DIOCESE OF VICTORIA
Diocesan theme: Solid Rock
Living Waters
President: Laurel Phyall Spiritual Advisor: Father Alfredo Monacelli
Date: Aug 20, 2021 Communique #1
FROM: Gerry Heywood, Diocese of Victoria, Spiritual Development Chairperson
“Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled” Luke 1:45.
I want to second Laura Esposito’s warm welcome to all of you who have undertaken to be your parish councils’ Spiritual Development Chairpersons. On the surface, this chair may seem easy; just read some prayers and ask for prayer intentions. Easy, peasy. But I realize that this position is far more important than just that. You are sharing the continuing spiritual development of your league sisters in partnership with your parish priest. This is a significant responsibility.
But do not despair. We are all walking the road to Emmaus together and together, we will find Christ amongst us in the breaking of bread.
I am very new to this post and like you, I am learning on the fly. In addition, I have always been a “doer”. Ask me to do something and usually I can find a way to do it. End of story. Now, the inner spiritual life is something quite different. This is, for me, uncharted territory other than the usual prayer and sacramental life of a “regular” Catholic woman. But that just doesn’t cut if for me anymore.
This COVID epidemic has changed a lot of things for me and in many ways for a greater good. It has (for me) turned into one big long spiritual retreat. For example, I am following Father Mike Schmidt’s “Bible In a Year” podcast and every night I listen to another part of the bible and Father Mike’s explanation of what’s happening. Now, I find I have a much deeper understanding of the readings at mass and a deeper relationship with God. Who knew? All of this played a large roll in my desire to undertake the Diocesan Spiritual Development Chair.
So, over to you, my League Sisters. We will walk on and help each other on the road to Emmaus.
Gerry Heywood
Diocesan Chairperson: Spiritual Development
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FROM: Laura Esposito, BC & Yukon Provincial Spiritual Development Chairperson
“Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable and receives the impossible” Corrie Ten Boom writes in her book “Jesus is Victor”. Corrie was a woman who harboured hundreds of Jewish people in her home during World War II.
A warm welcome to newly elected Diocesan Spiritual Development Chairpersons: Gerry Heywood (Victoria), Maria McManus (Nelson) and, to those members continuing their positions for the second year: Jeannette Melnychuk (Kamloops), Linda McClinton (Prince George), Erin Merth (Vancouver), Dawn Kobewka (Whitehorse). Also a welcome to newly elected National Spiritual Development Chairperson, Cathy Bouchard. I look forward to serving with all of you in this important committee which asks for much prayer
Introduction: I have been a CWL member for 28 years, serving in several positions on parish and diocesan councils. In 2015, I was appointed for one year to complete a term as Communications Chairperson and then after the election in 2016 was given the same Committee. I was elected as Provincial Secretary in 2018. I was a teacher for 38 years in the public school system and after retiring, have been on call for Annunciation School. Teaching never was and still is not a job for me but a vocation. I serve at the church as a Lector at Mass and I make up the Ministry schedule for each of the Sunday masses. The rest of my biography is on the provincial website bcyukoncwl.com.
In her 1st communique of August 26, 2021, Cathy Bouchard, National Spiritual Development Chairperson writes “One of the main reasons women join the League is because of the opportunity to share and grow in their Catholic faith with women of all ages and experiences. They want to grow personally and as the church. This standing committee serves to assist in the spiritual growth of members through prayer experiences and the study of Catholic teachings, the role of women in the church, evangelization and mission assistance, lay ministries and ecumenism and interfaith endeavours. As members return “back to business” with their League work, I invite you to continue to pray for the success of the League and continue to assist your sisters “to grow in faith, and to witness to the love of God….”
So what can each of us do to promote the spiritual development of anyone but, especially, of our sisters in the League? Pope Francis said on Twitter Dec 5, 2013, “Holiness doesn’t mean doing extraordinary things, but doing ordinary things with love and faith.”
