November 2016 The League’s Monthly E-newsletter

...Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. -- John McCrae

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From The Editor

CONTACT US

C-702 Scotland Ave Winnipeg, MB R3M 1X5

Phone: (204) 927-2310 Toll Free: (888) 656-4040 Fax: (888) 831-9507 E-mail: info@cwl.ca

November is typically a month of remembrance. We have Remembrance Day where we particularly honour those who served Canada in the military. There will be parades, services, wreath laying and speeches honouring those who served and died for our county. I hope everyone wears their poppy.

We also remember deceased loved ones in a special way in the church with All Souls’ Day, and the League often has remembrance services. I have attended many of these, and some are so incredibly beautiful where the family of the deceased members are invited to the mass and asked to come forward to light a candle during the ceremony. We remember and we pray for those departed, beautiful souls.

The leaves are really falling here in my neck of the woods! Autumn is such an “active” season—the leaves turn such wonderful colours; fall flowers and plants are vibrant and then the leaves fall. I love the smell of the wet leaves when out for a walk! Fall is my favourite season. It is also a lot of work. All of those leaves have to be raked!

November is a time of remembrance, colour and action.

The national executive met this month and there was action there, for sure. Several different meetings were held and many topics discussed. The new theme from National President Margaret Ann Jacobs was reviewed, and there will be more on this soon along with some information in The Canadian League. The theme calls on the Holy Spirit to be with the women of God, League members. Watch for more on the website and in The Canadian League.

God Bless,Shari Guinta

National Second Vice-President and Chairperson of Communications

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President’s Message

During November we all pause to remember All Saints’ Day on November 1st, All Souls’ Day on November 2nd, Remembrance Day on November 11th and, during the month, all the souls of the faithfully departed. Special services will be held as we remember the sacrifice of those who died in war and for the sake of peace. Through the years, I’ve experienced some very powerful Remembrance Day ceremonies with guest speakers, poems, letters, videos and music. There have been services at military bases, Royal Canadian Legions, cenotaphs and graveyards and included veterans, active service men and women, and members of the families that were left behind. Most memorable were the programs we held at school using visual graphics, focus displays and live music. I think these stand out because we made such an effort not to glorify war but to recognize the sacrifice made on our behalf, and our need to work toward a more peaceful world. The haunting words of the song, “Never Again” spring immediately to mind. November is also a special time to recall family, friends and League sisters who have passed away. Immediately, an elderly lady comes to mind who has no survivors. So, who will pray for her? No doubt your council has a special service of remembrance. There are so many choices available to plan your event—the website, CWL Prays (Celebration of Peace), Prayers and Workshops for Women of Peace and Hope, and any number of other Christian resources to which you may have access. Make this event a very special time for prayer and reflection. On October 26-27th, I was invited as a guest to the plenary session of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) that took place at the Nav Centre in Cornwall, Ontario. It was a wonderful learning experience where I was warmly welcomed by the other guests and hierarchy as well. You need to know the League is held in high regard, and it was publicly affirmed for its legacy of government meetings and encouraged to continue this work.

Do check out the CCCB website for updates and amazing publications. One recent publication most worthy of careful study is The Co-responsibility of the Lay Faithful in the Church and the World (Episcopal Commission for Doctrine). If you want up-to-date information for guidance in matters of faith, your greatest sources are the CCCB (www.cccb.ca), the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute (www.ccbi-utoronto.ca– go to Bioethics Matter) and/or the Canadian Organization for Life and Family (www.colf.ca) From October 19-23rd, I attended the second meeting with women from the Middle East in Bari, Italy, along with approximately 120 other strong and beautiful women from around the world. It was organized by the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations (WUCWO) and supported by the International Forum of Catholic Action and Azione Cattolica Italiana. Using the theme Women, Workers of Peace Towards a Culture of Meeting and Dialogue, several women from the Middle East gave testimonies of their lived reality suffered because of war, violence, abuse and religious intolerance and in response, the others gathered renewed their commitment on behalf of WUCWO to work in solidarity with our sisters from the Middle East to end these atrocities, achieve a resolution to the root causes of these conflicts and work to achieve peace. It is with excitement I pack my bags for yet another adventure, a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with the Catholic Near East Welfare Association. There is so much to learn! I am especially looking forward to visiting the projects that League donations—your donations—have supported and report back to you later. Pray for me to be open and receptive to the Holy Spirit. I will carry you with me in my thoughts and prayers.

God bless,Margaret Ann Jacobs

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Centenary Celebrations

Star of the Sea Parish Council (St. Catharines, Ontario) had a prayer shawl ministry that evolved into a prayer shawl, lapghans and scarves ministry. The council was able to donate 41 lapghans at the annual diocesan convention to Hopsice Niagara. During the summer, members did not meet but kept on knitting—as well, St. Therese of Lisieux Parish Council (Port Colborne) donated knitted squares to them. One member sewed them together to make several lapghans.

During its October meeting, the council gathered all that was completed since the spring, and the parish priest (also diocesan spiritual advisor) blessed them.Forty-three more lapghans were delivered to Hospice Niagara. Twenty-six head bands, 69 scarves, nine hats, one pair of mittens and three cowls were donated to Out of the Cold at St. Alfred, and the prayer shawls were distributed as needed.

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CARE FOR THE DYING

St. Patrick Parish Council (Sturgis and Preeceville, Ontario) welcomed Fr. Mark Miller (Redemptorists Bioethics Consultancy). There were two sessions with 132 people attending from different churches and the surrounding communities.

