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……..

Madam President,

We are a Diocese spread for many miles with 18 parish councils of which 16 are active. Our membership is up 6% or 39 members.

We had a very good Diocesan Convention April 13th to 15th. Our National President attended as the guest speaker at the Banquet. She was at the convention from start to finish. What a spiritual, enthusiastic and inspirational person. She attended all the meetings so that she could experience CWL in our part of the woods. Mind you, we picked her brain lots and she was just one of us. Our Provincial Spiritual Advisor, Father Terry Brock attended and gave a presentation on Saint Gianna Molla. Marilyn V………., provincial 2nd vice was also in attendance and gave a workshop on Restructuring of Standing Committees. Another two hours went by fast. Our convention ended on an enthusiastic note.

Our members continue to work on the committees and many are in the ministries of the church. Funds are being raised to support Development and Peace, Catholic Civil Rights, Matercare, Cody Institute, Catechism, Pro-Life, Missions Canada and many local needs. There are letters written to the MLA’s & MP’s supporting the resolutions. There were no styrofoam cups or plates at our Diocesan Convention in Smithers this year. We support White Ribbon Campaign, Life Chain, World Day of Prayer, work with palliative care, and many more CWL things. I must also mention one of our youngest CWL Members has left us to enter the Cistersian Monastery as a postulant. She is from the Fraser Lake Parish.

I emailed or faxed every parish pastor and parish CWL president regarding Canada Apologizing to the World–re– Definition of Marriage as directed by Barb Dowding.

I received this position in April, six weeks ago and haven’t made many plans yet although we are planning a workshop on writing reports and/or a workshop on elections at our mid-term meeting.

May Our Lady of Good Counsel guide us as we work for God and Canada.

Respectfully Submitted

Susan S……., Prince George Diocesan President

Dear League Sisters and Father Terry,

Hello again! I have received two communiques from our National chairperson of Communications, Velma H., who is also first vice-president. I invite those of you with internet access to read her communiques on the national website, and I will send copies to those chairpersons on my mailing list.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Our focus is communication – so let’s keep in touch with one another.
• The Canadian League – Velma would like our input. What do our members want to see in the magazine and how can we improve it?
• Canadians Addressing Sexual Exploitation <www.c-a-s-e.net> – the annual Ribbon of Signatures Campaign (formerly W.R.A.P.) runs from Sunday, Oct. 22 – 29, and again focuses on the age of consent. Note that the e-mail address is now case@4case.ca. Please encourage parish councils to participate.
• Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF) <colf.cccb.ca> – has issued a new publication entitled THE MEDIA: A Fascinating Challenge for the Family. Velma urges every parish council to devote one meeting’s program to this publication. It is available online also.
• CWL Websites – Past chairperson Lucille Partington has agreed to work with Velma, particularly in the area of websites. Lucille can be reached at <partingtonl at hotmail.com>.
• Pro-life Search Engine – check out <www.prolifesearch.com>. Using this search engine (instead of yahoo, google, etc.) is a tremendous way to raise funds for pro-life organizations (including MaterCare) and makes a statement about our values.
• Member Addresses – a reminder to make sure that national office has correct addresses for our members. Returned magazines cost money!

REMINDERS

PROVINCIAL NEWSLETTER – deadline Sept. 20, 2006
Please – I need your submissions! I’M (not so) PATIENTLY WAITING FOR YOUR SUBMISSIONS. Thank-you!

WEBSITE
Again – please send updated reports and communiques. We’re getting there, but there are still a lot of ‘old’ reports on the website <http://www.cwl.bc.ca>. Electronic submissions can be made directly to our webmaster, Mary-Lou, via <cwlbcyk at cwl.bc.ca>. If you can not communicate by e-mail, please send paper to me and I will get it to Mary-Lou for you.

CONCERNS
Internet/e-mail access: We have to acknowledge and respect that not all members have or want internet access. Having said that, could it be our goal that each parish council has at least one person who would be an e-mail contact? Newsletter: I invite feedback on the provincial newsletter – is it read? Does it reach members of the parish councils? Is there a better method of delivery? If you have not seen the newsletter, check it out on our provincial website <www.cwl.bc.ca/newsindex.html>.

I apologize for any errors or omissions in this communique – but I am almost ‘out the door’ to go on one last camping trip for the year and to attend a fall fair. Good luck at your Fall meetings.

As I write this communique on Sept. 11th, I ask that we remember and offer prayers for all of the victims of 9-11, and for peace everywhere. God bless.

Sandra S.