Dear Sisters in the League,

I pray everyone had a blessed Christmas! During the Christmas season I received an email from the Ministry of Education regarding new curriculum that is up for review, therefore I am passing it on to you to as per my last communiqué of December 4, 2007.

Dear Colleagues:

The Sustainable Resources 11 and 12 Response Draft (2007) curriculum is currently available for review and response.

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/drafts/welcome.htm

The British Columbia Ministry of Education is interested in receiving feedback on the Sustainable Resources 11 and 12 Response Draft (2007) from education and community partners. Please feel free to share this link with anyone you feel would be interested in providing feedback on the draft document. Feedback can be provided to the Ministry of Education by completing the online Response Survey. This Response survey can be used for either individual or group feedback.

Please complete the Sustainable Resources 11 and 12 Response survey BEFORE February 12, 2008.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES 11 and 12 RESPONSE DRAFT

Waël Afifi

Education Officer
Sustainability Programs Unit
Learning Management Division, BC Ministry of Education

wael.afifi@gov.bc.ca
Phone: (250) 387-4428

I believe by reviewing this curriculum we will be not only understand our education system better, but also be learning about our environment.

Bursaries:

Please encourage members to apply for the National and Provincial bursaries. The National bursary deadline is May 31, 2008 to be postmarked and sent to the National office. The criteria and application forms are on the national website under form and supplies. The Provincial Molly Boucher Bursary criteria and application forms can be found on our provincial cwl website and the deadline for all applications to be sent directly to me is March 31, 2008.

Annual Reports:

By now all Diocesan Chairpersons should have received the annual reports from all parish councils. If you have not received a report, just call the council and give them a gentle reminder that you are still in need of their report. I am positive every council in our province has done some work in regards to education & health that is in need of reporting. Once you have received all reports, please compile them and send your report to me as soon as possible. The deadline to have your report into me is February 15, 2008.

January & February:

January is Alzheimer Awareness Month. You will find a treasure of information regarding Alzheimer disease at www.alzheimer.ca. Share this website with everyone as we work together to grow in understanding how to give help for today and hope for tomorrow.

February is Heart & Stroke month. Here is how to recognize if someone is having a stroke and possibly save their life. Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S * Ask the individual to SMILE.
T * Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (i.e. It is sunny out today)
R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher. NOTE: Another ‘sign’ of a stroke is this: Ask the person to ‘stick’ out his tongue… If the tongue is ‘crooked’, if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.

May God Bless you as you continue your work for God and Canada.

Nancy S.

Greetings,

During Advent let us try to set aside time from our busy lives to pray, reflect and focus on the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Lord.

Resolutions 2007.02 Global accountability for Canadian Registered Mining Companies The D & P card given out in parishes recently asking that we sign and send to the Prime Minister is a great way to show further support for this resolution and D & P. I sent a copy of this resolution to the Social Justice co-ordinator in my diocese, please consider forwarding it to the contact person in your diocese mentioning that it will be including in the resolutions presented when both national and provincial levels of the League meet with Federal and Provincial governments.

All 3 resolutions passed at Montreal national convention appeared in the fall issue of the League magazine and it is important that members follow the suggested action plan not only on these three but also on previous resolutions which can be found on the national web-site www.cwl.ca. One suggestion for council resolutions chairpersons could be to set a goal of getting members at meetings to follow action on at least one resolution a month. Action speaks louder than words!

Now to proposed resolutions for 2008, titles only from your diocese should be submitted to me by January 31 in order for me to forward them to my national counterpart Betty Anne Brown. Please remind parish councils they can still be working on and perfecting their resolutions which hopefully meet the criteria for acceptance by diocesan resolutions committee before being presented on the convention floor and don’t forget to offer assistance if needed.

Can we reach my goal – at least one resolution from each diocese?
Yes, we can by encouraging councils to air their voices on the many issues and concerns we feel strongly about in the form of a resolution.

Environmental news – Paper or plastic? Recent articles in papers and magazines state the good news that some grocery stores offer plastic bags that are bio-gradeable also provide recycling bins for returning plastic bags which are recycled into plastic siding for new home construction as well as offering 3 cents for each bag returned. Another grocery chain is the first major grocery retailer in BC to go plastic-bag free, they sent householders in the area reusable bags made from 85% recycled water bottles, while yet another chain store has a program “Bags fund trees” the 5 cents charge on single use bags are donated to Trees Canada to fund tree planting. All of this helps reduce the number dumped in landfills by a billion a year. You will have noticed as you Christmas shop that many stores have displays with their material bags for sale. Check with stores you shop at, commend them if they are doing something positive for the environment and if not make a suggestion for them to consider.

On that note I wonder how many councils/parishes have discontinued the use of styrofoam cups and plates, perhaps you could check in your diocese and send me numbers of councils who have.

National President, Lorette Noble wrote to Prime Minister Harper expressing disappointment re Bill C22 after reaching the 2nd reading. This is now Bill C2 and is included with a number of other bills and name changed back to “age of consent”.

Some new guidelines for resolutions will be coming from national regarding submissions of resolutions which will be forwarded to you as soon as I receive them.

The League’s national delegation meeting with the government was hopefully to take place late November, news of this will be shared when available.

Exciting news flash! A date has been set in March for our Provincial CWL delegates to meet with both the Liberal and NDP caucus in Victoria to address and discuss League resolutions.

Hopefully your mail box will be full of parish annual reports by Dec 15th !

As we await the coming of the Christ Child let us give thanks to God for our many blessings. May the peace and joy of Christmas be with you and your families and may 2008 be one of good health, happiness and loving one another.

From your sister in the League,
Sheila

Dear Sisters in the League,

Now that we are into the Advent season it is my prayer that each of us will take time out of our daily busyness to remember the hope, love and joy with which Advent bestows on us.

“Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.” Is. 122

Bioethics: I recently received the below email from our past national president Marie Cameron and found the recommended website to be an excellent source of information on bioethics and the church’s position on these crucial issues.

“This was sent to me from one of my CWL friends and I am forwarding it as I find his articles very informative. Fr. Tad was here in Calgary at St. Mary’s University College this weekend for some seminars. Marie

Fr Tad is a respected and well known US expert ( Ph.D at Yale and post doctoral work at Harvard) on bioethics and an advisor to the American Catholic Bishops. He writes weekly on Bioethics issues. His writing is absolutely consistent with the magisterium of the Catholic Church and is a good source of formation for you and for me on these very topical and important issues That’s why I am sending you his website. Please read some of his articles. They are short and clear. http://www.ncbcenter.org/makingsense.asp

In case you want to know more type Father Tad Pacholczyk into Google.com,  you will get quite a bit to read.”

Ministry of Education: At our provincial fall executive meeting we discussed the fact that the ministry of education will from now on be informing the provincial Education & Health Chairperson on any curriculum that is up for review and requesting possible feedback on each curriculum. It was decided that it would be too extensive a job for the provincial chairperson to review and respond to all curriculum drafts. Therefore, when I receive notice of a new draft up for review I will immediately pass the information on to all diocesan Education & Health Chairpersons who in turn should contact their Catholic School Superintendent requesting if they have been informed of the draft and for any feedback they may have. If the Superintendents see areas in the curriculum that we as a League need to be addressing to the Ministry, the diocesan chairpersons should then be informing me as the provincial chairperson so that I can inform all members of BC/Yukon to take the appropriate action.

