CatholiC Women’s league Aotearoa New Zealand

Te ropu wahine katorika o Aotearoa

National Newsletter May 2019

National President – Susan Dickson Women Welcoming Change What a joy it was to meet and talk to you all during my round of Diocesan Conferences. We can all be so proud of all the work you are doing both locally and overseas. I hope you have had the opportunity to reflect on and discuss the issues that I raised with you. Promoting CWL by raising the profile of Margaret Fletcher especially with a new modern look, contributing to a rejuvenating Kete for branches, looking at different ways of running our branches, developing modern promotional material, and a possible new membership badge and organization logo. The Board needs your help with all of these. Please feed ideas to your regional representatives and Diocesan Presidents. The range and quality of the guest speakers and workshops were inspiring. Each conference had its own gem.

From the Diocesan Presidents

Hamilton – Margaret Brownsey Tourettes

Hamilton Diocesan Council

Morrinsville Branch, assisted by Matamata, Te Aroha and Paeroa, hosted the 2019 Conference which opened

on Friday afternoon, 23 March, with 58 in attendance and 86 on Saturday.

The guest speaker was Lauren Smith, a young lady who suffered with Tourette’s Syndrome. Now aged 27 she

had been diagnosed at the age of 9 and is employed by the Tourettes Association of NZ.

Loren told us how each day could be so different, with some symptoms being eye blinking,

clenching of shoulders, neck twitches, imitating others’ actions, biting or hitting herself.

Besides these “motor tics”, there were also vocal tics of coughing, grunting, shrieking,

animal noises, etc. Tics can occur 24 hours a day and often sleep can be disrupted or even

prevented due to the nature of them. Tiredness can also trigger an onset.

Depending on the level of the actions/noises, medication is available which can assist with

managing the frequency or severity of tics. Supplementary treatment such as massage

and deep breathing exercises may also help with muscle control. It is also recommended

that in a classroom situation, the introduction of a stress ball, earplugs or similar tools can help to maximise

tics or manage sensory overload. Children with Tourette’s are often happy to speak one-on-one with

teachers about their tics and can offer suggestions on what can help to manage them.

Loren is married with a little girl of 9 months. She says it was a big decision for her and her husband to

decide to have children.

The Tourette’s Association run a camp which originally was every two years, but is now annually, where

those afflicted can join with other sufferers. They are not government funded but are a registered Charity

dependant on public support. https://wwwtourettes.org.nz/about-us

Wellington – Christine Paterson Clericalism

The annual Archdiocesan Conference was held in Wellington on 30th March, opened and blessed by

Cardinal John, who then addressed us telling us of his recent visit to Rome for the February meeting

called by Pope Francis to discuss “The Protection of Minors in the Church”. He also devoted some time

to the problem of Clericalism, offering some ways we, as the laity, can be part of the process of

remediation.

Cardinal John began by quoting from Pope Francis’ Letter to the People of God (August 2018) “If one member suffers, all

suffer together with it” (1Cor 12:26). These words of St Paul forcefully echo in my heart as I acknowledge once more the

suffering endured by many minors due to sexual abuse, the abuse of power and the abuse of conscience perpetrated by

a significant number of clerics and consecrated persons. Crimes that inflict deep wounds of pain and powerless-ness,

primarily among the victims, but also in their family members and in the larger community of believers and non-

believers alike, must cease. Looking back to the past, no effort to beg pardon and to seek to repair the harm done will

ever be sufficient. Looking ahead to the future, no effort must be spared to create a culture able to prevent such

situations from happening, but also to prevent the possibility of their being covered up and perpetuated. It is urgent

that we once more affirm our commitment to ensure the protection of minors and vulnerable adults. “

The Protection of Minors in the Church In February 2019, Pope Francis called a meeting of Bishops and leaders of

Religious Congregations in Rome, with the intention-

1. “to help all the bishops of the world become aware of the tragedy of the suffering of victims of abuse,

hopefully resulting in a strong sense of the responsibility on the part of individual bishops and on the

wider community, that is the Church & society.

2. In the interests of the unity and mutual accountability of these responsibilities, Pope Francis wanted all

bishops to know what needs to be done: the procedures and the different levels of the difficult tasks

needing to be accomplished to address the problem of abuse.

3. That all understand that the Victim must be heard and must be the first responsibility of all, the

mutual accountability of all at all levels. Everyone knowing the same thing, presupposing

“transparency”. Victims were present at the meeting, and shared their experiences and the profound

effects of the abuse, not only on their lives, but also on those of their parents, their families and their

friends.

4. That the mission of the Church is to build a place of safety for all people, especially minors and

vulnerable adults.

