REPORT OF B.C. & YUKON PROVINCIAL PRESIDENT
MADELINE KURJATA

The B.C. & Yukon Provincial Council never stopped working “For God and Canada.” Six diocesan council presidents reported from 103 parish councils out of 126. They are continually striving to fulfil the objects of the League and caring for one another.

Some parish councils are without a president, but carry on using the whole executive. After years without a parish council president, one member took the responsibility because she was impressed with how the council had worked together to hold onto their parish council. She knew that these women would support her in the years ahead. Many councils were without president-elects. One president saw it as a chance to grow spiritually and personally. Another diocesan president found the revised National Manual of Policy and Procedure easier to use and referred to it many times.

The spiritual development standing committee is one that is never unfilled! Some councils established an e-mail tree for prayer requests. One diocesan president and spiritual advisor, at the request of the parish council president, sent a letter to all parish spiritual advisors thanking them for their help and asking for their continued support of CWL councils. All diocesan councils had mini-retreats. One council made rosaries and taught the rosary to students. Celebrating the Word was used by most councils.

One diocesan president reported that members who left the CWL for whatever reason were starting to come back because they found that the CWL had changed for the better and was more open. They were pleased to see the CWL encouraging letter writing to members of parliament and members of the legislative assembly, and they liked the idea of belonging to a group that was involved in the church community and the community at large. The membership drives were doing a lot to bring members back and the drives encouraged new members. Members in this council were becoming more visible and as a result younger members were attracted to the League.

In one diocesan council there was the White Ribbon Against Pornography (WRAP) campaign and also the Green Ribbon Campaign for Missing Children. Members in B.C. & Yukon councils were encouraged to support this campaign. One council received special commendation from Member of Parliament Betty Hinton for the very impressive WRAP ribbon that was sent to her. She said the ribbon would be displayed in Ottawa.

The tiny community of Enderby, B.C. had a church walk before Christmas. Everyone from various churches gathered, and walked from one church to the next singing Christmas carols. When they arrived at a church, there was some form of entertainment. The CWL council did a skit on the nativity and fed 120 people at the end of the walk.

Letters and petitions on assisted human reproduction, stem cell research, and in support of marriage between one man and one woman, were sent to government by many councils and members.

I have been very proud of the members of B.C. & Yukon Provincial Council. They were the driving forces in their parishes. These women come from all walks of life and worked quietly behind the scenes, always there to lend a hand or help someone in need. Members in the provincial council are in all areas of the church community and the community at large. There were so many areas that could have been reported. I chose to report on the ones that I had never heard of before. This may inspire other councils to do the same.

Pray for a renewal of interest and enthusiasm for all members–that we may all appreciate the spiritual enrichment, education and friendship offered in the League.