I just received the below email late last week. I know that the deadline for feedback does not give us much time, but let’s do what we can.

“To Education Stakeholders:

The British Columbia Ministry of Education has posted two draft Daily Physical Activity documents for public review and response.

The Draft Program Guide for Daily Physical Activity: Kindergarten to Grade 9 and the Draft Daily Physical Activity Resource: Kindergarten to Grade 9 are available on the following Ministry of Education web site:

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/drafts/welcome.htm

The Ministry of Education is interested in receiving feedback on these drafts from education and community partners. Please feel free to share this link with anyone you feel would be interested in providing feedback. Feedback can be provided to the Ministry of Education by printing the Response Forms, completing them and then faxing them to the location listed at the bottom of the form. The Response Forms can be used for either individual or group feedback.

Please complete the Response Forms and mail or fax them BEFORE January 15, 2008

To: Daily Physical Activity Project
Ministry of Education
PO Box 9183 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9H9

Fax: (250) 356-2316

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DOCUMENTS.

Thank you.”

Social Justice 12 Curriculum: Thank you to all members that worked so hard to review this curriculum and let their voices be heard. I believe the resounding concern for all members is to continue to find the balance in society to respect our neighbours while still upholding our values that are rooted in Gods Word.

Bursaries: Encourage members to apply for both the Molly Boucher Bursary (deadline for application forms to be mailed to me is March 31/08) and the National Bursary (deadline application forms to be mailed to national office is May 31/08). Both application forms can be obtained on their respective websites. Let’s encourage our members to apply!

Annual Reports: Diocesan Chairpersons you should now be receiving annual reports from all parish councils. I would strongly recommend that if you have not received reports from all councils by the 15^th of this month to just call the parish in which you have not received and give them a gentle reminder. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to make 2007 the year of 100% reporting??

Reading Group: Did you know that there is a program on our national CWL website that is a guide to starting a reading group in your council as a method of spiritual education and personal growth? Check it out and start one in your council!!!

December is The Christmas Seal Campaign: Over 3 million Canadians cope with one of five serious respiratory diseases – asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, tuberculosis (TB), and cystic fibrosis. These and other respiratory diseases such as influenza, pneumonia, bronchiolitis, respiratory distress syndrome and sleep apnea affect individuals of all ages, cultures and backgrounds – from children to parents to grandparents.

National Communique: I have enclosed Judy Lewis’ last communique. Please read and take the suggested action on resolution 07.03 Hospice Palliative Care: An Integral Component of the Canadian Health Care System and on the three proposed resolutions. Judy also has some interesting information on MaterCare which reminds us to continue in our efforts to help this worthwhile cause.

May you have a holy Advent season and a blessed Christmas as you continue your work for God and Canada.

Nancy S….

Dear League Sisters and Father Terry,

As we begin our Advent journey, please take some time for quiet reflection and prepare yourselves to experience Christ in Christmas. Remember to offer all the work you do baking, decorating and shopping as a prayer for your family; show your love for everyone (as you see Christ in them) by ‘communicating’ cheerfully – try replying to “Seasons Greetings” with “Christmas Blessings”.

BCYK CWL Website
www.cwl.bc.ca will soon bring you to an updated website. The new webmaster, Rebecca G…….., will be publishing the “new look” soon. You will have a chance to register and add your comments on a ‘blog’. Many thanks to Rebecca for all of the hours spent already – we look forward to seeing the changes and receiving feedback from our members.

Submissions for the website should still come to the Communications chairperson – through Diocesan presidents or any member of the Provincial executive.

Ribbon of Signatures Campaign
The campaign this year focused on Internet Service Providers – please make sure that ribbons were sent to the CRTC as requested.

We know that previous years’ campaigns focused on Bill C-22 (Age of Protection), and that the Bill was in the Senate in June 2007. There was a danger of losing all of our hard work, but the Bill was re-introduced as Bill C-2 (combined with other actions) and passed 3rd reading Nov. 28, 2007. So it is now back in the Senate.

Following are items from our National chairperson’s latest communique – please read the complete communique on our national website – I will include it complete for those chairpersons that I “mail” to.

Canadians Addressing Sexual Exploitation
Thank you for promoting C.A.S.E. and the Ribbon of Signatures Campaign. To quote from a letter received from Mary Hawkley, Co-President of C.A.S.E., “We will continue our work with the help of community members like the CWL for which we are very grateful. Your support through the years has been the reason that C.A.S.E. has been able to focus community attention on the very serious issue of pornography which continues even more insidiously today with the proliferation of pornography on the Internet.”

The Canadian League
At the recent national executive meeting, it was decided that council anniversaries of 80 and 85 years, as well as 25, 50 and 75 years, will be noted in the magazine. The fall 2007 edition included articles from national chairpersons (pages 24 to 27) which it is hoped were helpful to councils planning their League year. Your comments would be appreciated.

Vanier Institute of the Family
The Vanier Institute of the Family has released a report on the effects of the electronic media on families, entitled “Good Servant, Bad Master: Electronic Media and the Family”. Visit the Vanier Institute of the Family website at www.vifamily.ca and click on “what’s new” for the report. What can we do?

Limit the number of individually owned devices and move them out of bedrooms and into public spaces.
Limit also the total amount of time kids spend with their devices on a daily basis.
Make rules about giving out personal information or visiting certain sites on the Internet.
Help children, particularly those who are younger, to distinguish between fantasy and reality by talking with them about the content they encounter in the media.
Discuss with children their experiences on the Internet and ask them about the games they play, the sites they create and the way they interact socially.

Forming consciences – the report also recommended that parents help instruct their children in the values they need, and not just leave it to chance through the values that the media communicates. By doing this young people will be more prepared to critically judge the information and goals coming from the media.

Christmas Message
A Christmas message from The Catholic Women’s League of Canada will appear in Catholic newspapers across Canada.

May God be with us on our Advent journey as we go forth to welcome the One who is to come.

God bless,
Velma Harasen – National Chairperson of Communications

I join with Velma in wishing you many “Christmas Blessings”, and hope that they continue into 2008.

Love and prayers to all… God bless….

Sandra

Dear League Sisters,

A day after I mailed communique #6 I received one from my National counterpart and as diocesan Fall meetings are planned thought this is an opportunity to pass on the following information from her:

Criteria for National Resolutions
As a result of discussions held on the convention floor in Montreal more discerning work needs to be done to Appendix 1 of the CWL National Manual of Policy & Procedures.

It is hoped that the resolution advisory committee will have worked details and suggestions for improvement which will be presented to the national executive at their November meeting. These changes will deal mainly with issues of national interest that would normally be dealt with by a/territorial level of government, e.g.education/and or some health issues.

New information will be mailed as soon as it is available.

Diocesan meetings are a great opportunity to encourage parish councils to start planning resolutions for next year. Make sure they have a copy of the National Manual of Policy & Procedure with Appendix 1 where all the information of preparing and presenting resolutions is listed, offer any assistance needed and I am also available.

Hope your meetings will be productive and well attended. What an opportunity to talk up resolutions with enthusiasm, invite councils to “take up the challenge” to produce a resolution this year.

Your League Sister,
Sheila

Dear League Sisters and Father Terry,

Fall is fast approaching! The cooler mornings, the mist and fog, not to mention the spider webs everywhere tell me its time to get back to work.

I can see your Provincial Executive have been busy and thank them for the fine communiques filled with great pearls of information and ideas for action.