Safeguarding workshops have been set up in the Archdiocesan parishes to enlighten the people in the principles of the

procedures necessary to follow the intention of Pope Francis and to follow up on the February meeting in Rome.

Information about safeguarding can be found on http://www.wn.catholic.org.nz/adw_type/safeguarding-in-the-

archdiocese-of-wellington/ . As members of the Catholic Women’s League, we need to be at the forefront of this

initiative aimed at protecting all, especially minors and vulnerable adults.

Are CWL members attending these workshops in their parishes? Are branches discussing ways we can participate and

encourage all participants?

Clericalism

“The hierarchal structures that have evolved in the Church over the years, have been reinforced by the attitudes of the

people, discouraging challenges to the system, enabling this “cronyism” and a “saving face” culture to develop. “So for

years the laity may have been unaware and well-intentioned, but nobody questioned the parish priest, or they were

too frightened to do so, or others wouldn’t let them. Clericalism has been part of the Church for years, but now it has

to be stopped. Clericalism is not just the priest, It can be anyone in the Church. We all know people who take on

particular parish tasks because they want to help, but then nobody is able to get near them, as they take on more and

more authority so that a particular area becomes not just their responsibility, but their domain. “

Clericalism has been a subject recently covered in articles in magazines such as Tui Motu, and the Catholic press, but

+John has presented us with a challenge. “The ordained parish priests are not our “fathers”, they are our pastors, our

shepherds, our Sacramental ministers. The challenge to us was and is, to call these clerics by their given name; to break

the habit of a lifetime for many of us, by omitting “father”. Cardinal John’s Pastoral letter, read at all Parish Masses the

next day, re-iterated this to all Catholics in New Zealand.

In other words, we Catholics are to treat our Pastors as a Catholic among Catholics, all working

together. With the respect and support for the special role of Sacramental life, which is the role of

priests, as Celebrants of the Mass, the uniting and very important focus of the Parish life of all of

us. The Parish belongs to us all, as the baptised, so we are all responsible Stewards of the Faith life

and of the administration according to our God-given gifts for support, evangelisation, and

administration working with the Parish Priest as guide and mentor. “

As Pope Francis said to seminarians in Arigento in Sicily, “Clericalism …is our ugliest perversion. The

Lord wants you to be shepherds; shepherds of the people, not clerics of the state. …….. Please do

not forget your mother, father grandmother, grandfather, village, poverty, the difficulties that face

families: do not forget them. The Lord has taken you from there, from the people of God, because

with this memory, you will know how to speak to the people of God, how to serve the people of God. “

As members of the Catholic Women’s League, we need to be at the forefront of the Lay response to this initiative

aimed at protecting all, especially minors, vulnerable adults. Our support for the Clergy, for each other and for

Safeguarding is very important.

What part can CWLANZ play in these challenges facing the Catholic Church to support the Church of New Zealand and

all members?

Let us begin by talking together, brainstorming solutions and being part of the remediation.

Dunedin – Anne McRandle Clericalism

Our quest speaker Sister Margaret Butler OP spoke on the theme Women Welcoming Change. She

gave individual challenges to us all as we shared with one another the challenge of facing change in

many different ways. Especially in regard to Clericalism and our place in the Church. “What change

would we welcome” brought many suggestions on a variety of ways to share, care and be aware of

all individual attitudes to the church, its people and all those around us.

A change from clericalism to “People of God” Pope Francis: Clericalism is a perversion and the root of many evils in the

church, we must humbly ask forgiveness for this and above all create the conditions so that it is not repeated.

GROUP RESPONSE: Greeting strangers as they come into church. Treating people as equal. Why do we “thank” Father

after he celebrates Mass. Priest serve the people. Treat priests as friends not as “little gods”. When a new priest

comes to a parish consult with the people about change. A priest need to know it’s not HIS parish. As individuals we

need to accept change within the church and society. Priests are fellow servants. More communication needed

between all. Understanding and welcoming to other cultures- we are all God’s children. Be a good listener. Have

empathy with others. I am an individual. Team work. Be educated and aware of clericalism. self, prayer and reflection.

Confidence to go outside ourselves- speak up. Sometimes we are guilty of letting Father make decisions and we don’t

have to take responsibility for our church. Confidence to go outside ourselves, to speak up. Maybe our thought could

be Dear Lord, change me. Pick out good leaders and get them talking to younger groups. Diversity-challenging but

enriching.

EMERGING THEME: Service, not power over. Equality for all, including priests/laity- all are servants. Learn about

clericalism. Change what needs changing. Decisions by appropriate groups at appropriate level. Diversity, ethnicity,

cultural, Te Reo – value and learn from, use new energy. Young women/young people/parents – listen and support.

