Dear Sisters, Father Mike and Friends of the League:

This is my first Communique as Diocesan Vice President but please think of it as a personal letter to you. You probably know me from other positions I have held in our League over the years; most recently Spiritual Chair.

I have been a member of the CWL for ten years and have a background teaching, working with Federal inmates and being a mom and regular parishioner.

As vice president, two of my responsibilities are to act as a fill-in when Bertha is not available and membership.

The state of our membership is very much on my mind these days since about half of your councils will be holding elections this year. Or, you other councils may have already selected your leaders but have problems staffing all your positions. I have checked the various parish and diocesan councils in our BC/Yukon Province and have heard what other councils across Canada have to say. We are all experiencing the same problem. This problem is: how do we encourage members to step up and take on active roles in leading our League?

Members say that there are plenty of reasons why people are holding back in taking on these challenges. Some say we are still recovering from COVID. We are aging. We don’t know what we’re supposed to do and we are afraid to make a mistake.

This last reason, in my opinion, is probably where the truth lies.

We have done a fine and much needed update over the past five years to the structures and workings of our League. We have also done a good job in communicating what our reformed structure looks like. It looks fresh and modern and is very exciting. Let me say that, again; fresh, modern and exciting. And it is. We have defined the pillars our League is built on: FAITH, SERVICE and SOCIAL JUSTICE. These are the ancient pillars of the Christian Church and these are the names and purpose of our former structure. Only, now we “shuffled” the cards and dealt them in a different order. They are the same cards only more understandable. Also, it must be pointed out that this rearrangement requires fewer people to lead your council but at the same time it needs the backing of the your whole council to make it work.

I am reminded of a story about a famous actor:

“Kenneth Branagh, a student of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, struggling with a role, wrote to Laurence Olivier asking for advice. He was surprised when Olivier replied to his letter and simply advised him, “Don’t waste your time striving for perfection; instead, strive for excellence doing your best. Have a bash and hope for the best.”

—“Quora”, on-line magazine

So, in closing, my friends, step up, strive for excellence, do your best and have a bash as we go forward in Faith, Service and Social Justice.

Blessings on your day as we hope for the best,

Gerry Heywood,

Vice President, CWL Diocese of Victoria