal government to engage in a peace process in Afghanistan, debate Canada’s future involvement, and give citizens more information on Canada’s role in the armed conflict in Afghanistan and the implications for Afghan people. Clearly, members of the League, support Archbishop Weisgerber’s plea for a peace process.

Earth Hour, March 29th KAIROS wants you to turn off your lights for an hour at 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 29th. KAIROS suggests that the federal government’s “lack of action on climate change” has been contrasted by the “amazing response to Earth Hour”. Throughout the world, people are asking their communities and governments to turn off the lights. Cities across Canada have made a commitment to turn off the lights. For example, the Mayor of Winnipeg recently announced that all buildings owned or operated by the City of Winnipeg other than skywalks and parkades will have all lights turned off between 8 and 9 p.m. on March 29th. To learn of the many creative actions planned for Canada, see the website.

Human Trafficking

Human trafficking continues to be a focus for the League. It is imperative that we continue to strive towards eliminating the trafficking of women and children. I thank you for your communicating that you have attended and conducted workshops, written letters and have become educated on this most horrific problem. As indicated in a previous communiqué, MP Joy Smith (Kildonan/St. Paul CPC) has been instrumental in bringing forward human trafficking to the forefront of government business. Mrs. Smith has extensive information on this topic and indicated in a recent League meeting with her in Ottawa that she would be pleased to share it with members.

On February 28th the age of consent was finally raised from 14 to 16 years of age. Undoubtedly, this change in the law will aid in eliminating human trafficking. Of course, members must continue to have their voices heard especially with the serious concern relative to “co-op” brothels for sex trade workers. As indicated in an earlier communiqué, League members in B.C. & Yukon Provincial Council have already taken concrete action in developing and promoting a postcard campaign against legalization of prostitution.

Poverty

Rayleen extends her thanks to the councils that have contacted her about adopting a child. This is a most exciting project and another way members show that “we not only talk the talk – we walk the walk”. Yes, we are fighting child poverty – one child at a time.

International Women’s Day

In 1977 the United Nations General Assembly (UN) adopted a resolution calling on member states to proclaim a day for women’s rights and international peace. Following the UN’s lead, Canada chose March 8th as International Women’s Day. I hope members had the opportunity to celebrate the collective power of women, past, present and future on March 8th. Rayleen states:

Serving as the keynote speaker at an International Women’s Day celebration in Winnipeg, I spoke on “Women and Stress”. It was most interesting to me to find studies citing the importance of friendships between women. For example, a study conducted at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) found that female bonding activities serve as very important stress management strategies and have quantifiable health benefits that males miss out on. League members not only gain benefits spiritually and psychologically – but it would seem they can benefit physically as well!

While compiling the annual report there were comments about the postcard campaign. The postcard campaign is still ongoing and we would love to have more dioceses participate! They will ALL make an impact, If you wish to receive numerous postcards you can email Krista Bones at this email canadacanpostcards@gmail.com and she will mail them to you. Do it now so you can distribute the postcards at your conventions. No postage is necessary if the title MP is in the address. To read all the articles about decriminalization of prostitution visit www.CanadaCan.blogspot.com scroll down and you will find the address of your member of parliament. Act now while there is time!!! Please circulate to all your circles of influence. We need a flood of postcards send now. This comment is from Rayleen ” I strongly encourage members to join in B.C. & Yukon Provincial Council’s initiative to ensure that we don’t have legalized prostitution at the 2010 Winter Olympics”.

An item I mentioned in my Communique# 08 February 06.2008, needs clarification and more information. The last thing I want to do is create confusion. This is what I wrote “E. Audet mentioned a $15 donation to Plan Canada to pay for a birth registration in Sudan. Apparently this would help in the problem of trafficking.” “While a worthwhile project, we are advised to support our Catholic organizations” was the next sentence and was a reply from Dr. DeLuca after I wrote to her requesting information about Plan Canada to see if their aims and objects are compatible with our faith and morals. I found this info on their website. Plan Canada is the new name for Foster Parents Plan. They have a few projects under Gifts of Hope A $25 donation pays for a mosquito net in Uganda to help prevent malaria. The $15 donation to pay for a girls birth registration would ensure that the child has a national identity. Because they are not registered they have no legal rights and are vulnerable to trafficking, exploitation and abuse. I sent an email to Plan Canada asking them to clarify their position and they have not responded. Delving into the myriad options on www.Plancanada.ca I discovered: 1. click on Work With Us 2. click on “About Plan” 3. click on “How we Work” 4. click on CIDA projects and 5 choose Uganda for a country. Under HIV/AIDS read that they support sexual and reproductive health.

