President: Laurel Phyall November 3, 2022
Dear Sisters-In-Christ and Father Mike:
Thank you to everyone who joined us in Port Alberni for the League Development Day on the weekend. We were a small, but enthusiastic group. I have had excellent feedback on the program. Sister Janet was truly inspiring and Christa was informative and got us right up-to-date on the Strategic Plan. The homemade lasagna for lunch was out of this world and we were all able to buy some to take home.
Spiritual Advisor – I am pleased to announce the appointment of our new Spiritual Advisor, Father Michael Favero. Father Mike’s appointment is November 1, 2022 – October 31, 2025. We will install him at the next League Development Day in March, 2023.
From the Provincial Meeting –
Communication during the transition: Here’s the one big change starting now! As elections will be staggered, there will be a period when different councils at all three levels will have different officers and this will interrupt communications flow under the old system. Therefore, effective immediately, all inter-level communications will be handled through the council president and council secretary of each level. The presidents and secretaries will confer and be responsible for passing along the information as they determine appropriate. You were emailed a two page hand out entitled ‘Communicating During Transition – August 2022 – July 2024’, which explains the process.
Leadership Foundation: “Our mission is to fund leadership education that inspires Catholic women to be transformational and influential leaders where they live and work.” Applications are now being taken for the next session which runs from May 2023 to June 2024. Their website is info@cwlfcanada.ca.
Provincial Per Capita Fees: This was discussed at our Fall Virtual Meeting and I asked the Provincial Council to roll back their fees due to the fact that there was money in reserve. There was great discussion! It was noted that $1 of the fee goes to the national convention hosting fund, this is seed money for when we host. Then, $.50 goes to the League Development Fund, education for diocesan and parish councils. The balance $8.50 is for operating of the Provincial Council, it takes $72,000 yearly to operate the Provincial Council.
Subsidies & Grants for the 2023 Provincial Convention: Two motions were put forward and adopted.
That the subsidy to attend the Provincial Convention be expanded, to include two additional subsidies of $500 for each diocese.
That a one-time discount of $100 be granted to each registrant.
From the National Council –
Selection of D & P Partner Projects: Three projects have been chosen for the 1% Program for the foreseeable future.
Sustained and equitable primary education for girls and boys living in rural areas in Afghanistan.
Inclusive governance for women of Kasenga through functional literacy in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Food and nutritional security and climate change in the Sahel region of Mali, Niger and Burkino Faso.
2022 Annual Reporting Process: This year there will only be one survey per council instead of one survey for each position. The reduction from 12 surveys to one will make the reporting process more user-friendly and efficient, cause less demand on the technical capability of parish executive, eliminate confusion about which council activities fall under which committee, and promote teamwork among each executive team as the work together to complete the survey. Deadlines for completion: December 15, 2022 for paper copies mailed to the National Office and midnight on January 15, 2023 for digital input. See the attachment for more information and instructions.
Personnel Committee: At the National Office, a casual position has been created for a social media assistant. This position has been filled by Catherine Conforti. “Spotlights” may be submitted directly to her at digitalmedia@cwl.ca.
Two Reminders:
Gerry Heywood would like to hear from you with photos and write-ups regarding your events, for the diocesan website. She can be reached at aliendreg@hotmail.com.
There is only six months left on my term as Diocesan President, if you would like me to visit your council meeting, please get in touch.
Some people feel the rain, others just get wet. – Bob Marley
God bless you in your faithful work “For God and Canada”,
Laurel Phyall, President: CWL Diocese of Victoria
Dates to mark on your calendar for 2022/23:
Annual Reporting SnapSurvey – Opens – November 1, 2022
Deadline for completion of paper copies – December 15, 2022
Deadline for digital input – Midnight on January 15, 2023
Winter Diocesan Team Meeting – Virtual – January 23, 2023 (link & agenda to be sent out closer to date)
Diocesan League Development Day – St. Edward’s, Duncan – March 23, 2023