You will be receiving reports from Sheila Q…., 1st Vice President and Marilyn V………, 2nd Vice President on their view of the National Convention in Montreal. I can tell you that you will think you were there after reading the reports!

I was a very proud Provincial President when our three new Life Members were “inducted” at a moving and very meaningful service. Congratulations again to Marianna C, Sheila Q and Marilyn V.

While I was pleased that so many members from our province were in attendance, some accredited for their dioceses but many on their own, it made me think, once again, that we need to find ways of getting all our diocesan presidents to all the National Conventions. It is such a great learning experience and an important base for League growth. But there is another even more important reason and that concerns the election of national officers. If diocesan presidents have never even seen or heard of the women running for office, it makes for very difficult choices when it comes to nominations and knowing the people we want to elect.

RESOLUTIONS:
We were all disappointed in the number of resolutions that came to the convention floor, but in the end it was a great learning experience. Further, at both the pre and post convention meetings, as well as during the Presidents’ roundtable discussion, the topic of resolutions came up. Presidents called for more consistency in applying the criteria when it comes to accepting or rejecting resolutions. It was noted that this must begin at the parish level. Dioceses must not accept resolutions just because a group worked hard on them or because feelings will be hurt. We have to teach proper adherence to rules and criteria to ensure success at the next level. In this regard I urge every diocesan council to commit to one workshop in the coming months on resolutions. It doesn’t have to be a long one, but there are many to choose from and many qualified provincial and diocesan executive members, as well as Life Members, who would be willing and able to do this. Our League is known for its work through resolutions; this year we have little to show. Let’s all make an effort to help Sheila reach her goal of putting BC back on the resolutions map!

NEWS FROM NATIONAL:
I’m really excited about the manual for Organization Chairpersons that should be ready soon. We’ve been pressing our National Council to revamp and review our training materials and I’m pleased to say it has come to be. I think you will really like it and I am sure it will inspire all Organization Chairpersons, particularly those at parish level. It might even encourage a member to take on this standing committee!

You will also hear more about a new pin designed to recognize service on diocesan and provincial levels when a member doesn’t qualify for or is not able to accept a Life Membership. The details will be clear and you might be surprised to find there are members in your parish councils who actually qualify…. Wait and see! (I will attach the draft criteria, but its for your information only at this time).

WUCWO:
Agnes Bedard reported that the voluntary contributions to WUCWO were up by 75% this past year. Plans for the Regional meeting next August are going ahead well and will be in conjunction with our National Convention. I am sure Pat Battensby will be getting and sending updates as they are available, but want to remind everyone to start thinking about the possibility of attending both parts.

FOCUS GROUPS RE STANDING COMMITTEES:
I’ve attached a power point presentation that was made by Danielle McNeill-Hessian at the convention. Most of it is self explanatory, but if you want any more information or details, please do not hesitate to contact me. The end result is that there are no pending changes to the Standing Committees at least for the time being. The great news, however, is that a special committee consisting of Lorette Noble, Danielle McNeil-Hessian, Velma Harasen and Kim Scammell has been struck to develop a strategy/marketing plan for the League.

Almost everything else new or coming out of the convention is being covered in the Standing Committee Chairpersons’ communiques. Please encourage your parish council presidents to eliminate the ‘no report syndrome’ at their monthly meetings. Teach them how to make reporting interesting and to help them remember that the League is about looking out in to the larger community and world as much as taking care parish needs. We need a good balance and with some creativity, enthusiasm and preparation, this can easily be achieved.

LEAGUE DEVELOPMENT DAYS:
Marianna C…….. will report in her Organization Communique about the Provincial Council’s commitment to provide opportunities in every diocese for education and training about our League and how it is relevant in today’s busy global world. I am asking each diocesan president to find one Saturday that can be dedicated to League Development. This will be a full day, from 9 to 3 and will be presented by members of the provincial council. You may find it interesting to note that the Kamloops Diocese has already booked three such days! Please contact me directly with your date as Marianna will be away for two months.

ANNUAL REPORTS:
Special appreciation to Marianna Caldwell and her hard working committee for fine tuning (once again) the report forms. Please accept them in the spirit with which they are sent – helpful tools to achieve our reporting goal – and encourage all your councils to strive for 100% reporting!

MID TERM:
Thanks again for your cooperation in sending your reports in advance and any suggestions or items for the agenda. We will have a working retreat this year with emphasis on working! Unfortunately, Father Terry can’t be with us, but I know Dodie B… will help us ‘retreat’ well and keep us spiritually on track as we prepare for another busy CWL year.

I look forward to hearing from all of you, particularly the diocesan presidents, as you communicate with your councils and plan your year. Remember, its not about us individually, but rather about how the Holy Spirit works with and through us to serve His people!

With love and prayers from your Sister in the League,

Barb

Greetings,

Fall appears to be here, conventions at all levels are over, now it is time to prepare for League meetings, to share what we learned at conventions, to get the message out to parish councils the importance of following the action plan on both new and old resolutions, all of which are on national website, www.cwl.ca.

Welcome back resolutions chairpersons serving their second year – Ann M….. (Nelson), Whitehorse members, Blanca S….. (Victoria). Welcome to first year chairpersons joining us – Mary M…..(Kamloops), Betty R….. (Prince George), Anne S…… (Vancouver). I look forward to receiving your communiques with resolutions news in your diocese.

This year at our Provincial convention we did not have any resolutions brought to the convention floor. The two proposed were not accepted by the resolutions committee for various reasons and disposition letters stating the reason for non-acceptance were sent to the diocesan presidents to be forwarded to the submitting councils.

At National convention in Montreal fifteen proposed resolutions were discussed by the national resolution committee, five were accepted by them, discussed at the resolutions dialogue then these five were presented under the relevant standing committee on the convention floor. Amendments to the amendments were made, more up to date data was given resulting in only three being adopted by the convention delegates and as mentioned above are on the national web-site and the two which were not accepted will appear in the League magazine under the appropriate standing committee with suggested action plan.

Last year at National convention Archbishop Smith asked the question “how do we make real, at every level, the resolutions that are adopted at national level?” We need to make it get back “down the ladder” back to the parochial level.

Although a few councils do not have resolution chairpersons that should not prevent councils from following the action plan on at least one resolution.

In the world of today we encounter many issues/concerns that as Catholic women living out our faith we feel strongly about so let our voices be heard through resolutions!

Now is the time to plant the seed of a resolution and watch it grow. Remember only a title needs to be forwarded to me in January, work and research can continue till the cut-off date for acceptance. There are several resource members in each diocese or contact me, either by phone or e-mail should you need assistance or perhaps a workshop.

Did you know that both diocesan and provincial councils can form a resolution for consideration by the resolutions committee?

My Provincial convention oral report states my goal for the year is at least one resolution from each diocese, to reach that goal I need your assistance. Let’s put BC & Yukon Province back on the resolutions map, together we can achieve that goal!

One diocesan counterpart in her annual report suggested having resolutions report given at the beginning of council meetings rather than at the end, certainly worth a try.

September 21st is World Peace Day, please offer a special prayer for peace in our troubled world, not only that day but every day.

May the Holy Spirit inspire us and May Our Lady of Good Counsel bless all members and their families.

Your League Sister,
Sheila

Madame President,

It has been another very good year in BC & the Yukon. Our numbers continue inch ever closer to the 10,000 mark and more and more members are getting out to diocesan and provincial conventions – further proof of the wonderful rewards of hosting a National convention!

