I am delighted to announce our new executive for 2022-2024 as declared at the January 11, 2022 Zoom Meeting by Paulette Chase from direction of Sylvia Mroz:
Voting for CWL Positions- Via Acclamation
President: Marielle Bosak
President-Elect: Vacant
Treasurer: Glenda Granger
Secretary: Barb Kiazyk
Past-President: Anne Wolkenstein
I wish all our executive wisdom and motivation to lead us in the important mission of CWL. It calls its members to grow in faith, and to witness to the love of God through ministry and service. A BIG BOUQUET to those that are called to serve!
Our next meeting is early- on February 8th at 1 p.m and most likely a virtual meeting as we will "peak" with the omicron virus in the next few weeks. Some members will be away or unable to attend due to technology so we will see.
Here is my quarterly report for Sept-Dec. and my 3 highlights that I send to CWL Diocesan.
This was a bit of a surprise. Both Barbara and I attended The Convent of the Sacred Heart beside Assiniboine Park in our early years. This is my junior high teacher who I adored. She died on The Feast of our Baptism of our Lord on January 9th in Caritas Residence in Halifax. She went to Saint Mary's and St. Ignatious School in Winnipeg and made her first vows in 1946. She taught at Sacred Heart Schools across Canada. She said she would pray for all her students "after heading for heaven" and I find that comforting. Cheers to one of my favourite teachers, born in 1921.
I am going to leave you with a very short, beautiful poem called GOD'S GRANDEUR by Gerald Manley Hopkins and read by Jonathan Roumie. This is from the Victorian era.
Communique #3 – Past President
January 12, 2022
National Past President and Chairperson of Laws Anne-Marie Gorman, January 12, 2022.
Happy New Year! We have faith that the good Lord will lead us into and through 2022, as is His plan.
By way of review, the instructed voting package initially forwarded to all parish councils in December 2020, with a submission date of March 2021, was subsequently extended due to the inability for councils to meet brought about by the public health restrictions throughout Canada. As a result, the deadline for submission is now March 28, 2022.
As parish councils continue to have difficulty meeting in person as instructed by the original memo, I encourage you to assist your diocesan/parish counterparts in whatever way you may be able to ensure the instructed vote is taken. The further communique of October 26, 2021, gave more information on how parish councils may, with new information, rescind a vote already submitted.
Now that the deadline of March 28, 2022, is nearing, it is extremely important that parish councils have made some type of arrangement to ensure the instructed vote has been taken (on the motion to increase per capita fees; and the proposed amendments to the Constitution & Bylaws, with a quorum of membership). A quorum equals 10% of the voting members. A majority of members presentmust vote “yes” to the motion to increase per capita fees in order for the motion to be adopted. For the proposed amendments, two-thirds of members present must vote “yes” for each respective proposed amendment in order to be adopted. For example, if there are 50 members of a council, five members would constitute a quorum. Then of those five members present, three members voting “yes” for the motion to increase per capita fees would mean the motion is adopted. For one of the proposed amendments, two-thirds of the five members present would mean four would have to vote “yes” for said proposed amendment to be adopted.
Councils will do the very best they can to ensure they have exercised their membership rights and duty to be part of the process to move the League forward.
May the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel keep us grounded in faith as we continue to demonstrate we are Catholic and Living It!
God bless and stay safe,
Anne-M Gorman
National Past President and Chairperson of Laws
National Past President and Chairperson of Laws
Communique #4 – Education and Health
January 10, 2022
National Chairperson of Education and Health Margaret Schwab, January 10, 2022
Another year has come and gone under the shadow of a worldwide pandemic that has caused feelings of frustration, anger and isolation, and had a significant impact on mental health in general. We must learn to be patient, kind and understanding in our interactions with ourselves and others. Each day, however it unfolds, is still a gift from God. We must use it to the best of our ability.
Bell Let’s Talk Day, January 26th: This campaign encourages Canadians to support themselves and each other. Bell donates $0.05 to Canadian mental health programs for every applicable text, local or long-distance call, tweet or TikTok video using #BellLetsTalk, for every Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube view of the Bell Let’s Talk video and for every use of the Bell Let’s Talk Facebook frame or Snapchat lens. It is at no cost to participants beyond what they pay their service provider for online or telephone access.
Coady International Institute: Please ask your diocesan counterparts to encourage members to read a message from Executive Director Gord Cunningham of Coady International Institute, found at coady.stfx.ca/annual-appeal-2021/.
Coady is one of the League’s permanent voluntary fund recipients.
Horizons of Hope: A Toolkit for Catholic Parishes on Palliative Care: As mentioned in my last communiqué, this toolkit is now available on the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops website (cccb.ca) under Key Issues, Suffering and End of Life.
The toolkit consists of an introduction and facilitator’s guide as well as four modules:
- Understanding the experience of dying & death
- Discerning and making decisions at the end of life
- Accompanying at the end of life
- Supporting and integrating inside the wider community
Each module has a downloadable file and videos giving the theological/ethical and the medical perspective. The last module also has a video on community perspective. All necessary materials can be found on the website.
Please encourage your diocesan counterparts to share this information with parish councils. Though listed as a parish resource, it would undoubtedly be of value to all CWL councils. Perhaps, it would be fitting to include parish members in presentations.
At the national annual meeting of members held in August 2021, the CCCB’s toolkit was approved as a National Voluntary Fund in a temporary capacity so that councils could assist with the cost of producing this invaluable resource. To date, the fund has only received $550.00 in donations. Please urge your diocesan counterparts to encourage parish councils to consider the fund when making 2022 donations.
As another year begins, please remind members of the League’s commitment to Canadian Blood Services. The League is committed to only 200 blood donations in the year 2022. Last year, it did not meet that commitment. Members, extended family members and friends can join by:
- setting up an account on blood.ca or the GiveBlood application for Apple or Android.
- select “partners” from the menu.
- select “join team’ and search “Your team name” (a drop-down list will appear).
- select the team they wish to join.
- book their next appointment either through their team bookings or individually.
The League Partner ID with Canadian Blood Services is CATH011269. Let us try hard to achieve the goal of 200 donations in 2022. Request your diocesan counterparts encourage members to participate in this lifesaving initiative.
As we enter this New Year—one filled with uncertainty and anxiety, let us remember that God is at our side; today, tomorrow and always. Trust in the Lord.
May He bless you abundantly,
Margaret Schwab
National Chairperson of Education and Health
National Chairperson of Education and Health
Well, that's it for me. Tomorrow I will pass on the torch to Marielle who will do an amazing job. It has been an honour to be your CWL president from 2019 to January, 2022.
Here is a beautiful poster about WHAT WE DO. Service-Resolutions-Pray-Social Justice-Faith-Love-Relationships-Hugs-Laughter.....may they all continue.