Shared responsibility according to your gifts/limitations. Listen, speak up, discern, pray, reflec, respect, communicate.

Be hospital. Welcome strangers.

We have a lot to reflect on and prayer about and act on with Women Welcoming Change.

Christchurch – Sylvia Mellish Search and Find Sylvia is the newly appointed Diocesan President. One of the interesting speakers at our recent

conference was Trina Doocey, an archivist with the Christchurch Diocese.

Searching archives is something I, personally, find fascinating. It is so important and so exciting

to see photos and read articles written by our forebears. Their sentiments then were the same

as ours’ today – a journey of faith and service. It is to be hoped that in one hundred years or

more, our own history will be available to those who go in search of it. We therefore need to

preserve our history by writing or researching primarily letters, files, photographs, newspaper reports,

advertisements, maps, pamphlets, posters, technology etc. (Yes, the kind of stuff our kids call ‘junk’ and

would like to throw away!). Secondly, we should write and recall historical events, written accounts of past

events, accounts of interesting people who have left their mark, etc, in order to ensure that our memories

will be permanently etched in history. The talk at our conference was on the archives based at the

Christchurch Diocese but I know there are archivists and archives in all Catholic Dioceses throughout New

Zealand. Find the links and you will be able

to search churches, clergy, Religious Sisters,

schools, parishes and so much more.

Remember, it is important when using sites

on the net to compare them with reputable

sites for authenticity. The advent of the computer age allows us to

store this information relatively easily but it takes many, many hours of assistance from ‘real’ people to compile, edit

and save items. What seems unimportant to you may unravel a gold mine for others.

Val Langley is the immediate past President and has also contributed this very topical presentation

Safeguarding.

Mrs Virginia Noonan, National Director of the National Office for Professional Standards in

the Catholic Church Aotearoa. She was accompanied by Mrs Pamela Arthur National

Safeguarding Lead.

Mrs Noonan began with a prayer. She then gave us the definition of vulnerable children and

adults. We were given the background of the National Safeguarding guidelines and strategies for the

prevention of abuse. The policies and documents are all available on the website

http//safeguarding.catholic.org.

Anyone who has been abused or thinks someone is being abused can contact the National Office For

Professional Standards (NOPS) or phone 0800 114 622. .email prof.standards@nzcbz.org .nz

This was an interesting and topical subject sadly as it is much to the fore at the moment. .A speaker well worth

having.

Before the Dedication of the new Diocesan Council Mrs Val Langley thanked everyone for their support and

encouragement shown to her during her term of office, and knows that the incoming President Mrs Sylvia

Mellish will receive the same. She then handed the badge of office over to Sylvia.

Auckland – Colleen Petricevich Women Welcoming Change Our Diocesan Day went very well and we proved that we are women welcoming change during the course of the day. About 50 women from all over the Auckland area came to make it a day to remember. Firstly, our Bishop Pat Dunn was not able to come due to his health. Secondly the speaker couldn't come because of a funeral. Thirdly the pianist was unwell. The person who was

doing the flowers couldn't make it. It was surprising how well it all came together - women welcoming change! Thank you, Susan, for coming to visit us - you gave a very interesting talk and we thank you for that. At the end of our day we heard about the shooting in Christchurch. It certainly was a day to remember. Our thanks go to Colleen McMurchy, the Diocesan secretary, who with two days’ notice put together an interesting talk about holiness. We divided into groups and answered some of the questions she

had set for us. She certainly stepped up as the woman welcoming change in the far north.

Palmerston North – Patricia O’Connell Housing the Homeless Michelle Ramage (on the left speaking to Pat) was a key note speaker at the Palmerston North Diocesan conference held recently in New Plymouth. Michelle is an old girl of Sacred Heart and works as a whanau support worker with Tu Tama Wahine o Taranaki. In her job she meets many needy women and children and could count the number of times her team has had to put mothers and children in motels or in unsuitable housing because there was nowhere else for them to go. In 2014 Michelle started thinking of solutions and that year she launched “The Gift Taranaki”, a Facebook page which posted requests from social

workers in the region for children’s clothes, food and home-ware to help struggling families. This did not help with the housing though and it wasn’t until September 2016 that Michelle teamed up with Paul and Michelle Read, a New Plymouth couple to form the Roderique Hope Trust. The Russells offered to buy a house and after many months of renovations the first family moved in. The families stay for 3 months and whilst there they must engage with the support services, budgeting and counselling offered to them and are given help into a long term rental with either Housing NZ or in private housing. The Trust now owns 5 houses throughout Taranaki. Michelle was nominated for “2018 Taranaki Daily News Person of the Year”.