Our first year has been a huge learning curve as we got to know one another and appreciate our various talents and gifts. Our TEAM theme worked well and continues to guide us as we walk humbly with our God. I notice, as we teach, evangelize, animate and motive one another to open and share these precious gifts, a renewed feeling of ownership in our vision and mandate. We are committed to developing leadership skills, spiritual growth and appreciation for the Catholic Women’s League of Canada.

Whether at government meetings, where this year delegates had to withstand intense pressure and anger or in presenting to the Knights of Columbus convention a picture other than us being in the kitchen, or gathered with our BC Bishops in collaboration of such important topics as trafficking and pornography, League members are prepared and proud of who they are and what they stand for. Our six dioceses truly represent the changing face of our League and all embrace creative ways to reach out and include ALL women.

Education and training is a priority. Recent workshops on Standing Committee structure and the focus groups made it clear that many of our grass roots members do not see the big picture very well. Unlike you, of course, who are here today. By allocating extra funds, we will dispatch teams over the next year to cover the entire province as we respond to a pressing need for basic training and education around League structure and leadership. Our Development Days will focus on how the League is relevant in today’s world. With emphasis not only on our existing members, who are our bread and butter, so to speak, but also as an invitation to others to come and see.

We are committed to teaching the teacher. That way we can help every parish enhance its understanding and appreciation for the CWL. We will ask questions like, What kind of mentor are you for the League? Do you know the Mission Statement and are you committed to it? Do the Objects of the League determine your work for the League? Can you name them? And please, let us eliminate, once and for all, the ‘no report’ syndrome – how on earth can one know what’s going on outside the parish council if reports are considered tedious, boring or not relevant?

As president, I wanted each member to be proud of what the League stands for and to work tirelessly in affirming one another. If more of us were truly inspired to the kind of holiness that comes from the true meaning of service, AND if more of us were affirmed, pushed or shoved by a mentoring League sister, we wouldn’t have to search for or recruit more members. Women would want to walk with us as we find ways to Teach, Evangelize, Animate and Motivate one another and make the League strong and viable. How many of us have been so moved? Many I am sure, so now its up to us to do likewise.

We’ve been given a legacy of kindness and trust in the Holy Spirit. I hope to build on this by instilling a sense of urgency in our members to learn, to respond unselfishly and to collaborate not only with the Holy Spirit but with one another

As Judy so aptly reminded us, we should listen to our Mother Mary when she tells us to do whatever He tells us and respond with heartfelt fervour, Here I am Lord, use me!

Barb D…….

Madame President, Reverend Fathers and League members

Communication – what is it? Cave paintings, smoke signals, carrier pigeons; telegraph, telephone, television; e-mail, text message, chat room, blog. Communication has changed and grown, but still remains the exchange of thoughts, ideas, information and feelings by a system of signs, sounds or behaviour. It is used in order to accomplish tasks and achieve goals, in our personal and business lives.

In the past year, we have two major examples of communication being used to create change in our country.

Telus: we heard or read that Telus was offering a new service to its mobility customers. They were able to download pornography to their cell phones, and take it with them wherever they went. So we phoned and we wrote and we prayed. And Telus listened, and withdrew the service, and I hope that we all acknowledged and thanked them for this. We must continue to monitor Telus and other service providers.

Bill C-22: to raise the age of protection to 16. This bill passed third reading in the House of Commons on May 4th, and will now go before the Senate for final consideration and hopefully passage before summer. This is a rewarding conclusion to many years of hard work by child protection groups, police officers, politicians and concerned citizens.

To jump start my mind in preparing this report, I typed “communications” in my search engine and received 297 million results in .17 seconds. This is just one example of the power of the internet. We can access sites around the world and we can communicate with each other in seconds. This amazing information highway also brings us the responsibility to use it wisely, and to me this is a three fold responsibility:We must monitor its content and its use, especially by children – there are means in place and it is up to us to educate ourselves and our children on the safety and good content issues;

We must not let it replace actual contact with “real” people;

And, we must USE it. The information is there – sites from our Bishops, from Rome, from WUCWO, C.A.S.E., and from our own National CWL. We can learn so much and be called to action in so many ways. Although some members would have to be dragged, kicking and screaming, to a computer, each council should have at least one person who is willing and able to be the internet/e-mail contact, and this person needs to communicate with her council members.

The internet is not the only media for communications, and our mandate to evaluate and promote good content could also include “provide good content”. In the BC Catholic, May 14th, veteran CBC television journalist Brian Stewart is quoted: “The success of churches and faith-based organizations in providing disaster relief and fighting world poverty is one of “the greatest overlooked stories of our time”. Why is this story overlooked?

In September 2006, Archbishop John Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, addressed new bishops in Media: Well Worth the Church’s Effort. Although he was addressing bishops, his comments also apply to our CWL councils.

Quote: “Basically, the attitude in public relations on the diocesan or even the parish level should be: Never overlook an opportunity to proclaim Christ’s message through activities in which the general public may be interested.”

There are many “good news” stories waiting to be told – and when the five “w’s” – (the who, what, when, where and why) – are covered, an explanation can be added, providing evangelization, education or promotion of the League. Did you have a fundraiser for Matercare? Did you have a speaker on autism? Did you celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Good Counsel or sponsor a day of reflection? Tell your community. Even if all of a submitted article, or any of it, is not printed – someone read it. When you are aware of good, informative articles, comment on them and share them.

World Communications Day was celebrated this year on May 20th. The theme was “Children and the Media: a Challenge for Education.” Parents, teachers, and the ecclesiastic community are called to work together to educate children and young people to be selective and to develop a critical attitude. The media too must make its contribution to this educational task, promoting the dignity of the human person, marriage and the family, and the accomplishments and aims of civilization. May we all be guided to use the media wisely to communicate God’s great love to the world.

Respectfully submitted,

Sandra S……..

Rev. Fathers, Madame President Sisters in the League:

Well it is just over one year now, since my elevation to Nelson Diocesan President! It has been an interesting year, one of learning, listening and supporting!

Many councils in my diocese have or are having problems filling positions on there councils. But the amount of accomplishments in each parish council are huge, totally overwhelming in fact! Councils continue to achieve the impossible with fewer and older members! Report forms at year end were a huge problem – yes and no questions do not complement a report for a report book. Our diocesan newsletter which we started in Sept. is very successful and well received by all.

On April 26th to 29th we held our annual convention in Trail. B.C. What a great time it was, we had over 120 ladies attend. We were thrilled to have National President Lorette Nobel with us! The National theme Love One Another became so very real! Her workshop on the national theme was very powerful, spiritually enriching and thought provoking. Dr. Walley with Matercare gave us a one and a half hour presentation on all the great works of Matercare and inspired my councils to donate $2,518.oo that day. Very Impressive! Our Spiritual Advisor Fr. Jim did an enrichment on Our Lady of Good Counsel; we learned so much about this history, we heard much more than any of us knew about this special feast day! Our provincial representative Elaine A…. guided us through the workshop on realignment of chairpersons; it seemed like the ladies really enjoyed going through this process, and were happy to be asked for their input! We also did not use any Styrofoam table ware at this convention. We received many compliments for a well run convention, for the wonderful speakers and programs that we listened to, learned from – all were terrific.