A very recent personal experience helped me grow a lot spiritually. Two weeks ago, I was invited to spend about two hours at the hospital bedside of someone while his family took a bit of personal time. While there, this man sang some songs to me in Italian. He was very surprised when I joined in, not necessarily knowing all the words, but knowing many of the songs. Two days ago, I was again asked to spend a couple of hours by the man’s bedside which I did. In preparation, I downloaded some of the songs so we could sing them together (this time with all the words). The man, now in palliative care, was spending most of his time sleeping and only answering in one syllable words to all questions. While there, I first put on a CD of Andrea Boccelli and he listened but he also drifted off. When the CD ended, he opened his eyes and I asked him if he would like me to sing some of the songs I had sung with him last time. He answered, “Yes please.” So I did. I sang about 10 songs to him and the entire time, he was very alert and not drifting off. At the end, he said, “Thank you.” That really moved me.
For me, this was an example of what Pope Francis meant in his tweet of Dec 5, 2013. Is there a small act that each of us can do which will help others and ourselves grow spiritually? I invite you and your councils to brainstorm what they are, and, act on them.
Cathy Bouchard, National Spiritual Development reminds us of some important dates in 2021:
September 19: National Faith Day (The Catholic Women’s League of Canada)
September 21: National Day of Prayer for Christians in the Holy Land (The Catholic Women’s League of Canada)
September 30: National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (newly announced by the Federal Government this last June)
October 1: National Day of Prayer for Canadian Home Missions (The Catholic Women’s League of Canada)
December 1: First Day of Advent, First Day of Liturgical Calendar, Year C focus on the Gospel of Luke
December 25: Christmas Day
December 26: Feast of the Holy family
And for 2022
January 1: Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God
January 2: Epiphany of the Lord
January 9: Baptism of the Lord
March 2: Ash Wednesday
March 2 - April 14: Lent
April 14 – April 17: Sundown Holy Thursday to the Easter Vigil – Triduum
April 26: Feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel (The Catholic Women’s League of Canada)
May 1 – 7: 12 Hours of Prayer for Palliative Care (The Catholic Women’s League of Canada)
August 13 – 18: 102nd Annual National Convention of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada, Kelowna, British Colombia
The National CWL website has many prayers, prayer services and hymns which can be accessed and used by any council. Please go to www.cwl.ca, under To Organize - 700 Series Prayers and Hymns. There are 41 different things to help all of us in this committee.
I draw your attention to two prayers found in the Prayer Corner on the National website and which I encourage all councils to pray at the beginning of, or during, each meeting:
Pope Francis’ Prayer for Protection during the Coronavirus Pandemic
O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick. At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain, with steadfast faith. You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need. We are certain that you will provide, so that, as you did at Cana of Galilee, joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the Father’s will and to do what Jesus tells us: He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us, through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen. We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
A Prayer of Hope for the 2022 CWL National Convention, Kelowna
Father in Heaven, nothing surpasses Your Goodness.
Your Goodness is steeped in Love and Your Love gives us Hope.
This Hope gives us Faith, and our Faith helps us Love.
We pray that Your Love will make us good. As we prepare to bring our CWL sisters together,
Send Your Spirit to guide this Convention Team and our National Council.
Bless the 102nd National Catholic Women’s League Convention,
That Your precious daughters will reconnect with each other and draw closer to You.
Help us to navigate this earthly wilderness and to do your will. In Your vineyard O Lord, we long to be:
Rejoicing, relaxing, praying and playing,
Laughing, learning, serving and savouring.
Abba, Father, from these long months of isolation and angst, deliver us.
We hope in You O Lord, that we may come together in 2022,
And through Our Lady of Good Counsel,
We will be blessed as we labour and live in Your Vineyard.
Amen.
We have so many other things to pray for, among them: a quick end to the pandemic around the world, an end to the fire situation in BC and also for the federal election coming in September – that we all discern carefully how to cast our ballots, and, that those elected will guide our country with wisdom and grace.
May Our Lady of Good Counsel guide us and pray for us.
Laura Esposito, BC & Yukon Spiritual Development Chairperson.