Official Publication of the Catholic Women's League of Canada Volume 94/No. 1/Winter 2018
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The Canadian League Official Publication of The Catholic Women’s League of Canada Volume 94/No. 1/Winter 2018 Printed in Canada NATIONAL EXECUTIVE TABLE OF CONTENTS President’s Message . 1 OFFICERS World Day of the Poor – “Let us love, not with words but Spiritual Advisor: Most Rev. William McGrattan, with deeds .” . .3 Bishop of Calgary What’s a Human Worth? Human Trafficking Price Tag . 4-5. President: Margaret Ann Jacobs Good Stewardship of League Funds . 5 President-Elect: Anne Gorman The Art of Remembering; Joy of Discovery; Building on 1st Vice-President: Fran Lucas the Foundation… . .6 2nd Vice-President: Shari Guinta Being Present and Responding to God’s Call . .7 Secretary-Treasurer: Janet McLean Join us for the 98th Annual Convention of The Catholic Women’s Past President: Barbara Dowding League of Canada August 12 – 15, Winnipeg, Manitoba . 8 Spiritual Development: Jacqueline Nogier 98th Annual National Convention Registration Form . 9-10. Organization: Anne Gorman Introducing . .11 Christian Family Life: Doreen Gowans Community Life: Betty Colaneri Happy Birthday! Congratulations to the following Centenarians! . .11 Education and Health: Fran Lucas Congratulations to Parish Councils Celebrating Anniversaries! . .11 Communications: Shari Guinta Separated or Divorced Women – You Have a Place Among Us! . 12 Resolutions: Joan Bona Mental Illness and Legislation . 13 Legislation: Nancy Simms Informed Giving: Good Intentions are not Enough . 14-15. Laws: Barbara Dowding Recruitment: Easy as 1,2,3,4 . .15 International Relations: Margaret Ann Jacobs In a Strategic World… Be Inspired! . 16-17. Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) Holy Land PRESIDENTS OF PROVINCIAL COUNCILS Pilgrimage for CWL members . 17 Alberta Mackenzie: June Fuller A Blanket of Emotion . .18 B.C. & Yukon: Evelyn Rigby Visit to Sagkeeng First Nation . 19 Manitoba: Rolande Chernichan A World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations Update . .20 Military Ordinariate: Coreena Cole The Catholic Women’s Leadership Foundation - Empowering New Brunswick: Marie Rackley Catholic Women . 21 Newfoundland and Labrador: Barbara McGrath Nova Scotia: Peggy MacNeil Ontario: Anne Madden Prince Edward Island: Irene Gallant Quebec: Linda Chisholm Saskatchewan: Margaret Schwab EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Kim Scammell C-702 Scotland Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3M 1X5 Tel: (204) 927-2310 Toll-Free: (888) 656-4040 Fax: (204) 927-2321 Toll-Free: (888) 831-9507 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.cwl.ca Photos courtesy of Bruce Garvey, Human Rights Museum EDITORIAL BOARD National Office Staff Directory National Chairperson of Communications: Shari Guinta Executive Director: Kim Scammell............................. [email protected] National President: Margaret Ann Jacobs (national executive and policy) Executive Director: Kim Scammell Senior Accounting Clerk: Valroy Anderson [email protected] (orders, per capita fees, payables) Membership Coordinator: Amanda McCormick [email protected] The Canadian League is published three times a year by (membership renewals, years of service, life membership) The Catholic Women’s League of Canada. Material may Office Assistant: Ingrid Taylor ......................................... not be reprinted, in whole or in part, without permission [email protected] of the publisher. Subscription rates: Annual national per (bursaries, deceased members, insurance, parish council records, archives) capita fee of $13.00 includes subscription rate of $3.00. Executive Secretary: Natalia Bilynskyy........................ [email protected] Non-members, $8.00 per year. Agreement number 40007536 (resolutions, recording and corresponding secretary, social media) ISSN-0384-630 All other inquiries should be sent to .............................................. [email protected] Printed in Canada for forwarding to the appropriate respondent. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Margaret Ann Jacobs National President “Christ has no body now on earth but yours; no hands but yours; no feet but yours” (St. Teresa of Avila). hese beautiful words of St. Teresa of Avila offer the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada was a moving inspiration and affirm the wonderful deeds that are testimony of the collaboration in this Canadian dialogue. T performed in daily activities by members. As I write The highlight of the plenary session was the opportunity this article I look back over the last months and marvel at the to travel to Ottawa to attend a solemn mass at Notre-Dame many exciting activities and projects I experienced – through Cathedral. The celebration was in honour of the Feast of the kindness and selfless generosity of so many special North American Martyrs (St. Isaac Jogues, St. Jean de Brebeuf people who reached out in love and compassion. and Companions) and was followed by the consecration of National President-Elect and Chairperson of Organization Canada to the Blessed Virgin Mary on the occasion of the Anne Gorman and I were warmly welcomed in Dallas, Texas 150th anniversary of confederation. It also highlighted the for the National Council of Catholic Women convention. 