Date: February 8, 2023 Communique #9

From: Laurel Phyall, President Victoria Diocesan Council

Dear Sisters & Father Mike:

Love ought to show itself in deeds more than in words.

St. Ignatius of Loyola

DIOCESAN AMM – April 22th – Miriam and her team at Sacred Heart are working diligently preparing for the 95th Annual Meeting of Members.

HOTEL – For those who are travelling from out of town and planning to stay overnight, Provincial President, Sharon Geiger and I will be booked at Victoria’s Accent Inn. The information will be in your registration package.

FRIDAY DINNER – The pre-AMM Diocesan Team Meeting will be Friday, April 21st at 5:30 pm at St. Joseph the Worker Parish. Gerry has made the arrangements and Father Alfredo will do the cooking. The Provincial President will present the Unity Outreach Workshop following dinner.

BASKET FUNDRAISER: Sacred Heart Council asks for your help with fundraised by donating a complete theme basket or donations to make up a basket. Please bring any donations to the League Development Day in Duncan

VICTORIA DIOCESAN COUNCIL will be holding our elections at the Diocesan AMM. The election process has begun with letters of invitation sent to all eligible candidates. I ask you to pray for these wonderfully gifted and talented women, that they will say ‘YES’ to the League by letting their name stand for election. For those of us who personally know these ladies, I encourage you to affirm and support them and let them know how important they are to the Diocesan Council. We need and want good women to communicate and perform the work of the League throughout the Diocese of Victoria so all can benefit from their knowledge.

CANADIAN NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS DAY – There is a beautiful Human Trafficking Prayer Service created by Nancy Simms on the National website, www.cwl.ca under Resources, #712. It is downloadable; please consider using this with your members on February 22nd or during your February meeting or anytime.

RESOURCES There are many guides, programs and workshops on the national website that will help you and your council. You may find the Guide to Simplifying Meetings and Reporting Processes most helpful. This resource gives lot of great information and examples of planning calendars, agendas, minutes, checklists for guest speakers, etc. For parish councils that recently had elections and have a new executive I encourage you to use the many tools that are available in the Handbook for Chairpersons of Faith, Service and Social Justice. These resources can be found at www.cwl.ca under To Organize, 600 Series: Manuals.

UNITY OUTREACH PROJECT In talking to several parish presidents, I realize some councils are really struggling. For those councils, I quote National President, Fran Lucas: “I pray councils …. will stay strong for one more year to allow the League to implement …. Unity Outreach Project.” Details of this project, which is intended to support the grass roots and build connection between levels of The League, will be presented to the diocesan team at the pre-AMM meeting on Friday, April 21. Once we have the guidelines, we’ll be on our way to visit your parish council twice in 2023 where we’ll do our best to help you.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES: The Molly Boucher Bursary deadline is March 31st, 2023. The application/guidelines can be found at www.bcyukoncwl.com under Resources/Bursary.

The National Bursary Fund applications must be submitted to national office and postmarked by May 15th. The History and Purpose, Criteria and Guidelines and Application form can be found at www.cwl.ca under To Organize, 500 Series: Forms. Info & application for the Diocesan Bursary ‘In Memory of Freda Smith’ are on the Diocesan website www.cwldov.org.

PARISH PRESIDENTS:

National office requires a complete list your executive including their contact information. This may be done through email, regular mail or through the online membership process. Emails should go to officeassistant@cwl.ca. Also cc this to the Diocesan Secretary at cwlvd1@gmail.com,
In an election year the council president or secretary must send notification advising national office of the newly elected or appointed executive along with their contact information.
Throughout the year it there is a change to the parish council executive including the spiritual advisor, the parish president or secretary is to notify National office and the Diocesan secretary ASAP by email.
Please note the National Office Staff Directory on the inside cover of The Canadian League magazine, then turn to page 18 and note the photo of the BC & Yukon Provincial Council, look for two local faces you might recognize. Tell me who they are and what they are wearing and you may win a prize at the League Development Day in March. Email me your answer lphyall@shaw.ca

DEVELOPMENT & PEACE has launched an emergency appeal for the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Please donate here: https://www.devp.org/en

LENTEN RETREAT: “Lent and Social Justice: Fasting to Do More” presented by Sr. Susan Scott on Monday, February 20, 6:00 pm PDT via Zoom. Registration is required. See the attached poster.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

World Day of the Sick – February 11

Pink Shirt Day (Anti-Bullying Day) – February 22

World Water Day – March 22

Diocesan League Development Day – St. Edward’s, Duncan March 25

Diocesan Pre-AMM – St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Victoria – April 21

Diocesan AMM – Sacred Heart, Victoria April 22

Victoria March for Life – May 11

May our patroness, Our Lady of Good Counsel continue to intercede for us in our efforts to be Catholic and Living it!

Laurel