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

Submitted by: Nancy Simms

WUCWO North American Regional Conference, August 8 – 10, 2008

For me the WUCWO Conference began with Doreen Gowans and myself arriving at the hotel in Winnipeg on August 7th and being asked by Agnes Bedard to help sell WUCWO supplies at a table near the registration, which we happily agreed to do. This gave us an opportunity to meet many wonderful ladies from across North America, including the WUCWO President General, Karen Hurley whom we were trying to sell items to without realizing who she was! The next morning Agnes had Doreen and I assembling the table decorations and a large WUCWO poster for the conference and then we were back to work selling items throughout the conference. Just having the opportunity to do this work for WUCWO was an experience I wouldn’t have missed for the world. Marie Cameron also asked us if we would display handmade outfits that were made by a friend she had met through WUCWO who escaped a war ravished country (the name has escaped my mind) with all of her family murdered except her grandchildren, she is now making and selling these outfits to provide for her grandchildren. We sold all three outfits Marie had brought! » Read the rest of this entry »

What a wonderful experience it was to represent the BC & Yukon Provincial Council at the National Convention and so rewarding to have all six Dioceses represented so well.  I am sad to report that Nicole G. has submitted her resignation as President of the Whitehorse Diocese as they are moving to Kamloops.  While we will miss her and wish her the very best, I know that Kamloops Diocese will make her very welcome in her new home.   We send a big Provincial welcome to Edna L. as she steps into Nicole’s place as President of Whitehorse Diocese.

National Convention

Nancy Simms and Carol Penno attended the convention as Provincial Accredited Delegates and will be reporting their experience and observations on the convention.  However, as this was an election year I would like to mention your new National Executive:

President: Danielle McNeil-Hessian
President-elect: Velma Harasen, Organization
1st Vice President: Betty Anne Brown, Communications
2nd Vice President: Cecile Miller, Health & Education
Secretary/Treasurer: Peggy Roche
Past-President: Lorette Noble

Chairpersons:
Terri Scott, Spiritual Development
Pearl Bridgwater, Christian Family Life
Mary Nordick, Community Life
Barbara Dowding, Resolutions
Judy Lewis, Legislation » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Barbara Dowding

Dear League Sisters and Father Tien,

September – back to school, new books, fresh start and CWL! Special greeting to Past Presidents in their second term: Anna May McCarvill, Maureen Sander, Jeanne Wilson and Pat Deppiesse. Welcome to the ranks of being ‘past’ to Agnes Geiger and Caroline Ann-Alter.

We have the unique position of being able to advise while at the same time being a mentor and supportive part of the executive team. As we hand over the reigns or pass the torch, it is important to let go and let go with grace. The beauty and strength of our great League is built upon the differences we have. I encourage you to have access to The Constitution and Bylaws where on page 12, Article X Section 2 -”Officers” it states that past president are officers of the executive level and page 18 Article 11, Section 7 clearly states our duties. Be sure to check out the National Manual of Policy and Procedure 2003 Page 41 for more outlines of our duties.

Among other things we are charged to care for the archives. Please go to the National website and look for Archives Guidelines for League History Provincial, Diocesan and Parish Councils – everything you need to know and more.

For the past two years we worked with the TEAM theme and it fits our role as Past President extremely well. Be sure to work hard at teaching, evangelizing, animating and motivating not only your new president but all your League sisters. Your joyful support and enthusiasm is the best gift you can give. » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Barbara Dowding 

Dear League Sisters and Father Terry,

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

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

Submitted by: Ann Dobie

Greetings:

A New Year’s Blessing

May you be the one with welcome in your smile and hello etched upon your hand, the hand you extend to everyone who blesses you with presence. ~Luke 7:36-50

General Information:

Life members are members of their diocesan and provincial councils, but are not part of the diocesan and provincial executives. They do not attend the executive meetings unless requested to do so by the executive. They, therefore, do not automatically receive the minutes. Life members do not have the authority to communicate the business carried out at these executive meetings. All members are welcome to express their views to the executive members. As life members we can best support the new and younger executive members by respecting their ability to make decisions on League matters. » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Barbara Dowding

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. » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Pat Battensby

Dear sisters in the League & Father Terry,

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

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

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

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

Submitted by: Pat Battensby

Dear Sisters in the League and Father Terry,

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

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

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

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

Contributed by: Barbara Dowding

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. » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Dodie Bond

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

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