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

Submitted by: Marianna Caldwell

This time last year our council did not have a President-Elect so for the first time an election for President had to be held.  Here I am, the new president happy to report we have a full slate of officers.

To date, through marketing the League and creating enthusiasm we have reached over 9,000 members and continue to grow.  In order to celebrate parish council successes in building membership we brought back the practice of presenting a special certificate, which this year was awarded to a parish council that attained 50 new members, doubling their membership! » Read the rest of this entry »

Leadership Development

TEAM: Teach Evangelize Animate Motivate

An all day workshop for CWL League members who want to polish their skills, learn to communicate effectively, express themselves confidently and use their talents in positions of leadership.

Members will receive practical tips on many aspects of leadership within the CWL, from how to prepare and run a successful meeting to writing a short speech. While this is open to any CWL member, the focus will be on the mechanics of leadership particularly geared for members who wish to let their names stand for office now or in the future.

February 16: Kamloops and Nanaimo
February 23: Vancouver and Victoria

Please contact your Diocesan President for upcoming dates in your area.

Submitted by: Marianna Caldwell

Greetings and Happy New year to everyone. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, a white Christmas for many this year, very different from the warm sunny days in Australia.

Provincial Development Fund

Fund #1 – Applications for subsidy to travel to the Provincial Convention in Williams Lake are now being accepted.
Assistance to send Delegates to the Provincial Convention will cover 2/3 maximum of the bus fare to the Convention site. The actual total amount of the grant available will be determined by the funds available this year. Other expenses such as hotel, meals and registration are the responsibility of the individual, the Parish or the Diocese.

Fund #2 – Diocesan Presidents are reminded that $1,000 is available for assistance to attend a National Convention if their Diocese cannot afford to send them. This grant is available once during a Diocesan President’s two year term.

Applications for both subsidies must be received by March 15th. Please send the completed forms to the Provincial Organization Chairperson, address below. » Read the rest of this entry »

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: Barbara Dowding

I am delighted to speak to you for a few minutes about the Organization Standing Committee. As you know, it is one of those committees with a bad rap so to speak. No one wants to do it, possibly because it often has strings to the presidency attached, or because it deals with leadership development and most of think we aren’t qualified.

What a state of affairs! For today, let’s take a little look and you can tell me what’s to be afraid of.

Each and every one of us is concerned about membership. Just look at the results of the focus group workshops. Sure enough, attracting and maintaining a solid membership base is a huge issue. But it’s not insurmountable! We also heard of many ways to interest women in what we have to offer – from the tried and true to some new ideas. Check out my report in the convention book. I don’t think it’s the ideas that are lacking, but rather enthusiasm. Only when we are truly convinced that the Catholic Women’s League of Canada is the best organization to belong to, will we be successful. Remember the early Church? Having just about completed another Easter season, we cannot help but be touched by the passion and energy of those first disciples. I wonder sometimes if we aren’t too cautious and careful in trying to keep all the good things about our League to ourselves. Unlike the early church where people couldn’t wait to share everything, we might find ourselves more comfortable doing things the way we’ve always done them and then complaining about the poor results. Hoarding the Good News never was an option! » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Fr. Terry Brock

• There were eleven priests at this meeting. One from Victoria, one from Prince George, one from Nelson, one from Kamloops, and the remaining from the Vancouver Archdiocese.
• It is highly recommended that the CWL have an insert in the collection boxes in each parish. The inserted envelope allows members to keep up their dues, and informs (on an yearly basis) other women in the parish of the existence of the CWL. Some pastors might question why this insert should be given to all the parishioners when it only serves 40-90 women. The CWL has experienced this insert to be very valuable to keep membership alive with those women unable at this time to attend meetings.
• There is a need for a solid membership convener in each council. Pastors have a role in recruiting, but the primary role is with the ladies themselves.
• Afternoon or evening meetings? Some councils alternate meeting time to facilitate older and younger members.
• CWL is encouraged to send zealous ladies to other councils in order to encourage membership. One priest shared how he got two councils started this way and both continue to be active in their parishes at this time.
• Need to publish CWL materials in foreign languages, especially in oriental languages for Vancouver.
• The CWL by-law does not allow priests (or men) to join! Sorry guys!
• One priest from India spoke very highly of the CWL calling them the nerve centre of the parish.
• There was a lengthy discussion on priests attendance or non-attendance at the CWL conventions. Some priests feel that the attendance should be better while others realize that there are so many things that priests are called to do. What does the CWL as of your priests in regard to attendance at conventions? One thing priests can do, especially the priest called to a leadership role, i.e., spiritual advisor, is to promote the CWL at priest gatherings.
• Pastors see the need for CWL members to resolve their own conflicts and not to ask your priests to act as referees.
• The priest and CWL executive need to have a strong balance of leadership, i.e., each needs to reflect on their role.

A big thank you was extended to the CWL for the wonderful lunch provided for us at the Executive Hotel!

The eleven priests invited the waitress to join the CWL and she said, “Yes”! We are not too sure if she was after a bigger tip!

Submitted by
Fr. Terry Brock,
Spiritual Advisor, BC/Yukon