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Table of Contents Spiritual Advisor’s Message 2 President’s Message - Pat Weller 3 Organization - Carmel Rumleskie 4 Historian – June West 5 Treasurer - Pauline Hughes 6 Spiritual Development - Peggy Dunne 8 Community Life – Joan Lemay 9 Secretary/Newsletter Editor – Bev Drouin 10 Communications – Sheila Bielawski 10 Christian Family Life - Irene Perrault 11 Education & Health - Sophie Ringrose 13 Legislation - Donna Provost 14 Resolutions - Donna Provost 15 Council Activities 16 Diocesan Council 16 Arnprior - St. John Chrysostom 16 Calumet Island – St. Ann’s 17 Pembroke – St. Columbkille’s 17 Deep River - Our Lady of Good Counsel 18 Whitney – St. Martin of Tours 19 Renfrew - St. Francis Xavier 20 Temiscaming – St. Theresa 21 Diocesan Convention 22 Provincial Convention 25 National Convention 25 Feast day of St. Francis of Paola 26 Holy Year of Mercy Project 27 FORMS 28 Pembroke Diocesan Life Members List 28 Diocesan Levy/Fee Remittance Form 29 National Voluntary Fund Remittance Form 29 Pembroke Diocesan Executive 30 Pembroke Diocesan Parish Presidents 31 April 2016 My dear friends, During this Jubilee Year of Mercy may the graces showered upon God’s people through his Holy Church bring you consolation and peace. This Jubilee Year of Mercy marks a very special time of grace in our lives. As you know from your reflections and works of mercy, the Catholic Women’s League will continue to provide a precious place where the members of the League can share the challenges and the special joys of living God’s manifold mercy. There is an ancient phrase which teaches us a great deal about God’s Sacred Heart, that is, the movements of his heart and his intentions and love for us. “Let us fix our attention on the blood of Christ and recognize how precious it is to God his Father”. This phrase allows us to recognize the cost of our salvation and the cost of God’s mercy towards us. The cost paid by the Son is his very life, his blood. The cost of the Father is the love he has eternal shown to the Son who offers his life on our behalf. As we move through the celebrations of this Easter Season and through the remaining months of this Jubilee Year of Mercy, maybe this phrase will deepen our appreciation for the mercy God has shown us. May this appreciation, in turn, deepen our love and devotion to the Lord and his Holy people. I am looking forward to our Diocesan Convention in Renfrew this coming May and I wish to thank Our Lady of Fatima and Francis Xavier League Council’s for their generous promise to host the Diocesan gathering. May the Convention be a time of shared friendship and strengthening in the bonds of the League in our parish and Diocesan communities. May each of you enjoy a blessed summer with family and friends and may the Lord protect us and lead us more fully in to the overwhelming mystery of his Divine Mercy. Michael Mulhall Bishop of Pembroke 2 The Catholic Women’s League of Canada Pembroke Diocesan Council www.pembroke.cwl.on.ca One Heart One Voice One Mission The Power of Prayer 788 Fourth Chute Rd., Douglas, ON K0J 1S0 President: Pat Weller 613-649-2565 - [email protected] This is the perfect time to talk about upcoming conventions. I hope to see many of you at the 95th Annual Pembroke Diocesan Convention on May 28th in Renfrew. The host councils of St. Francis Xavier and Our Lady of Fatima are working hard to ensure your experience is memorable. The business sessions and banquet will be held at St. Francis Xavier Parish Hall. The Convention Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Fatima Church, the site of a designated Holy Door for this Jubilee Year of Mercy. A copy of the registration package is found in this issue of the Blue and Gold and has also been distributed to the parish presidents. Extend an invitation to your Spiritual Advisor. Even if he can’t attend, he will know you are thinking about him. Now is the time to also think about attendance at the Ontario Provincial Convention to be held in Stratford from July 9-13. Registration information is available online at www.cwl.on.ca where you will find details on the special “Jubilee of Mercy Day” for Tuesday July 12 and the other exciting events and activities planned. Conventions are fun, a great learning experience and a place to bond with our CWL sisters. I’m hoping that members from our diocese will be in attendance to share celebration of a year’s service to God and Canada. Some of our members have already registered for the National Convention in Halifax, August 14-17. Details are found in the Winter 2016 issue of The Canadian League magazine, a copy of which