Now having said all this, continue on with working through our Canadian Catholic Organizations so our Catholic Church is seen as working for the glory of God. To propagate the faith we must be seen as working for God. We must also support countries whose citizens are predominantly Christian. To come to their aid is a duty of justice even prior to being an act of charity Do you remember about six years ago Fr. Tom Rosica telling us that it was important to support the Canadian Missionaries as they were doing Gods work and needed to be taken care of? Care for your own first.

A quote from Pope Benedict XVI

“In this way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Mt 5,16). Everything, then, must be done for God’s glory and not our own. If, in accomplishing a good deed, we do not have as our goal God’s glory and the real well being of our brothers and sisters, looking rather for a return of personal interest or simply of applause, we place ourselves outside of the Gospel vision.”

Remember to bring something Red along with you to your conventions so we can be a sea of Red on Friday to show support for our Military Troops and their families.

Sheila Quinn kindly drew up a chart to track your personal 1% donations to Development and Peace. I do not have a copy of this but it would be easy to draw a chart, have five columns, column 1 would have a listing of things that you would consider a luxury. The other four columns would be one for each week of the month. Some suggestions of luxuries, perms, hair colouring, movies, starbucks or coffee shops, lunches out, clothing, travel, makeup and perfume. You would tick off items on your list and give 1% of the value to be totaled up at months end and donated at the next CWL meeting. The Diocesan Presidents all have a copy of Sheilas handiwork so perhaps they could give you a copy and see how mine stacks up against it.

May the Risen Lord bless you and May His Mother Mary our patroness under the title of Our Lady of Good Counsel guide you in the path of charity and love.

Happy All Hallow’s Eve everyone, and Happy All Saints Day and All Souls day as well. What great days in our Church for witnessing to the holy aspect of these days. I was preparing a communique to bring everyone up to speed on important information in our Community Life department of The Catholic Women’s League of Canada and when I checked my morning email there was Communique #05 from Dr. Rayleen DeLuca, National Chairperson of Community Life, I shall add her comments to my report to you. A reminder for Diocesan Chairpersons to send me a copy of the report they send out to their parish chairpersons.

Our last Provincial Convention held in Victoria was dedicated to Africa as you well remember. Beverley Reid presented a children’s film entitled Anita’s Africa. Beverley kindly gave a copy of the film to each Diocesan President which I handed out to them at the Fall meeting in Rosemary Heights Oct 11-14. She also updated us on the Uganda Library project and only $22,000 is left to be raised before January 08, 2008 when she returns to Africa. If you have any fundraising going on for this project see that it gets sent to her before that. I just received news yesterday that Beverley Reid of Coming Home Films won First Prize in their division Documentary Film or Video. We offer our congratulations.

Still on the topic of Africa, read the following from Pope Benedict XVI:

Pope Appeals for Aid for African Nation

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 22, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI called for international support to help the Central African Republic overcome poverty.

The Pope made this appeal Saturday, when he received in audience the president of the country, Francois Bozize. After the two leaders talked for a little more than 10 minutes, the president went on to meet with the Pope’s secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for relations with states.

The Vatican press office reported: “During the cordial discussions consideration was given to questions concerning the situation in the Central African Republic, with particular reference to the peace process and the role played by the Church in the fields of national dialogue, health care and education.

“Mention was also made of the need for the international community’s support to help the country overcome poverty and the other difficulties it currently faces.”

About 25% of the nation’s 4 million inhabitants are Catholic. Another 25% are Protestant, 15% are Muslim, and the remaining 35% adhere to indigenous belief systems.

Just a few days before departing for Rosemary Heights I received many pages of information from Development and Peace. A formal project to help Grandmothers helping Grandmothers has not materialized yet but Louise Charbonneau, from CCDOP asks that we work especially hard to help our ongoing projects under our 1% program with CCDOP. This will get help to those that need it. Rather than make another document I will cut and paste the letter from Development and Peace, Louise Charbonneau so you will have the right words.

Dear Ms. Penno,

It was a pleasure speaking with you last week. I Hope I have caught you before your departure for the CWL regional meeting. As we discussed, your regional group has decided to stop supporting the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Go Go Grannies project, in favour of supporting the accompaniment work that Development and Peace undertakes with fledgling community groups, particularly women’s’ groups, helping them to organize their community and find their voice in their own community’s or region’s affairs.

