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!

Marriage and Family

Ann asked for submissions for a prayer for married life and the prayer submitted by Life Member Glenda Klein was accepted. The Prayer is attached to this email. It will be included in the next revision of the League prayer card. Attachment: Prayer for Married Life (PDF)

Sanctity of Life

In Ann’s last communiqué, Margaret Beardon reported that there is a new pro-life organization called ProWomenProLife. The web site www.prowomenprolife.org.

National Campus Life Network is a pro-life organization for students, by students. Their reason for existing is to help the post-secondary students of Canada bring the pro-life message to campuses. Started in 1997, they advocate for a world where everyone has a true right to life, even if they are “defective” or “unwanted”. Where everyone is valued for who they are, not for what they can do. Women who attend university are twice as likely to become pro-choice. Sarah Hudson runs the Western Canada Office in North Vancouver. The National Office is Toronto. Their website is www.ncln.ca. Email at info@ncln.ca. Spread the word about this group.

National March for Life in Ottawa was May 7 – 9, 2008. In conjunction with the National March for Life, there was a March for Life in Victoria March 8. In Victoria it started with Mass in the crowded St Andrew’s Cathedral with Bishop Gagnon and fifteen other priests as celebrants. Over 1,000 participants marched with police escort from City Hall to the legislature building where everyone gathered to listen to numerous speakers including Bishop Gagnon. It was interesting that there was a lack of secular media coverage at this first annual pro-life demonstration. The organizers were the Knights of Columbus, Pro-Life BC and Campaign Life Coalition BC. Let’s make a real effort to be in Victoria next year. I am sure the BC Catholic newspaper will have coverage on the March for Life this week.

Ministry to Youth – Catholic Girls’ League (CGL)

A lot of work is going into organizing new manuals for the CGL, making them more comprehensive and user-friendly. They won’t be ready until after the National Convention. Port Alberni was the first CWL council in our province to have a CGL. I know there are many other CWL councils that are considering starting a CGL council; hopefully they will be ready to start in September. Diocesan Christian Family Life Chairpersons, you should keep yourselves informed about what councils are working toward a CGL council and when the council is a reality.

Ministry to Disabled

The following two paragraphs I copied right from Ann’s communiqué:

The disabled are especially concerned with any discussion about the legalization of euthanasia and/or assisted suicide due to their extreme vulnerability. The report on the First International Symposium on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide is available by contacting national office. The 2008 National Symposium entitled Death-Making will take place in Winnipeg, October 24 – 25, 2008.

Nova Scotia Provincial President Shirley MacDougall reported on a public lecture entitled Ethical Dilemmas in end of Life Care with Dr Nuala Kenny who is a renowned ethicist and professor of bioethics and paediatrics. I have attached a copy of Shirley’s very informative report for your consideration. Attachment: Ethical Dilemmas in End of Life Care (PDF)

Ethical Guidelines (taken directly from Ann’s communiqué)

The ad hoc committee on Ethical Guidelines for The Catholic Women’s League of Canada with members Betty-Anne Brown, Mary Hagen, Lorette Noble and myself (Ann Doucet) as chairperson met by teleconference. National Spiritual Advisor Archbishop Smith added his comments to the discussion via e-mail. The task was completed in January and the final draft was submitted to the winter national executive meeting. The document was accepted with amendments and is to be included under the “membership” section of the National Manual of Policy and Procedure. The members of this ad hoc committee are to be commended for their vision and insights with regard to this sensitive document. A special thank you to Lorette Noble for her leadership in bringing this timely document to the members.

Vocations

What have you done this term to foster vocations? Go back to The Canadian League magazine Spring 2006 and reread Creating A Vocation Culture. Remember, if families respected and appreciated each family member, respected and appreciated those in the ordained ministry and consecrated life, respected and appreciated our church we would create a vocation culture.

Your Sister-in-the-League
Marilyn VanDongen

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.

Sanctity of Life

The following was copied from the Ann Doucet’s Communiqué #6 which was submitted by National sub-committee Chairperson Margaret Beardon. LifeCanada is marking the 20^th anniversary of the Morgentaler decision regarding abortion. It has come up with a proactive plan to refocus public attention on the real issue of life and death entitled Abortion: Have we gone too far. It is not too late to order postcards that may be sent to members of parliament (MPs) and physicians then handed out to the general public by calling (866)780-5433 or by emailing gschultz@lifecanada.org. The cost is .10 per card plus shipping.

Have you ordered the new DVD/video, Turning the Tide: Fighting for our Lives, produced by Salt † Light Catholic Media Foundation and the EPC, one copy $50, two copies $70, or four copies $100? To order call (877) 439-3348. You may be able to borrow it from your diocesan resource center.