we all receive as members. Information is also online at www.cwl.ca. The Jubilee Year and our Year of Mercy projects have been a gift to us all by making us more conscious of God’s mercy and reminding us of our responsibility to show others mercy. By studying the life of Blessed Irene Stefani, we find a missionary Sister whose service of love and compassion is a model for us as we strive to bring to life the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Blessed Irene stood by the sick and dying. She respected the sanctity of human life from conception to death. Pray for Blessed Irene’s canonization. Say the League Prayer regularly. Remember that our patroness, Our Lady of Good Counsel guides us and keeps us in her embrace. 3 ORGANIZATION Carmel Rumleskie 11 Hildebrandt St., Box 622, Barry's Bay, On. K0J 1B0 613-756-3200 [email protected] “ The strength of the League is in its membership!” Executive Handbook Membership should always be foremost in each member’s mind. Opportunities will arise where a member is given the opportunity to promote the League and share their experiences with another woman. Take the time to tell others about your organization. We are only truly dynamic and complete as an organization when every member takes ownership for their role as a member for God and Canada. Can you today name a member you encouraged to join? Maybe two or more? Let’s really strive to bring women into our Catholic organization and show them what councils filled with Faith, Fun and Fulfillment do look like!!! Remember our goal in Pembroke Diocese of 100 new members during 2016!! As of December 2015, there were 46, 045 members in Ontario. Nationally, there are 85, 246 members which means that we in Ontario have 54%of all members in the country. Out of the 1223 CWL councils in Canada, Ontario has 532, by far the largest province by council in the country. Please note though that when I joined the League in 1974, there were over 156,000 members across the country. Our numbers are dwindling, yet our mission of being “rooted in Gospel values, calling all members to holiness, through service to the people of God,” is more needed than ever. Let’s be welcoming, positive and open in our interactions with others, kind and accommodating to our senior members, willing to change, knowledgeable about our Faith, forgiving of hurtful situations that happened in the past and helpful in promoting strong Spiritual programs at every meeting. Membership fees are due in January but the League is active all year. Keep inviting! Continue to pray for the canonization of Blessed Irene Stephani and may her influence brighten our way as members in Pembroke Diocese. Every Parish Manual of Policy and Procedure should be available to all members to read and must be updated in a timely manner. Help can be provided to councils preparing theirs. S’mores workshops are available to all councils….short workshops at meetings or a longer workshop for a day. Please contact me with your requests. 613-756-3200 “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Hebrews 10:24 4 PAST PRESIDENT - HISTORIAN June West P.O. Box 471, Deep River, ON, K0J 1P0 613-584-2623 [email protected] Dear Sisters in the League: Thank you all for your year-end reports. For various reasons, preparing these reports often causes us stress and frustration but, with the greatest guide by our side, God will help us as we write these and He will give us the courage we need to be able to present these to our sisters. Many councils have updated the materials we need for our Diocesan archives. I appreciate the effort you have made to accomplish this task. It is so encouraging to hear that councils are supporting their president and being available if needed for consultation. Also, that members act as mentors for newcomers. It is important for past presidents to continue to be active, vital members of the League. One way of staying involved is to act as a greeter at meetings to ensure that new members will be recognized and welcomed while the president is busy getting ready. Historians are asked to make a one page summary of the highlights of their term (one copy for diocesan files, and another for the parish records). Don’t forget to file records of minutes, annual reports and different events in your archives. We must ensure that past presidents/historians are providing consultative and advisory information, and that policy and procedure manuals are being reviewed and updated every two years. I thank all parish past presidents for your hard work and I hope you will continue to support your council and to honour your role as keeper of the history of your council.