On behalf of Development and Peace, my sincere appreciation goes out to all your members and active participants in advancing the life of women in the Global South. However, as we also discussed, we highly discourage gift designation from even our most generous supporters, and we do not like to accept designated donations of less than $25,000. If the Catholic Women’s League wishes to designate its gift so that its members might get involved, we are very open to helping you do that through timely and regular communication of progress of certain women’s groups in Africa. If you would like Development and Peace to share information about a specific partner, we4 are delighted to do so, in any format possible, even if your group did not designate your donation. It is important to organizations like ours to maintain as much flexibility as possible when accompanying and providing funding to our partner groups. Designation is important to groups like yours so that your members feel involved and active in their solidarity. We can accomplish this for you, without the designation to a specific project.

I urge the regional meeting of CWL to consider Guinea and Togo, and I would be pleased to pass on further information on these countries as a follow up. I was unable to get the country profiles translated in the short few days I had to get this to you in time, so attached are the partner profiles only.

GF2D (Women’s democracy and development and action group) in Togo, Africa. Togo, like Benin, receives very little help from the world for its development efforts. We are one of the very few organizations helping Civil Society in these countries.

<>

CONAG-DCF (Rights and Citizenship of Women) in Guinea, West Africa. Women represent half the population of this country, and they have a long way to go.

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Women for Change, Zambia. As you requested. However, we need to renew this group’s support on our next country mission to Zambia.

<> I look forward to your feedback, and we hope you will consider supporting Development and Peace, and its partners in the Global South, so as to ensure that we can respond in the most flexible way to our African partners’ needs.

Sincerely yours,

Louise Charbonneau
Director of Advancement
Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace
1 888-234-8533 ext. 309

As you are aware I was corresponding with Dr. DeLuca as well trying find out what special project National may be lining up for us. Here is the note sent by email.

Dear Carol:

Thank you so much for your message. As you are aware, the Bishop has been very firm relative to Grandmothers helping Grandmothers. Part of his statement follows: (Rayleen means Archbishop Smith, our National Spiritual Advisor).

“In this matter, as in others, I think it is important to distinguish between goal and means. This goal of supporting grandmothers is wonderful and should be pursued. The means to do so is another question. In both our choice of goals and our selection of means we need to be unambiguously true to who we are. In this particular case of the grandmothers, the desire to help them seems, for some, to be so strong that they are not sufficiently distinguishing it from the question of how best to do it. By choosing only the Stephen Lewis Foundation program, goal and means are being identified and not distinguished. Since this is a pro choice organization we run the serious risk, by association with it, of introducing ambiguity in what we want to be our unambiguous stand for life. Therefore, to be true to who we are in both goal and means, I believe we have to find some way to support the grandmothers other than through the SL foundation.” Carol, at the present time, we are reviewing the projects that we support with D & P. We are again requesting to support a project that directly helps grandmothers. In the meantime, I hope that your members will be open to helping the children directly — via adopting a child from a developing country or from our Canadian missions. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every council adopted one child? It would certainly follow our theme to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

May Our Lady of Good Counsel guide us on our Journey in Faith to Love One Another.
Rayleen

With respect to how we might look in the public eye should Lewis be granted the peace prize, I think we all agree that our accountability to the Gospel and Church is more important to us than public opinion. So dear League members, in order to keep ourselves true to our morals and values we must avoid any collaboration with those that work against us.

In Communique #5 received October 31, 2007, Rayleen writes that one goal as national chairperson of community life was to prepare a power point presentation that could be used by councils throughout Canada. This would showcase the many good works of member through community life. The presentation is nearly completed and may be used to (a) attract new members: (b) provide an overview for current members: and (c) encourage councils to attempt new initiatives. We will look forward to this with great interest. Rayleen continues.

Environmental issues are at the forefront as well. Social and economic justice is a major focus of the League’s work through community life. However, while reviewing the responsibilities and activities associated with this standing committee, it was evident that there has been relatively little activity spent on issues associated with the environment. Recently, environmental issues have been identified as a critical area. The state of the world’s environment is of growing concern. For example, on September 1, 2007 at a prayer vigil, an estimated 500,000 youth heard the Holy Father strike a strong ecological theme, saying young people need to press for courageous changes to save the planet “before it’s too late”.

Child Poverty
Dr. DeLuca would like a survey taken by the Provincial Chairpersons. Would the diocesan chairpersons kindly find out how many parish councils have adopted a foster child from a developing country as well as from our Canadian Missions. Please report back to me before year end. If you have not adopted a child, please consider doing so.

