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

Submitted by: Sheila Quinn

Greetings,

Although some dioceses and parish councils meetings may already have taken place please make an effort to get this message out to our League sisters, perhaps by a short e-mail message encouraging them how important their vote is.

Federal Election – October 14,2008

This important date for our country is drawing close so before deciding which candidate to cast your vote for it is a good idea to check out your candidates’ platform. Our national Legislation Chair, Judy Lewis suggests, in her communiqué just received, you may want to ask some of the following questions:

• preventing human trafficking at the 2010 Olympics
• accurate food labeling
• toxic substances in household products
• hospice palliative care
• revision of the Youth Criminal Justice Act
• protection of farmers’ seeds from being patented
• any other issues/concerns you may have

Judy reminds us that women fought hard to obtain the privilege to vote and give dates that this happened for each province and that native women covered b the Indian Act were prohibited from voting for band councils till 1951 and in federal elections until 1960. We probably are not aware that the first time women in our province were granted voting privileges in provincial elections also being allowed to hold office was in 1917.

May Our Lady of Good Counsel guide us all as we make our decision as to who should govern our country.

Elected at the recent Provincial Convention in Williams Lake, BC. Reports from Provincial and Archdiocesan officers coming this week!

Provincial Executive 2008-2010
Back left to right – Sandra Stajduhar, Dodie Bond, Carol Penno, Lois Charlebois, Pat Deppiesse, Doreen Gowans, Jeanne Wilson; Front left to right – Nancy Simms, Marianna Caldwell, Barb Dowding, Elaine Audet
Missing:  Sheila Quinn

Click on any position/name to send email:

Spiritual Advisor: Rev. Tien Tran
President:  Marianna Caldwell
President-Elect/Organization: Nancy Simms
1st vice/Spiritual Development:  Carol Penno
2nd vice/Christian Family Life:  Dodie Bond
Secretary:  Pat Deppiesse
Treasurer:  Elaine Audet
Past President:  Barbara Dowding
Community Life:  Lois Charlebois
Education & Health:  Jeanne Wilson
Communications:  Doreen Gowans
Resolutions:  Sandra Stajduhar
Legislation:  Sheila Quinn
Life Member Liaison:  Pat Battensby

For website question only, please email the web administrator.

Submitted by: Barbara Dowding 

Dear League Sisters and Father Terry,

I hope you have all had a good Lent and I pray that this Holy Week will be particularly prayerful for you. It is such a hopeful time of year with the longer, lighter days and Easter’s promise upon us!

But first, special congratulations to the Nelson Diocese on the appointment of their new Bishop, John Corriveau, ofm. This will be an exciting time for your diocese and for Bishop Corriveau too as he begins to see how wonderful the CWL is! Bishop Cooney is in our prayers too for his many years of support and service. » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Barbara Dowding

Dear League Sisters and Father Terry,

As we wind down another Church year and look forward to Advent, I write with a number of things for your consideration.

First and most important is our 2008 mid-term meeting that was scheduled for Feb 28-March 1. There is a conflict with the National Spring meeting in Montreal so we’ve had to change not only the date but the venue and I am hoping the new ones will work for everyone.

Secondly, I’ve attached my summary notes from the meeting last week in Winnipeg. I’ve included almost everything so you’re completely up to date! Please note where I’ve asked for input or action. It seemed easier than writing a separate communique.

It was a good meeting with lots of interesting discussion. The ad hoc committee working on the marketing for our League has a big job ahead of them. Let’s keep them in prayer as they work to help us market our awesome product in a way that will make it as attractive to others as we know it to be ourselves.

Don’t forget to purchase the nativity stamps – you’ll need to ask for them specifically. And speaking of which, with Christmas around the corner, annual reports on the top of parish council lists next to nominations and elections, I encourage everyone to help one another stay positive and affirm each other wherever you find yourselves, especially at your parish council meetings.

Like last year, I’ve ordered the Magnificat Advent Prayer book for each of you, but so far it hasn’t arrived. Please know it will be to you ‘post haste’ upon its arrival here. With that I offer you my heartfelt and sincere wishes for a most blessed Christmas time. Let’s get these few things off our CWL list so we can focus on Advent and all that comes with it. I am ever so grateful to each and everyone of you for your love and support and look forward to an amazing 2008 as we put our thoughts and words in to action – it will be a teaching and learning year, one that will help us all grow in love and charity for God and Canada.

Merry Christmas and a happy and blessed New Year!

