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

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 »