We were blessed to have a 90 year old member with us at convention, a very active and busy lady. One council reported a 90 year old lady joined the league for the first time. A member who had taken time off for a very serious illness, is back after four years, and is once again president of her council, where they had no president for 4 years. Just an example of the patience and positive attitudes we need and a reminder to keep focused!

We are planning four workshops this fall in the diocese, all will have Love One Another for the spiritual component, two will have responsibility of chairpersons as their 2nd part and two will have End of Life, Death and Dying for their 2nd part. All members of my team will be involved in these workshops. Two councils are celebrating anniversaries. We look forward to welcoming a new bishop to the Nelson Diocese this fall. We move in to the next year with love, humility and the gift of amazing grace. Thank you!

Respectfully submitted: Caroline A..-…..

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, I have just returned from the National CWL winter meeting and have nearly thawed out! No wonder they call it WINTER-PEG!

As you know I am going to be away, so wanted to touch bases on a few things before I leave:

• Contact info: If you need any assistance with League matters or have questions that can’t wait, please contact Pat B. who will be collecting my e-mails from National. Questions or concerns about the Provincial Convention, please call Sheila Q.
• Annual reports: Thank you for your prompt attention to this and for the interesting and varied information. I look forward to seeing your reports in the Provincial convention book and know they will make interesting and hopefully inspiring reading for our members. Doreen G. will be forwarding you the guidelines for submission and a deadline. Let us do our utmost to assist her as she so generously undertakes yet another extra job.
• Government Meeting: Please pray for the success of the meetings with Government on March 28. Sheila Q. has worked hard to coordinate this and has been able to secure a meeting with the Honourable Shirley Bond, Minister of Education as well as with Ms. Robin Pike who heads up BC’s Human Trafficking Response Initiative. Representing our Provincial Council with Sheila are Gloria G., Marilyn V. and Nancy S.
• Development Fund Applications for grants to travel to the Provincial Convention – deadline is March 15.
• Diocesan Conventions – Further to my last communique about the expected workshop from National, I am somewhat disappointed to report that there isn’t one as such. Instead, Danielle McN.-H. will be asking all diocesan presidents to undertake a process in or around the diocesan convention that involves two focus groups of 6-10 people.

After much discussion and serious thought, I believe we can make this work as a workshop as previously planned to incorporate dialogue, sharing and positive brainstorming. We want to include all members and we have all agreed that interaction is the best thing we can do. This is a heads up only; more information will be forthcoming from National Office. I will write directly to the Diocesan Presidents who are having the workshop with a Provincial Representative.

• Provincial Convention: The agenda is all but set and I’ll send out when I get back. In addition to Dr. Reeves keynote on discernment, we are going to focus in some ways on Africa as we strive to live out our commitment to WUCWO. Besides Fr. Brock’s presentation on Immaculee, we’ll learn of independent projects that have sprung up out of need to help build a library for a Catholic school in Kampala and the efforts of a parish to raise money to help children. Other items of interest include Bishop Gagnon on Evangelization, and a presentation about Depression. Your convention packages have been mailed so please be sure to register early.

Membership: Kudos to all! Once again, our membership in BC & the Yukon has increased and we are inching ever closer to our goal of 10,000. The best news is the number of reinstated members is up (391) so obviously our work to approach non-renewed members is helping. Another wonderful sign of growth is 746 NEW members! Alberta is the only other province with increased membership but we had a few more so I am proud to say we increased the most in Canada! Excellent work too in re-activating councils throughout the province – diocesan presidents can take much credit for this. It was their tireless efforts and patience that paid off – well done.
Let’s be sure to continue to contact our Sisters who have not yet renewed at the same time taking care to nurture and mentor the members we have.

Other items of interest from the Winter Mid-Term Meeting:

• National Convention Montreal – book soon. Double rooms are nearly all gone.
• “Finding Dawn” a produced-in-BC film by Faye Blaney will be screened at the UN Commission on the Status of Women on March 9. Please keep an eye out for this – it concerns missing Aboriginal women.
• Eucharistic Congress – June 2008. National Office has reserved 40 rooms in Quebec City on a first come-first serve basis. If you are interested, please contact Cecile M. for further information: c.miller@ns.sympatico.ca
• National Convention – 2015

It will soon be time for a diocese in BC & Yukon to offer to host the National Convention in 2015. While it is a long way away, the invitation from the host Bishop will have to be written soon. I encourage the Diocesan Presidents to talk to their executives and bring your ideas to the Pre-Convention meeting.

• WUCWO Regional Meeting will be combined with National in 2008 in Winnipeg. We are asked to talk this up and encourage support of the Voluntary Fund for WUCWO.
• National executive thanks and praise to Pat B. on her report to Rayleen DeL. concerning the Corren situation as it relates to a human rights issue – hopefully it will be featured in The Canadian League magazine – and to Marilyn V. for a great report on the Pro-Life Conference. Well done, BC!

Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. I will keep each and everyone of you in prayer while I’m away and in a special way when in Rome.

May Lent be…a renewed experience of God’s love given to us in Christ, a love that each day we, in turn, must “regive” to our neighbor, especially to the one who suffers most and is in need. (Pope Benedict)

Barb D…..

Greetings to my diocesan life member liaisons, Ruth H. ~ Victoria, Beverly W. ~ Nelson, Diane McK. ~ Prince George, Shirley A. ~ Vancouver and Marie Lucie S. ~ Kamloops!

I am honoured to have been asked by our provincial president, Barbara D., to accept the appointment of provincial life member liaison for the next two years, and I happily accepted. And at this time, on behalf of all BC & Yukon life members I extend our gratitude to Margaret B. who so graciously served in this capacity for the past two years.

Prayer Requests

• Sharon and Robert H. (Nova Scotia) celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past September 16, 2006 with a blessing and renewal of vows and reception. I’m sure Sharon would love to receive your good wishes (even a little late!)> Contact me for address/e-mail.
• Prayers of gratitude for Margaret who received the ‘great news’ on her recent visit to the cancer clinic in Victoria! Margaret does not have to have radiation or chemo – she has been prescribed Tamoxifen pills. According to Margaret, …”I am gradually getting back to normal, thanks to all for your prayers.”
• Jackie L.’s surgery went well. I understand the only problem was ‘a few hours delay’ – unfortunate, but that does happen. And Jackie told Barb that she is “so blessed with so much prayer support.”
• Please keep up your prayers for Madeline, haven’t heard for a while what is happening but know she would appreciate hearing from her League sisters.
• Joan Baudais, National Life Member Liaison, informed me that Lt. Col. (ret.) Charles Edward D., father of national Resolutions Chairperson Betty Anne B., passed away on Sunday, October 15, 2006. Anyone wishing to send condolences may address them to Betty Anne (contact me for address). I will send a card from BC/Yukon life members.

Mentoring
Part of our responsibilities as life members is to act as mentors and give support to our League sisters, especially those who are serving as leaders on parish, diocesan, provincial and national councils. It would be appropriate to send your congratulations to newly elected members of national council to show your appreciation for their service to the League, especially if you know them personally. (I will send a card to national executive on behalf of BC/Yukon life members, so please send personal cards to individuals if you wish.)

At the national convention in Halifax, Joan spoke to a League member who was attending her first national convention. She was surprised that there were so few comments from the floor from life members in attendance. She had expected that there would be many words of wisdom from these members who have worked for so many years on League concerns and who have all held numerous leadership positions.

Pray that we have the courage to deliver our “words of wisdom” when the time is right and to learn when to keep silent and ‘listen’ to other League members.