Also from Ann’s communiqué: The Knights of Columbus would like to see everyone participate in the National March for Life May 8, 2008. Councils that cannot attend the national march in Ottawa are being asked to go to their provincial legislature on the same day to participate. There will be more information on this worthy initiative from the Knights of Columbus at the national winter executive meeting the end of February.

Make sure you read Ann’s article in the winter 2008 League magazine entitled How Pro-Life Are We? then order our Pro-Life pamphlet from national office at $1 each.

Ministry to Youth – Catholic Girls’ League (CGL)

Our first CGL in BC is in Port Alberni! If there are any other BC councils, please keep me informed. I know there are a few parish councils that are considering starting a CGL council.

A discussion at the fall national executive meeting on the future of the CGL brought forward the following three motions:

1. that the designation “pilot project” be removed from all references to the CGL
2. that the national Christian Family Life standing committee chairperson support parish councils’ efforts to develop faith-based youth groups for girls
3. that the existing CGL group leaders network to develop basic guidelines, including steps to organizing and the process of screening, for presentation at the winter executive meeting with expenses to be covered by the national treasury

From Ann’s communiqué she states that there are presently 17 CGL councils in three provincial councils; five in Alberta Mackenzie, 11 in Ontario and one in Quebec.

Ministry to Disabled, Seniors, Widowed, Separated and Divorced

On Friday I was at the ribbon cutting for The Hamlets Westsyde with 62 units of seniors assisted living and 112 bed residential care. One building is for those that are not seniors but require care. There is a need for facilities that offer care for non-seniors. They could have dieses like MS or brain damage from an accident. The Hamlets Penticton is under construction.

There is a great need in our church to make widowed, separated and divorced Catholics feel accepted. This is an area where our members can make a difference with our compassion and love.

Vocations

On the Archdiocese of Vancouver website, www.rcav.org, there is information under Fishers of Men and also under Vocations. Other diocesan websites also have good information.

Those that attended the Christian Family Life lunch at the provincial convention last year received a pamphlet It’s Your Call. Promote this pamphlet which can be ordered from Novalis at $2.50 each. There is information on Novalis’s website www.novalis.ca or by phone 1-800-387-7164.

The Christian Family Life standing committee has such a wealth of information. You don’t have to look very far to find it.

Your Sister-in-the-League,
Marilyn

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.

Marriage and Family
In Ann Doucet’s Communique #6 she mentioned another brochure from the Canadian Organization for Life and Family (COLF). It is titled Families, where are the saints of the third millennium? As usual it is a beautiful well done brochure. You can order this brochure from COLF, the suggested donation is .40 each. I printed one for myself from their website www.colf.ca. They can be reached by email colf@colf.ca or phone at (613) 241-9461.

Sanctity of Life
There is a new DVD/video, Turning the Tide: Fighting for our Lives, produced by Salt + Light Catholic Media Foundation and the EPC. In Ann Doucet’s communique, she states that it is available from EPC; one copy $50, two copies $70, or four copies $100. To order call (877) 439-3348. Consider getting together with other councils/members to view this important video and participate in the discussion guide; it is important for members to be well informed on this timely and critical issue. You may be able to borrow it from your diocesan resource center.

From LifeCanada E-News “You can participate in a national media campaign to mark the January 2008 twentieth anniversary of the Mongentaler Supreme Court decision removing all restrictions on abortion in Canada. LifeCanada has produced postcards with Abortion: Have we gone too far for individuals to pass around, to join in reaching as many people as possible. The post cards show the image of a pregnant woman on the front with Statistics Canada information on late term abortion in Canada on the back. The cards are available for a small fee through the LifeCanada office at 866-780-5433. Mail them to your MP, leave them in your Church, pass them out to family and friends…engage in ‘creative littering’ to help spread the message of respect for life!”

Ministry to Youth
From our National Office I ordered Steps to Forming a Catholic Girls’ League and Catholic Girls’ League Administration Manual. Plan to start a Catholic Girls League in 2008.

Ministry to Disabled, Seniors, Widowed, Separated and Divorced
As we approach the season of Advent and Christmas, be sensitive to those around us that are alone this time of year. Invite them to join you in your advent and Christmas activities.

Vocations
There are always many excellent articles in the BC Catholic; my only problem is not having enough time to read as much as I want to. In the November 5, 2007 edition there is a supplement titled Fishers of Men. I enjoyed the “profiles of men who answered the call and are marking 25, 50 and 60 years of service.” “Pope John Paul II, in many of his writings and homilies, said “The Christian family is the first place where vocations develop. It is a seminary or novitiate in germ. It is vital for families to nurture, encourage, and promote vocations. First, we need to teach our children to pray and second, we need to help our children cultivate a spirit of willingness to make a sacrifice.” This article by Father Hien Nguyen is on page S1 of the supplement. If you can obtain the supplement, made sure and read the whole article. It would be good for our youth to read the profiles of the priests in the supplement to see what a life of adventure they live.

Your Sister-in-the-League
Marilyn V……..