With love and prayers from your Sister in the League,
Barb

Submitted by: Marianna Caldwell

Dear League Sisters and Father Terry:

Attached you will find reports for every parish council position and standing committee. The parish president’s report is to include what the parish president has done as president. The other reports will include all the works of the council broken down by position or standing committee.

It would be appreciated if parish councils would depose of any report forms used in previous years and reply using the enclosed forms for your report. They have been amended and reformatted. Please note that the date reports are due has been changed to December 15th.

As you are aware it is very important to report all your council’s successes to the next levels of the League for their reports as they eventually make their way to government to let them know of our good work. We would be interested in hearing your comments on this updated process so we can continue to improve. » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Pat Battensby

Dear sisters in the League & Father Terry,

Happy New Year to you all! I hope that all of you enjoyed a great Christmas with family and friends and experiencing the true richness of the holiday season. Ours was quieter than usual, just our immediate family and although I truly enjoy a real Italian Christmas, this one was very special in another way. Hopefully you are all enthused and raring to go with our work in the League.

Nominations and elections
Whether or not your president has gifted you with the chair of nominations and elections, it would be a great idea if you have the opportunity to review the Nominations and Elections procedure in the C and B as well as the National Manual of Policy and Procedure. I know that each diocese varies in their approach to nominations/elections but I do feel as there are new people in our councils, it would do us well to review this procedure each year.

You will find this information in the C and B 2000 edition, p.29, Article XV, Sections 1,3,4 and 5.This information is elaborated on even farther in the National Manual of Policy and Procedure, Article XV Page 61. These two resources tell you all you need to know about this important procedure.

I would like to add to these criteria by putting my own 2 cents worth in the mix. Please, please, please do not attempt to fill all positions just to complete your executive. We have seen time after time that it usually does not work out. » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Pat Battensby

Dear Sisters in the League and Father Terry,

I think it is safe to say that fall has indeed rushed in with a great flourish. Our province seems to under siege with raging overflowing rivers and lakes and rain, rain, rain. It seems really strange that everyone was talking about droughts during the summer isn’t it? This is really a busy busy season in our League’s calendar, parish activities so I wish you all good membership drives and successful bazaars.

I am going to give you a little quote from Margaret Ann J….. from the Toronto Archdiocesan Newsletter, which Sheila Q…. has kindly shared with me. Margaret Ann states:

One of the greatest gifts we give women in our parishes is the Gift of the League by inviting them to become members. One of the greatest Gifts we can give the League is the Gift of a new member.

Isn’t that really a nice quote especially in this time when we are both thinking of gift giving and membership drives. We must show great joy in our promotion of the League, and make it an infectious invitation so that women just can’t wait to see what we do that makes us so fulfilled and productive. So lots of prayers as you all undertake this task. » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Dodie Bond

Front row L-R: Marilyn VanDongen (Christian Family Life) Doreen Gowans (Secretary) Barb Dowding (Provincial President) Pat Battensby (Past Provincial President) Elaine Audet (Treasurer) Sheila Quinn (Resolutions) Middle Row L-R: Gloria Gausboel (Legislation) Nancy Simms (Education & Health) Carol Penno (Community Life) Marianna Caldwell (Spiritual Development) Rev. Terry Brock (Provincial Spiritual Advisor) Missing is Sandra Stajduhar (Communications) Top Row L-R: Diocesan Presidents Anna May McCarvill (Kamloops) Jeanne Wilson (Whitehorse) Pat Deppiesse (Vancouver) Agnes Geiger (Victoria) Maureen Sander (Prince George) Carol Reiter (Nelson) Whitehorse Yukon – 152 members of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada held their 59th Annual BC & Yukon Provincial Convention in Whitehorse Yukon from June 14th – 18th. Included in attendance where National CWL President Agnes Bedard, BC & Yukon Provincial CWL President Pat Battensby, BC & Yukon Provincial Spiritual Advisor Rev. Terry Brock and Bishop of Whitehorse Gary Gordon.

There were various resolutions brought forward from the Dioceses in BC & Yukon to be considered at this convention. 1. Religious Freedom, 2. Child care support direct to family, 3. Relationship between abortion and breast cancer, 4. Protection of the child re: sexual consents, 5. Discontinue use of Polystyrene disposable ware Styrofoam, 6. Adult stem cell research, 7. Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and 8. Implementation of the Canadian strategy for Cancer Control. If accepted they will continue on in their journey to the next level where the procedure will happen all over again. Those and others from across Canada that are accepted will then be presented by our National representatives and her committee for consideration to the Federal Government of Canada. » Read the rest of this entry »