National convention
For those life members who were unable to attend the 2006 national convention, you may receive the minutes by requesting them from national office.

Notes to me
Please let me know if there is anything that I can do to make my communique more inclusive of all life members. And be sure and let me know and let us celebrate special anniversaries, awards or birthdays.

Blessings,
Ann D.

Dear League Sisters and Father Terry,

And so we continue….refreshed from summer and energized from the National Convention, it’s time to get going again!

For those diocesan presidents whose meetings are imminent, I know you will have a list a mile long from the National Convention to report on. There were so many important issues to pass on from both levels, in particular Trafficking and the ‘rare second chance’ concerning the government’s promise to re-look at the definition of marriage. I am sure your enthusiastic reports to your members on both provincial and national will make for a great start to the new League year. Getting the message across about the wonderful camaraderie one feels at conventions is important but so are some of the important aspects of the work done. We look forward to the reports from Nancy S. and Marianna C. on their impressions of the National convention.Special thanks to all the Standing Committee Chairpersons for getting introductory communiques out on time. There’s a wealth of information and direction in them. (And you’ve made my communique so much shorter since all the critical items have been addressed!)

I can understand how hard it is to choose what to focus on. Presidents please remember neither you nor your executives can do everything. Do what’s important for your members and your community and do it the best way you can. Keeping members up to speed on the latest from National does not have to be laborious.

I am sure we are going to be using the Quick Response System over the next few months, especially on imminent federal issues (marriage definition, and other critical proposed legislation that affect life). We will need to be ready to follow the lead of our Bishops and the National CWL – time will be of the essence. Please be sure you know this is working BEFORE we need it!

Annual reports:
Thanks to Doreen, Pat D. and Agnes for the great job on the first round of annual reports for parish level. Presidents please assist your Organization Chairperson as she instructs and promotes these new forms. We know that we cannot please everyone, but the object of the exercise is to find out what’s working, what is innovative and/or different at parish level. The diocesan forms will be out soon and again, let’s make 100% reporting our goal.

Development Fund #2:
Further to the proposed changes to discontinue the fund to financially assist parish/diocesan councils to host League Training Days and/or Workshops, new forms and criteria will be ready for discussion at midterm. Thanks to Pat B, Carol and Elaine for their good work in preparing this so quickly.

Policy and Procedure Manual:
Pat B. is also working with Dodie B. on revamping the format for the Provincial P & P. Please bring whatever copy/edition you have with you to the midterm meeting.

Provincial theme:
Lorette Noble has chosen, “Love One Another” for the national them 2007 to 2009. This is a fine theme to follow ‘Companions on the Journey’ and in looking to our new provincial theme, it will be interesting to see how we follow up on Contemplating the Face of Christ. Bring your ideas with you to midterm!

Special thanks to all who gave me their “word’ – I wore your picture and word on my “hat” at the National Convention. It worked out very well thanks to Sheila’s idea and Pat B.’s creativity. I told you I’d take you all with me!

Mid-term News:
Our first meeting is fast approaching and I am working on the agenda. You will recall that we’re dealing with an abbreviated timeframe, so the challenges begin before we start! We’ll have lunch together at noon on Friday and begin promptly at 1 pm. … Some of the things I hope to cover include:

• spiritual enrichment
• TEAM building
• provincial theme
• timeline/calendar
• goals
• reporting
• roles and responsibilities
• diocesan conventions

Add to that some time for social interaction, to re-discover the art of conversation and get to know one another better. If we take our TEAM spirit seriously we should be totally energized by Sunday morning (or exhausted!).

Travel:

• Please refer to the Welcome book for details on expenses for travel to meetings. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me directly.
• Pat Battensby has sent information re transportation requirements – the sooner you can get the details to her, the better.

Reports:

• I would very much like to keep the practice of having reports sent ahead of time as it makes the meeting so much more efficient.
• Please e-mail your report to the whole executive by October 15 or earlier if possible and bring your copy with you
• This report should include anything new since the pre-convention meeting. If your report has three parts: (1) what’s happened (2) what’s planned (3) recommendations, you will be amazed how simple it is to write. Not only does it show you your goals, it will help you keep track! I encourage you to try it this format.
• Be sure to read all the reports ahead of time – we will address any concerns or questions arising from the reports during the meeting.

Agenda:
The tentative agenda will be sent to you shortly. If there is anything you want to add, please let me know as soon as possible.

Please bring:

• Liturgy of the hours
• Minutes from the convention, pre- and post- meetings
• Commitment booklet
• Copy of chairpersons’ and diocesan presidents’ reports
• A list of any dates that are pertinent to your Standing Committee and/or diocese for our Provincial Calendar.
• Workshop ideas/suggestions re: diocesan conventions

Yes, we’re going to have a busy time, but I think we can do it all and still have fun too!

And finally, Please continue to keep Jackie L. and Madeline K. in your prayers and add Margaret B. if you haven’t already. These women, past provincial presidents, have undergone major setbacks and health difficulties. They all forge ahead on their journey with faith and hope, just as they did when they served us. Let us hold them close in our hearts and let them know how much we value them as companions and mentors. May Our Lady of Good Counsel watch over all our League sisters, too numerous to mention, who are ill or suffering as well as Sr. Pierette B., CND and Sr. Shelley G., CND.

With love and prayers,
Barbara D…

Dear League Sisters,

Thank you for your patience as we work our way around the unusual situation of working without an Organization Chairperson on the Provincial level. For the time being we are going to share the duties the best we can.

Membership: Dodie B., recently “retired” from the provincial executive has generously agreed to take care of the membership side of this committee. Dodie will be working on a membership initiative and will communicate with you directly. We are grateful to Dodie for her help and look forward to working with her to attain our goal of 10,000 members. Wouldn’t it be awesome to reach that number by our 60th anniversary as a province in Victoria, 2007??? The national goal is 100,000 – we can help!

Dodie will be reminding us of the importance of keeping members up to date with their memberships and getting the fees in well in advance of the February 28 deadline. This is critical as each level depends on its per capita to function. We’re hoping to continue to focus on those members who have not renewed first by identifying who’s missing from our councils and secondly by making a call or a visit to find out why.

Development Fund: Elaine A., provincial treasurer, will look after the Development Fund applications. She works with a committee but ultimately gives out the money, so I am grateful to Elaine for adding this to her already full portfolio.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Development fund money will no longer be available at the provincial level for workshops. It was agreed at the provincial post convention meeting to discontinue this part of the development fund, partly because it was so underused and restrictive, but largely because the National Development Fund is available, easier to access, and offers better funding.

There is good news – more funds will be available for getting our members to provincial conventions. The last two years have seen an amazing increase in the number of applications and we’ve been sorry to have turned some down and in many cases given only a small portion of the costs. An ad hoc committee, struck at the post convention meeting, consisting of Pat B., Carol P., Elaine A. and myself are working on the new application form. It will be presented at the midterm meeting in October for approval with an application deadline of March 15, 2007.

Annual Reports: Doreen G., provincial secretary, has agreed to add this time-consuming duty to her already full list of jobs and will be sending out the annual report forms with instructions and direction. The forms have been revised after much discussion and consternation concerning what is being reported. An ad hoc committee was struck at the provincial post convention meeting to address this issue and find a way to improve. Doreen G., Pat D. and Agnes G. have worked through summer holidays to complete this task. Please do everything in your power to get this message to all your parishes. The suggestions in Doreen’s memo make it realistic to expect 100% reporting with your encouragement and follow up. You will notice more emphasis on success stories and things that are different and make a difference.