WUCWO – Colleen McMurchy WUCWO Women Called to Holiness

By now all branches will have received the lovely WUCWO Day prayers for May prepared by the women from Africa. They reinforce the call to holiness that the 2018 General Assembly in Dakar defined as: WUCWO Women called to Holiness to sanctify the World for a Holistic Development This call to Holiness arises from number four of the 4 WUCWO resolutions below that the Dakar General Assembly 2018 formulated for us for the next 4 years.

1. A healthy planet depends on all of us 2. Let us take care of the family in difficult situations, especially its most vulnerable members 3. Let us eliminate discrimination and violence against women 4. Let us educate to respond to the call to holiness

A workshop was held at the Auckland Diocesan Conference that focussed on Responding to the call to Holiness (4). Gaudete et Exsultate from the Holy Father Francis was used as the basis for the workshop. The aim of the workshop was to encourage CWL members to think about what we as League members do that is Holy but to also think about and extend what we do that demonstrates Holiness in our service (activities), that is, holiness is not just about Faith (prayers) but it is also about Service. If we think about the Holy women we know, we remember them for their service amongst the community, not just the prayers they engaged in. Think of Mother Theresa, Margaret Fletcher, Mother Aubert, other women you admire. Some great discussion ensued from the workshop and these responses along with the readings and discussion questions have been distributed to each diocesan WUCWO Officer with the hope that branches will read and think about their own Holy contributions to our NZ society. It is worth celebrating the good we do but we should be challenged to think about what else can we do.

If you want to read further, you may be interested in the SUMMARY of apostolic exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate of the Holy Father Francis on the call to Holiness in today’s world https://www.kerknet.be/sites/default/files/18%2004%2009%20Gaudete%20et%20exusltate%20E%20samenvatting.pdf

WUCWO Asia Pacific VP has recommended that we read/reflect on the Encyclicals of Pope Francis at our monthly meetings and using this summary or activity sheets would be a good place to start. Over the next couple of months can you think about and list what contributions your household makes to sustainability in our planet No 1) and feedback these ideas to your Diocesan WUCWO Officer. I leave you with these words from 2019 WUCWO Day prayers: Holiness is … boldness, an impulse to evangelize and to leave a mark in this world. To allow us to do this, Jesus himself comes and tells us once more, serenely yet firmly: “Do not be afraid” (Mk 6:50”. God …impels us constantly to set out anew, to pass beyond what is familiar, to the fringes and beyond.

Social Issues – Dawn Mullins Parliamentary Bills The position of Social Issues Convener is a new one for me and the scope of the task seems massive. One is called to reflect on the political history in NZ and recall that with “Rogernomics” of the 80’s all standards were wiped, but NZers kept rulers which were no longer there. This offered wide scope to change the way we did things. This month, there are 6 Bills for which submissions are invited but not much time to respond meaningfully. They are: Land Transport Bill submissions closing 30/5/19; Credit Contracts Bill, 14/6/19; Organ Donors and Related Matters Bill, 16/5/19; NZ Infrastructure Commission Te Waihanga Bill; Land Transport (Wheel Clamping Bill) due 30/5/19; Credit Contracts Bill due 14/6/19. (The budget is set down for30/5/19). An observation is that the NZ Infrastructure Bill may be one for CWL to note. To comment on an issue raised just before Easter, the chocolate source where young girls work for little money by our standards to gather the cocoa. It was suggested we should refrain from buying the Easter eggs at Easter. My initial concern was that small businesses who are marginal would not sell their stock and lose out. More research is needed on this subject. Always when a case is promoted in this way, we should reflect and ask ourselves who is gaining.?”

Missions – Jenny Muschamp Pacific Needs

This year this National Mission Project was shared by three Mission Communities. The bulk went to the

Sisters of Nazareth, Tofoa, Tonga. St Theresa’s Novitiate, Soloman Islands and St Theresa’s Mission

School, Samoa shared the rest. The branch in the Diocese who suggested the Novitiate and Mission

School were also able to apply for the Mission Education Fund. Please remember that branches can

apply for the Education Fund for your Mission Communities. The Jubilee Fund went to De Paul House in

Auckland.

Some branches are able to support a Mission Community in the Pacific and also one in New Zealand. I have spoken to

some Bishops about the need in the Pacific and if they thought that

the League should still support the Mission Communities over there.

They all said yes. People in the Islands don’t have the opportunity to

get help from their Government or get grants. Some Year 8 girls in

Fiji were asked if they would continue with their Secondary

education and the many said no as their parents couldn’t afford

uniforms.