I logged onto Development and Peace Website to get the report issued October 24, 2007 in which D&P delivers strong message to Ottawa on the need to call Canadian mining companies to account. Seeing that this is one of our resolutions it would be wise to read this press release in its entirety. Visit www.devp.org/devpme/eng/pressroom/2007/pf-comm2007-10-24-eng.html

I believe I have given you a lot of information to digest and work your way through.

So until our next communications I wish you well. Work hard at helping your fellowman under this Community Life Committee. Rayleen now says “Community Life Rocks with Love, Faith, and Wisdom.

Remember that email will easily reach me wherever I may be. May Our Lady of Good Counsel guide us in all our endeavours.

Carol P….

Happy All Saints Day everyone:

I am preparing to leave for Arizona shortly but before I go I have to communicate with you. For your information I am enclosing my oral report given to the Mid Term meeting at Rosemary Heights Oct 20-22, 2006. There isn’t a formal communique from National at this time but I do have some thoughts to share with you that may be of some help in fulfilling your duties listed in your handbook. These duties are what we are to be concerned with; the other chairpersons of standing committees take care of the duties listed under their standing chair. Many people “complain” for lack of a better word about all the overlapping reports. Perhaps if we contain ourselves to our own duties we can alleviate this overlapping. We received copies of the annual report forms that have been revised while at the fall retreat. Our year end is coming soon so when you communicate with the parishes remind them to report on the new forms.

Report to Fall Mid Term/Retreat COMMUNITY LIFE

“COMMUNITY LIFE ROCKS” is the theme song chosen by Rayleen DeLuca, my National counterpart. We hope that we will be rocking with this large standing committee by years end. It has been years since I had this standing committee at the parish level.

The aim of Community Life as described in our handbook is to show that we are Christians by our love. The Christian virtue of charity is personified by our action to help others. Call to mind the song “Whatsoever You Do” to remember all the ways to help others.

I am seeking individuals from each diocese to work on the sub committee. I believe that having an enthusiastic member from each Diocese researching or touching on the pulse of events taking place will benefit us in the province as a whole. These ladies will not be infringing on the work of the Diocesan Chairpersons. This is to aid us to keep abreast of the many issues under Community Life.

My short term goals:

• To encourage councils to support the one resolution passed under Community Life “Increase Old Age Security” by writing letters;
• To promote the wearing of Red on Fridays to support the military and to remember the troops in our prayers;
• To promote care of the environment, recycle, reduce, re-use;
• To promote a greater support and awareness for the CWL 1% program. Are councils donating 1% of their revenues to the program? A few are, but many are not.
• To keep the trafficking of women and children awareness programs going throughout the dioceses by encouraging councils to sponsor workshops and education nights.

Long term goal:

• To communicate frequently with the Diocesan chairpersons to get to know them better and to keep them up to date on any developments.

Now onto some new items. Vancouver ArchDiocesan in association with the Sisters Association will present “The Lost in Traffic” play at two venues in the Greater Vancouver area November 11 and 12^th I believe. Pat D………, Vancouver Archdiocesan President had tickets for sale. Her address is in the roster.

Pope Benedict XVI has written his first encyclical entitled “Deus caritas est” (“God is Love”). Social Doctrine and charity lie at the heart of this encyclical. This is great reading for the laity. If you visit www.prolifesearch.com and type in the encyclical name in the search area, you can print off your own copy. I used the heading “Deus Caritas Est Encyclical letter to Bishops, Priest and Deacons, Men and Women Religious and all the lay faithful.” The print was larger. Part 2, starting at chapter 19, deals with Christian Charity.

For another “hot topic” keep abreast of developments with emission of greenhouse gases and the Clean Air Act. The National Post, Friday October 20, 2006 edition in glaring headlines stated that emission rules begin in 2010 and we have 44 years to cut greenhouse gases in half. There’s moving and shaking going on in Parliament. It’s anybody’s guess as to what will happen.

Provincial Council has received a request from a Catholic Organization named “The Call of the Poor” based in St. Norbert, Manitoba to help make their cause better known. I know that we support many missions and worthwhile charities at home and abroad right now and we support our food banks in our own home towns but if your heart feels touched to distribute appeals to your parishes please let me know and I can forward some material to you.

The United Nations released statistics on Child Poverty in the world and it is not good news. This topic has been on the slate for so many years without headway. Can you think of ways to address the issue?

May our Lady of Good Counsel Guide you in this important work of caring for others. God Bless

Carol P….