Promotional Video: Salt and Light TV were working on a promotional video at the National Convention in Halifax. It will be about 20 minutes, intended for use when giving talks on the CWL at parishes and to groups. Our hope to develop a provincial DVD will go on hold now until we see what this looks like. I’ve pre-ordered some and will keep you up to date on that. The cost will be something like $6.00 so every council should be able to get a copy. If anyone is interested in pre-ordering, go to the Salt and Light website www.saltandlighttv.org.

Over 800 people registered for the National Convention in Halifax. The CWL is alive and very well. We need to get the message out about who we are and what we do. Bishop Smith, national spiritual advisor, reminded us that there are some tough times coming for the Church in Canada and to never underestimate the value of what we do. We ARE the Church. We need to stand tall, reflect our optimism for the truth and be ready to be counted and speak up for what we believe. It’s always easier to do this with support – CWL is that support!

Organization job description: I encourage each of you to review the roles and responsibilities for your level. They can be found on the National CWL website www.cwl.ca. This might assist you in the direction you feel will work best for your diocese.

Welcome back to Lorrilee J. (Kamloops), Susan S. (Prince George), Evelyn R. (Vancouver) and Nicole G. (Whitehorse), who have had a year’s experience already and are doing a terrific job. Congratulations, also, to Alice H. (Nelson) on your new position – thanks for saying “yes”. Victoria doesn’t have anyone for Organization at this time, so please send your copies or information to the president, Agnes G.

I encourage you to share communiques – we can always learn from one another. Keep up to date – check the CWL websites www.cwl.ca and www.cwl.bc.ca for updates and do not hesitate, ever, to call me if there is anything I can do to help you.

Organization is much more than membership. It is education, leadership and opportunities to affirm our League sisters in their overall development and individual growth. As we each seek to find our own place, we must take responsibility for the many gifts we’ve been given. In your efforts to bring out the best in others, you will be amazed at the results in your own life.

The national organization chairperson and president elect is Danielle McNeill-Hessian. Look for lots of great things to come from Danielle. We are all looking forward to the next two years with Lorette Noble, our President, and her new officers. The future is bright indeed. Lorette has chosen for her theme beginning January 2007: Love One Another. How perfect is that?

And lastly, in her final report to the National Convention as Organization Chairperson, Lorette reminded us about the importance of associate members. We often forget that women who are not Catholic are more than welcome to become members of the CWL. Think, too, of the wives of Catholic men in your parish who might share our interests in the world and society, who might find our League the place they can belong and make a difference. As Lorette said, “Ask them to come and see!”

So, September looms! I thank you for your efforts and look forward to a great year of CWL animation and enthusiasm. Use dialogue and workshops, brainstorming and small group discussions to get people talking and thinking out loud. And don’t forget to pray!

Teach, Evangelize, Animate and Motivate!

PS: Watch for more information on a pilot project for a Catholic Girls League coming soon!

Barb D.

What a pleasure it is to report to you on behalf of nearly 9,000 members of the Catholic Women’s League in British Columbia and the Yukon. We are six dioceses ranging in size from the largest with 49 parish councils and the smallest only two. Distance, travel time and weather play a big part in how we meet and communicate. Our challenges are similar to those across this great country, but today I want to focus on the wonderful things going on out West.

The CWL is alive and well. For the 3rd straight year our membership has increased and we are inching ever closer to our short term goal of 10,000. The Provincial Convention in Whitehorse had an outstanding attendance especially since it was so far away for most and very expensive to get to. We believe this is a direct result of the enthusiasm and excitement generated from the National Convention last year.

We offer subsidies for travel to a provincial convention and again this year were overwhelmed with applications. As we had limited funds we were only able to help 9 members attend. Needless to say this is being reviewed and we hope to find more money to assist our members get to conventions, particularly accredited delegates, wherever and whenever possible.

We continue to honour our declaration to raise awareness about Trafficking. Thanks to a grant from the National Development Fund we were able to bring Sr. Pierette Boise, CND to Whitehorse where she gave an excellent workshop. The dioceses are still passing the video “Sisters and Daughters Betrayed” to parish councils and most importantly, all dioceses have agreed to try and bring the Trafficking Play “Lost in Trafficking” to their area.

Like last year, we presented all dioceses with the same workshop. This has proven to be an excellent idea. The topic ‘Discernment’ was perfect as we had been focusing on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We wanted to encourage members to recognize not only the gifts and charisms of others, but for themselves too. It gave people a chance to think in a different way. Members like to be affirmed and this workshop certainly made that easy to do.

We dedicated our convention to asking graces through the intercession of the servant of God, Pope John Paul II, for the healing of our League sister, Jackie L. Members were asked to pray the prayer every day. Jackie continues to battle, is cheerful as always and confident that God will hear our prayers.

The motion to increase the provincial per capita by $1.00 per member passed. This is to be kept aside to offset expenses expected when next hosting a national convention which we understand will be in 2015.

Building on the Pat’s legacy of Kindness, we are committed as a new executive to focus this term on TEAM, but with a new look. To TEACH, EVANGELIZE, ANIMATE AND MOTIVATE, not only our diocesan councils but one another. One of my goals for us is to really take ownership of the ‘teaching role’ of the provincial level. We want to train our members so they can go and train others.

I know we’ll hear a lot more about WUCWO during this convention but I must say, the privilege of attending the Study Days in Arlington, has to be the highlight of my League life so far. What a fantastic learning experience, one that I am most grateful for and will remember for a long time. I am committed to ensuring more exposure and awareness at all other levels of the League for the importance of this wonderful group of Catholic women.

One thing that particularly stands out for me comes from the talk by Fr. Polidoro and that is the need for conflict resolution and the importance of recognizing our own abilities to generate peace, to look for the positive – always – and to start, within ourselves, a cultural revolution for positivity and peace.

Can’t wait to share my hat with you on Tuesday – suffice to say I’ve brought each member of the provincial council with me. When asked what we should focus on this term these are some of the suggestions I received: Generosity, patience, wisdom, forgiveness, understanding, love, inspiration, joy and actuate and gentleness – what a team, indeed.

Dear League Sisters and Father Terry,

I’m excited (and yes, nervous too) to be part of the Provincial team, and I look forward to working with everyone. I’m sorry that I could not attend the convention in Whitehorse, to put faces with the names of those I haven’t met, and re-connect with those “companions” that I met during my terms as Diocesan President-elect, President, and Past President (Diocese of Nelson – term completed 2006). I hope to get to know all the Diocesan Chairpersons through our shared communiques, and perhaps at future conventions.

Thank-you to Carol and Carol and Elaine for getting my ‘box’ and ‘books’ from Whitehorse to Trail, and many thanks to Dodie for having everything in such good order. I have looked through everything, started my own files, and have many more questions than answers! Communications is the only standing committee that I have never chaired before!

I belong to St. Joseph’s Council, Warfield – with a membership of 17 wonderful women. We have no church, meet in each others homes, and get lots of work done. I have coordinated the WRAP campaign, written meeting reports and articles for the newspapers, and worked on our Parish council newsletters, and I access the National website regularly, so I do have some experience related to the Communications committee. The Provincial Newsletter will be a challenge, and I am becoming familiar with our provincial website www.cwl.bc.ca and hope to work with the webmaster on bringing it up to date (with all of your help and co-operation!). I am on the Diocesan convention committee for 2007 (Trail). Looks like my CWL life will be busy.