Pictured: are L-R: Kathleen Pitt, Marj Bodnar, Natasha Lingl, Vicky Haskewich, Arlene Lingl and Fr. Mark Miller. Bottom centre: Nellie Long.

CELEBRATING HERITAGE

St. Mary of the People Parish Council (Oshawa, Ontario) contacted all members by phone asking their heritage or place of birth outside of Canada. Statistics were compiled, and at the September general meeting the gathered information was shared. A social was held after the meeting where members displayed items from their backgrounds for viewing, discussing and celebrating. Members enjoyed sharing their personal stories throughout the process. A prayer was said to bless all nationalities. Pictured L-R: Toni Komel, Aline Bosnick, Fr. David Bollo, Frances Robertson, Bea Lack, Janice Nemeth and Sheila Knapp.

Spotlight on Councils

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On Saturday, October 15th three parish councils in the Archdiocese of Vancouver hosted a bowling fundraiser for Catholic Missions In Canada. The councils included Holy Rosary Parish Council (Vancouver), St. Augustine Parish Council (Vancouver) and St. Helen Parish Council (Burnaby). There was a wonderful sense of sisterhood, and many suggested meeting on a regular basis. One hundred and twenty-one dollars was raised in one hour and could easily be increased with the participation of more councils.

On October 15th, St. Ann Parish Council (Abbotsford, British Columbia) presented a mini-convention for Region 6 (Fraser Valley North) of the Archdiocese of Vancouver. The convention theme, Empowered by the Spirit, was expanded on by four speakers as they shared on topics of pro-life (Jared White, executive director of Advokate Life and Education Services), women’s health (a pharmacist), leadership (Life Member Barbara Jarvis) and Heather Kyhm of Life Restoration (Mary’s unconditional acceptance and God’s plan for her).

Pictured: Life Member Barbara Jarvis

Spotlight on Councils

Spotlight on Councils

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On a recent parish piligrimage to the holy door at Westminster Abbey in Mission, British Columbia, members of Holy Family Parish Council (Sechelt) took the opportunity to meet with the young seminarian they elected to support. Gustavo Pavia, one of the youngest seminarians, was literally overwhelmed with the gifts of baking brought by members. Gustavo comes from Mexico and chairperson of Christian family life Maria O’Boyle has been affectionately dubbed Gustavo’s Chief Canadian “Go-to Abuela!” Gustavo was given strict orders to share his treats and was reassured of their prayers. The photograph was taken by Brian Blackwell, husband of council secretary Sylvia Blackwell, and is particularly poignant as Maria and Gustavo stand near a picture of the Madonna and Child.

Members of Holy Family Parish Council (Sechelt) also had the opportunity to gather at the Sunshine Coast’s Annual Red Serge Gala. A yearly event, this function is a major fundraiser for the “Cops for Cancer Tour” and is so popular that tickets generally sell out on the day they go on sale! It is generally held in the parish hall. Ten members were ready for a night on the town—dinner was served by red-coated Mounties, and the evening was a success with a lot of money raised!

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Anniversaries and Service Awards

70th Anniversary .................................................Resurrection Parish Council (Fort St. John, British Columbia)

60 Years of ServiceAnita Caskenette St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Council St. Catharines, Ontario

55 Years of ServiceAnna Babiasch St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Council St. Catharines, OntarioJane Dulong St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Council St. Catharines, OntarioJudy Dulong St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Council St. Catharines, OntarioTherese Janssen St. Edward the Confessor Parish Council Duncan, British ColumbiaPat Lindberg St. Edward the Confessor Parish Council Duncan, British Columbia

45 Years of ServiceJanet Madere St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Council St. Catharines, Ontario

40 Years of ServiceJacqueline Messinger St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Council St. Catharines, OntarioElizabeth Smith St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Council St. Catharines, Ontario

35 Years of ServiceEleanor Hall St. Edward the Confessor Parish Council Duncan, British ColumbiaJanet Kueber St. Edward the Confessor Parish Council Duncan, British ColumbiaAdele Meyer St. Edward the Confessor Parish Council Duncan, British Columbia

30 Years of ServiceMary Cullen St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Council St. Catharines, OntarioMary Honsberger St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Council St. Catharines, OntarioLinda Kocurek St. Edward the Confessor Parish Council Duncan, British ColumbiaMargaret Kretz St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Council St. Catharines, Ontario

25 Years of ServiceTrudy Fiege St. Edward the Confessor Parish Council Duncan, British ColumbiaFlo Rahal St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Council St. Catharines, OntarioTerry Wlodarczyk St. Edward the Confessor Parish Council Duncan, British Columbia

20 Years of ServiceLouise Sandmoen St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Council St. Catharines, Ontario

15 Years of ServiceJoyce DiAngelo St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Council St. Catharines, OntarioBernice Johnston St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Council St. Catharines, Ontario

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Doris Konst St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Council St. Catharines, Ontario

10 Years of ServiceRosemary Burke St. Edward the Confessor Parish Council Duncan, British ColumbiaLeanne Forest St. Edward the Confessor Parish Council Duncan, British ColumbiaRiet Heemskerk St. Edward the Confessor Parish Council Duncan, British ColumbiaPaula Stocco St. Edward the Confessor Parish Council Duncan, British Columbia

5 Years of ServiceSuzanne Fraser St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Council St. Catharines, Ontario