50th anniversary of the Canadian Catholic Organization for It was reassuring to hear about the activities of Catholic Development and Peace/Caritas Canada. The spectacular sisters in the United States and share the wonderful works of gathering of over 1,000 people in this most holy place Canadian League members. The commissions for spirituality, included hierarchy from across Canada, ecumenical guests leadership and service provide similar opportunities for and observers united in solemn prayer. outreach and fulfillment. Presentations explaining many of the I was privileged to travel to Chateauguay, Quebec to resources available, inspiring speakers and displays wowed attend the Canadian Forum for National Catholic Movements the attendees. Through the and Associations three-day World Union of Catholic conference organized by the Women’s Organizations CCCB. Auxiliary Bishop Marc (WUCWO), the League has Pelchat (Quebec) gave a observer status at the United most interesting reflection Nations (UN). It was very on the letter of Pope Francis informative to hear an update to Cardinal Marc Ouellet, from Theresa Boscia, the president of the Pontifical WUCWO representative at Commission for Latin the UN. One of the highlights America. The pope believes of the conference was the pre- that the vision of lay people screening of the full-length needs to be refocused so that movie Same Kind of Different Christians get involved in the As Me and the personal transformation of the world, testimony of Ron Hall, author with pastors as shepherds and husband of the woman who inspired the original book. exercising their duty to pay attention, accompany, sustain She certainly lived out St. Teresa’s words. and serve the people of God. This year’s forum, themed The plenary session of the Canadian Conference of Co-Workers in the Vineyard, offered presentations by three Catholic Bishops (CCCB), held in Cornwall, Ontario different panels - leadership in the church (of which I was a offered an opportunity to experience powerful liturgies and panelist), poverty in Canada and abroad, and evangelization receive updates of activities undertaken by the various ad and social media. This was a phenomenal opportunity to hoc committees, commissions, coalitions and guests. An share and learn about many initiatives being addressed by ecumenical service commemorating the 500th anniversary Catholic lay organizations in Canada. of the Reformation, co-presided by Archbishop Richard The steering committee for planning the envisioned Gagnon (Winnipeg) and National Bishop Susan Johnson of future of the League strategically has been busy. Each WINTER 2018 / THE CANADIAN LEAGUE 1 member of the team brings a different set of skills to this by the other standing committees as they are able. The endeavour. After the very successful town hall in August important thing to keep in mind is to provide opportunities 2017, a workshop including a PowerPoint presentation to members for outreach. Community needs are great. Your was crafted to inform provincial executives. Feedback from inspiration and efforts to inform, educate and support provincial executives with further collation was presented those suffering from mental health issues is valued. at the fall national executive meeting. Through a series of I’ve been introduced to a blog by Brett Powell where he conference calls, committee members were assigned various shares words of wisdom concerning leadership. It caught objectives and issues to work on. During the next phase, the my eye because there was reference to strategic planning. committee will be brainstorming to develop draft strategies In truth I wonder if he is writing these articles for the that would satisfy each approved objective and critical issue. League. The four habits of strategic ministry Brett speaks This is a major undertaking, but truly a labour of love. about are so profound that I would like to share them with Besides attending to regular business at the fall executive you: meeting in Winnipeg, the national executive had the • Prophetic Listening – all initiatives worth pursuing privilege of experiencing the KAIROS Blanket Exercise and begin with God and come to us through prayer and a trip to St. Alexandre Parish on Sagkeeng First Nation, discernment, so we need to listen for what God wants arranged by Kathleen Ancker and Fr. David Reilander of us to do; • Begin with the Win in Mind – work