This is my first communique as your Christian Family Life Chairperson for the Province of BC. It will be learning experience for me as I have a lot of reading ahead of me. So please bear with me. I will endeavour to keep you updated with what is new and upcoming in this chair. If you have any concerns or questions pertaining to this chair please feel free to contact me.

Congratulations to our Immediate Provincial Past President Barbara Dowding to her position as Resolutions Chairperson on the National level.

The National March for Life, May 14th 2009 will mark 40 years since former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau’s omnibus bill decriminalizing abortion in Canada. Let’s be part of this and help defend the unborn.  See if you can get your parish involved in a march to coincide with this date.

On July 1st the governor general of Canada named Dr. Henry Morgentaler to the Order of Canada. A letter was sent to R. Honorable Michaelle Jean expressing the League’s disappointment and distress in the mater and that they revoke the decision.  We must continue to write our letters to our MPs.  We have to protect the unborn!Bill C-484, (an act to amend the Criminal Code (injuring or causing the death of an unborn child while committing and offence), passed 2nd reading in the House of Commons and was sent to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.  We have been asked to send individual letters to all committee members urging them to have full hearings on Bill C-484.  A list of committee members may be obtained from the government website.

Bill C-562, (An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (right to die with dignity) was introduced by Francine Lalonde and received first reading on June 12th 2008.  The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) warns that the reintroduction of such a bill threatens the lives of people with disabilities and other vulnerable Canadians. There will be a National Euthanasia symposium on October 24-25, 2008 at the Victoria Inn Hotel in Winnipeg.

I would like to leave you with a story written by Bernie Shehan: (read Bible passage Job 12; 1-12)

We live in a culture that reveres its youth and ignores its elders.  Nearly every other culture does the opposite and is the richer for it.  We are the poorer for having put our grandparents in retirement villages, far away from grandchildren who don’t know the wisdom they are missing by not having Grandpa and Grandma around.

The things we can learn from our elders are limitless. They were born in a time that was very different from our own, and their perspective on life can be of great value as we struggle with our daily lives in this fast paced, unsettling era.  Imagine for a moment: A person born at the end of the last century would have lived through the First World War, the Great Depression, yet another world war, and the suburbanization of our country.  A telephone would have been a rare thing in the home of their childhood; now their grandchildren can have phones in their cars, their purses and their pockets.

Life has changed at a speed never seen before in human history. More than ever, we need the sagacity of those who lived in a slower time.

Are the elders all gone from your life?  Look around – people who have lived rich, full lives are sitting near you in a pew, at the train station, in a nursing home.  Ask them questions.  Listen; really listen, to their answers.  Let them teach you with their stories.

Prayer for Priests

Keep them, I pray Thee, dearest Lord, keep them, for they are Thine
Thy priests whose lives burn out before Thy consecrated shrine.

Keep them as spotless as the Host, that daily they caress; their Host,
That daily they caress; their every thought and word and deed, Deign,
Dearest Lord, to Bless.  Amen.

Peace be to you family and friends.

My term is quickly coming to an end but my involvement in Christian Family Life will never come to end. A big thank you to our Diocesan Counterparts: Betty Kuntz, Catherine Stroman, Eileen Bouvier, Sammy Nelligan and the members in the Whitehorse Diocese for all the time and effort you put into these important issues. Eileen and Therese’s term is finished while the other chairpersons will be carrying the torch for another year. And, where would we be without Ann Doucet, our National Counterpart. I have enjoyed working with Ann and getting to know her both through her communiqués and emails.

Ann welcomed her newest granddaughter into their family on March 30, Lily Suze-Ann. Not to be outdone by Ann, I welcomed a granddaughter into our family the night of April 16, Taylor Mae. She is named after my Mother, Mae. I was out of town every other weekend (four day weekends) in April so I was fortunate that our Diocesan convention was in Kamloops April 17 – 19. I was able to attend the convention and also spend time with Taylor Mae. Babies bring so much joy and hope!

Marriage and Family

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

Sanctity of Life

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

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

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

Ministry to Youth – Catholic Girls’ League (CGL)

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

Ministry to Disabled

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

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

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

Ethical Guidelines (taken directly from Ann’s communiqué)

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

Vocations

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

Your Sister-in-the-League
Marilyn VanDongen

Dear League Sisters,

As I am writing this communiqué, I am watching the snow fall, quickly piling up in my yard. We are into the Lenten season but it is hard to think of preparing for Easter and spring, with all this snow.

We were back at Rosemary Heights for our winter mid-term meeting January 25 – 27. I have attached my mid-term report with this communiqué.

Marriage and Family

St Joseph’s Workers for Life and Family has a 10 CD audio set entitled Naked Without Shame – A Crash Course in the Theology of the Body. The series explains John Paul II insights on marriage and sexuality in a clear and dynamic way. I will snail mail information. It can also be accessed on their website www.sjw.ca. This is a fantastic course that, with the tapes, you can facilitate it in your parish. Hopefully you have ordered copies of Families, where are the saints of the third millennium? at only .40 each from Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF). It can be ordered online www.colf.ca, or by phone (613) 241-9461. It can also be printed off their website.

Sanctity of Life

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

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

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

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

Ministry to Youth – Catholic Girls’ League (CGL)

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

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

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

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

Ministry to Disabled, Seniors, Widowed, Separated and Divorced

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

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

Vocations

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

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

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

Your Sister-in-the-League,
Marilyn