VICTORIA DIOCESAN COUNCIL
Community Life Chairperson: Bertha Landrie
Happy New Year to all!
I am still recovering from a very severe back problem which I have been experiencing since the beginning of November. After a month and a half of bed rest I am slowly starting to get around. I had an MRI and will get the results this Friday.
So, for this communique, I will pass along the information sent to me from our Provincial Communication Chairperson Susan Steiner,
From Susan:
Canada Summer Jobs Applications will be launched December 2019/January 2020. We
must check this application for the requirements. Letters of complaint or letters of gratitude will have to be written to our government.
Brain storming for a project for year 2 of the National Theme “Caring for Our Common Home has been decided on. I will be copying information received from our National Community Life Chairperson, Marie Rackley. Please please send this on to all the parish councils in your diocese as all parishes are asked to take part.
Quote:
It was agreed the League would partner with Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) to support the Pieta Bhavan (House of Mercy) Project, with a need for a drinking water well.
Pieta Bhavan located in Kerala India, is a Christian home for more than 60 women with intellectual disabilities. Established by the congregation of the Poor Claires of Perpetual Adoration, the home provides food, clothing, shelter, medical treatment and additional care for some residents unable to care for themselves. Some women receive skills training and make items such as rosaries and soap.
The State of Kerala has experienced severe flooding during the monsoon season for the past two years. The flooding, landslides and loss of crops have caused many deaths, becoming progressively worse due to the effect of climate change. In 2018 more than one million people were displaced or left homeless and 400 people died. The drinking flooding has caused a significant water contamination problem.
It is vital to have suitable wells in Kerela to keep the water clean and drinkable for daily use. Currently, Pieta Bhavan has an open well in need of repair. The rusted cover fell into the well and needs replacing as residents of Pieta Bhavan depend on this well for drinking water, it needs to be fixed to prevent any contamination from flooding in.
As this is the second year focus for “Care for Our Common Home” all councils are asked to take part in the Pietas Bhavan Project and donate to this worthy case. Cheques should be made payable to the Catholic Near East Welfare Association and sent directly to the attention of Melodie Gabriel, CNEWA Development Office, 1247 Kilborn Place, Ottawa Ontario K1H 6K9. Please ensure “CWL India” is written in the Memo portion of the cheque, or the comment boxing given online at cnew.ca.
Chairpersons are asked to obtain information from your Diocesan Counterparts as to the total number of and amount of donations submitted. Encourage members to report donations to the Diocesan Chairperson of Community. Each provincial president will inform the National Chairperson of Community Life on the amount donated from her province by August 1, 2020.
Blessings, Bertha Landrie
Diocesan Community Life Chairperson