Sandra S….

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.

A workshop on Human Trafficking was facilitated by Sister Pierete Boise Social Justice co-ordinator, from the congregation of Notre Dame. She told us that trafficking is equal to arms sales and that it is 2nd in the world. According to Sister Boise, Canada has signed the papers to stop trafficking but have done nothing to implement it. Trafficking is buying and selling of humans and it must be stopped. Trafficking is when a person is taken form one place to another and forced into something they don’t want to do.

Attending her last official Provincial Convention as National President, Agnes Bedard spoke to us about her session with WUCWO (World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations). Catholic Women from around the world gather to discuss items of common interest. One of WUCWO’s aims is to have Social Justice around the world.

Rev. Terry Brock introduced to us St. Gianna Molla. She was canonized May 16th 2004. Pope John Paul 11 spoke of her as a “woman of exceptional love, and outstanding wife, and mother. Gianna Molla gave witness in her daily life to the demanding values of the Gospel.” She was canonized in the Year of the Family.

For the BC & Yukon CWL it was an election year. Our new BC & Yukon President is Barb Dowding.

Submitted by Past Provincial Communications Chairperson, Dodie B.

The BC & Yukon Catholic Women’s League of Canada held their 58th Annual Provincial Convention, May 25 – 29, 2005 at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Westbank, BC hosted by the Nelson Diocesan Council. Pat Battensby, Provincial President chaired the Convention. It was well-attended from all Provincial Dioceses – over 230 members and delegates.

The national CWL theme, “Companions on the Journey” and the provincial CWL theme, “Contemplate the Face of Christ” were woven throughout the three day event. The convention was very spiritual, educational and rewarding. We were privileged to have our National Spiritual Advisor, Most Rev. Richard Smith, Bishop of Pembroke, Ontario among us. He spoke on the importance of the Eucharist. Bishop Smith said that we have to get back to the basics. What does the real ministry of the real presence mean? How can we hand on the real truth? He referred to St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. We have been handing this on from generation to generation. This is what forms all of our lives. He is relating what He himself will be going through – the crucifixion on the cross. This is a moment of transformation. What was once bread and wine are no more; they are now the Body and Blood of our Lord. We often take this for granted; we must not. We are nourished by the Body and Blood of Jesus — we are nourished for the strength of Our Journey, our pilgrimage to our Father. If we don’t have Christ we are bound to fail. We are nourished with hope for eternal life if we believe and receive Christ in our Eucharist.

Our own Provincial Spiritual Advisor Father Terry Brock introduced us to Edith Stein. St. Benedicta of the Cross. Born October 12th 1891 in Breslau, Germany. She was a great Jewish philosopher, a Carmelite Nun, and brilliant writer who had a great influence on the women of her time and is having a growing influence in the intellectual and philosophical circles of today’s society. She is an inspiration to all Christians whose heritage is the Cross and her life was offered for her own Jewish people in their suffering and persecutions. From the University of Freiburg in Germany she was awarded her doctorate in philosophy Suma Cum Laude. She worked along side the famous founder of phenomenology Professor Husserl. It was while she was doing her studies that she found out the Truth itself in the Catholic Church while reading the autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila. All the doors were opened and she embraced faith. She was baptized on New Year’s Day, 1922. She died in the gas chambers at Auschwitz on August 9th 1942. Pope John Paul II beatified Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross on May 1st 1987 and canonized her on October 11th 1998. Father Terry asks us, as CWL members, where is Jesus leading us/me (prophetic call) and what sacrifice is Jesus asking of us/me to accept? (Oblation)

We had an informative workshop on “Advocacy with Politicians” facilitated by Judith Reid former MLA. She served as Minister of Transportation from June 2001 until January 2004. One of the reasons we work so hard in this life is so that we might make a better world for our children to live in. Some of the things that Judith said to help us with our causes were: We must be emotionally connected to the problem before we can sell it. Write letters to the editor to say Thank You about your MLAs. That way they will remember your name when you call on them for help. Read about your MLA or MP. Think about them as a person. Invite them to come and speak to a group as you can get to know them and they can get to know you. Some of the tips that Judith gave up on how to advocate for an action (successful advocacy requires that you already know the solution and that it is doable): one issue at a time, thoroughly understand the system you need to work with … Is it local, provincial, federal? What are the obstacles, why hasn’t this been done before? What are the benefits; can you support that with facts? Petitions are useful to get someone’s attention. Judith’s final words were that she encouraged us to be persistent in presenting our concerns to people in authority. Our resolutions are a warning that many MLAs and MPs do take seriously.

Seven resolutions were brought forward for consideration at this convention, and approved for presentation to the National Convention in August 2005: (From the Vancouver Archdiocesan Council) 1. Canadian Christmas Postage Stamp to include a Nativity-related theme in future Christmas stamp issues to commemorate Jesus’ birthday. 2. Assisted Suicide (A Criminal Offence) to retain Section 241 of the Criminal Code of Canada and to keep it an indictable offence under the Criminal Code of Canada. 3. Ratification of international convenant re: Death Penalty. We urge the Federal Government through the National Council of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada, to sign and ratify the Second Optional Protocol regarding the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of the United Nations and encourage other countries to do the same. (From the Prince George Diocesan Council) 4. Pay Child Care Support Direct to Family; Child care decisions are best made by parents/guardians in determining their child care options. (Kamloops Diocesan Council) 5. MaterCare International Funding; that the Federal Government contribute to the funding of MaterCare International’s Birth Trauma Centers through CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency). (From the Kamloops Diocesan Council) 6. End Trafficking of Women & Children worldwide. (Vancouver Archdiocesan Council) 7. Appointments to the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation; to reform the appointments process of the CRTC and the CBC by mandating an all-party selection committee to make appointments.

Provincial President Elect, Barbara Dowding, facilitated a workshop on Trafficking. Trafficking is a modern form of slavery. We need to become aware of the atrocities that are being done to our children around the world. We need to protect our children. The workshop was closed with a “Trafficking Prayer Service” by Ann Dobie, Provincial Spiritual Development Chairperson, using symbols in prayer to open our eyes and hearts to those who are broken, wounded and destroyed by human traffickers. The symbols used were fabric symbolizing the just labor of textile worker, water symbolizing the freeing of those caught in domestic slavery, Fair Trade coffee beans symbolizing the farmers working locally for a fair wage in the freedom of their own culture and land, Fair Trade Chocolate symbolizing the end to child slavery, and a rose symbolizing respect for the beauty of all earth’s daughters.

The Eucharistic Celebrations were all held at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Westbank BC. Celebrants were the Most Reverend Eugene J. Cooney Bishop of Nelson, Reverend Richard Smith Bishop of Pembroke, Ontario, National CWL Spiritual Advisor, Fr. Terry Brock BC & Yukon Spiritual Advisor, Fr. Jim Ratcliffe, and Nelson Diocesan Spiritual Advisor.

The Banquet speakers included Past National President Marie Cameron, who brought us greetings, and our very own Jackie Lenarduzzi (Provincial Past President) who shared her story of strong faith. There were presentations for Bursaries, National Convention Grants and Membership Contest winners presented by Barb Dowding. A great time was had by all who attended.

Submitted by:
Dodie B., BC & Yukon Provincial CWL Communications Chairperson