We all know that there is a need for help in New Zealand but please don’t forget our Pacific neighbours.

Do branches have suggestions how they think the mission support could be changed and improved on to meet the

needs of our changing times.

The first day of Christchurch Conference was 5th April, which was ‘Gumboot Day’. We took up a Conference collection

and used a white gumboot for the collection. Conference was held at the Woolston Working Men’s Club and we got

permission to take the gumboot around the bar. Some members brought their gumboots to wear and we sang the

‘Gumboot’ song, it was a lot of fun.

National Board Chaplain – Patricia Stevenson The Call to Holiness

Very early the next morning, before dawn, he got up and left the house.

Jesus knew the value of set time for prayer.

He then departed for a deserted place, and there he spent time in prayer.

Jesus valued solitude. Just to be in God’s creation, not needing

many words. Waiting on God.

And Simon and those with him tracked him down.

Our friends will sometimes want our attention. They remind us that

, we, like Jesus, live in a web of relationships.

Upon finding him, they said, “Everyone is searching for you.”

The disciples knew that Jesus did not discriminate, no-one should

be excluded.

Jesus answered them: Let us go in another direction to the neighbouring market towns, in

order that I might also preach there. For this is the reason that I have come.”

Jesus didn’t stay in the one neighbourhood, but moved out to the

margins of society.

And he went and preached in their synagogues throughout all of Galilee and was

casting out demons.

Community Social Updates Betty Platt – Eighty Years Celebrated

Te Awamutu Branch member, Betty Platt, celebrated her eightieth birthday with members

and her daughter, Karin who lives surrounded by cherry and other fruit trees in Tiel, Holland.

Betty has served many years on the Branch committee being willing to step up to the

secretary’s position when required. She also belongs to a computer

class committee at Te Awamutu. She serves on the local Returned

Services Association committee helping to keep everything mobile by opening proceedings.

She has become the main contact for many of the widows which keeps her busy.

Betty Platt receives a gift on the occasion of her eightieth birthday.

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Susan sent congratulatory letters to Mike King and Verna Fellon

Dear Mike Congratulations on being named, Kiwibank New Zealander of The Year 2019.

The Catholic Women's League Aotearoa New Zealand is so pleased to have been

privileged to be a small part of your story.

We know this hard-won recognition will give even more credibility and impetus to

your work.

We will continue to do all we can to raise awareness and support for the Key to Life Trust, its wonderful

personnel, projects and programme.

Nga mihi nui

In Faith and Service

Susan sent a similarly worded letter to Verna Fellon of Pillars in recognition of her award at the

same award ceremony.

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Pat McQuillan – a woman of faith, of community service and a Founding member of the Blockhouse Bay

Branch where she was the president for three years and served as treasurer for most of

twenty years. She was also treasurer of the Auckland Diocese intermittently for eighteen

years and the National Board for two years. Pat was very involved in NCW, Church

Women United and World Day of Prayer. In her own parish of Blockhouse Bay, Pat was

very busy in both church and school. Parishioners and friends will be reminded of her

dedication each time they see one of the many banners or hangings around the environs.

Pat had been nominated for the Benemerenti Medal. She will be missed. Rest in Peace,

Patricia Mary McQuillan, rest in Peace.

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Fay Doyle – CWL Life Member. The commitment of long serving member, Fay, has included Regional

representative for Kapiti Branches, Archdiocesan Council and National Board, but now she has

decided to resign from the Council meetings. She was the Archdiocesan President at the time

of the visit of Pope John Paul so, with National President Verena Butler, was on the National

Advisory Board to the Bishops planning the visit. Fay travelled with five other CWLANZ

members to Mexico for the WUCWO Assembly in Guadalajara. As the International Secretary

she has also travelled to the Philippines. Fay says, ‘The CWL opens opportunities for many

experiences and international friendships in Faith and Service.’ I suspect Fay will still be very

active in all aspects of CWLANZ in her Branch and Region.

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Zofia Jasionwicz was made a Life Member of the New Plymouth Branch at

the recent Diocesan Conference in recognition of her years of work as a

member, many of these while she was on the committee. Susan Dickson,

National President, and Pat O’Connor, Palmerston North Diocesan President,

presented her with her badge and flowers. Zofia has also been very involved

working in the Polish community in the area.

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I have been sent a big catalogue of conference images so have selected the best ‘bits’ of each one to

share with you all. The quality is not perfect in all but worked with what I had. I hope you enjoy the

content of the newsletter and say thanks to all the contributors. Coleen Editor