2005 Annual Report of
Military Ordinariate Provincial President
Gabriele Kalincak

Spirituality in the Year of the Eucharist
Councils celebrated this year by focusing on the Eucharist in special ways. They: attended expositions of the Eucharist throughout the year and particularly around the Lenten and Easter seasons; attended Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at local parishes and presentations on the Eucharist by military chapel coordinators, priests and the military bishop; read and distributed literature focused on the Eucharist during mass; and, held closing ceremonies to commemorate the end of the Year of the Eucharist. Councils hosted special devotional prayer services to Mary in the months of May and October and at the feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel. They planned special devotions and spiritual events (special services, retreats, etc.) during Lent, Easter, Advent and Christmas. All councils received devotional materials and suggestions for celebrations from the spiritual development chairperson.

Ecumenical involvement
Members joined their sisters at civilian parishes to participate in World Day of Prayer, while others hosted the event at their military chapels. Councils celebrated Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with special masses and by praying the rosary for unity. Many joined with their Protestant sisters for special events. Members attended a Protestant Ladies Guild conference and others participated in an ecumenical spiritual retreat.

League and membership promotion
As in the years before, all councils launched membership drives in the fall and winter months. The target months for recruitment were October and January, often in conjunction with a meet and greet reception. Some councils reported ongoing membership drives. Activities were used as a way of promoting the League in addition to targeted membership drives, which also included addressing the congregation during Sunday mass, talking about the importance of having the League support their chapels and explaining League objectives. Parish congregations were invited to join League members after mass for a reception where they were encouraged to ask questions about the League. It was a good way to reach out to the husbands of potential members, since membership often means the involvement of wife and husband. It has become customary to call the husbands of members the ?CWL Auxiliary.? While mom attends meetings or volunteers for CWL ministries and activities, dad spends time with the children.

With the substantial involvement of Canadian military members serving on United Nations postings overseas, recruitment of young women has become increasingly difficult. For the military CWL member, a posting overseas means stepping back from holding executive positions and putting all CWL participation on hold. Much the same can be said of wives of serving members who have young children since their parental role changes to that of a single parent for up to one year at a time.

While some councils struggled to recruit new members, others were able to increase their membership. One council grew from two members four years ago to 42 members by the end of 2005. By Military Ordinariate council standards, this is an extraordinary growth in membership.

Ministry involvement of members
Presidents reported CWL involvement in all liturgical and sacramental ministries, such as marriage, first communion and confirmation preparation. Some members led the Way of the Cross and prayed the rosary in the months of May and October. Members of one council attended the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with a slide presentation, video and a luncheon afterwards. Most councils hosted receptions at first communion, confirmation services and after funerals. These receptions were part of their chapel ministries.

Special projects and services
Councils located on bases involved in military deployment with overseas peace keeping missions were always on stand by to minister to the troops (sending parcels, Christmas letters, etc.). One council reported its continued involvement in the Adopt-A-Seminarian program. Members supported two seminarians, primarily with prayer, cards of encouragement and the occasional invitation to special events. One council supported the spiritual advisor, who had undergone several surgeries, by providing a balanced, nutritious diet for him including lunch and dinner while he was recuperating Councils continued the sponsorship of children in the SOS Children's Village .

One president reported on the council's continued wellness/fitness challenge, which involved a virtual tour through parts of Europe Members learned about points of interest and the local cuisine Councils also participated in Hike for Life and other pro-life activities, such as supporting Birthright International and Project Rachel Several members of one council were busy knitting 8? squares for Blankets for Canada One council reported on the 50th anniversary of its chapel This council presented a large wooden rosary in a shadow box Other activities reported were: a candle and soup making session after a meeting; a Shrove Tuesday supper; bagging cereals and donating hand-made mittens to a local school; hosting fun card games; quilting demonstration and pumpkin carving; visiting seniors homes; supporting the Mustard Seed and the Canadian Diabetes Association; and, co-hosting a send off celebration for a priest who was transferred to Operation Athena (peace keeping mission)

40th anniversary project
All councils participated in the 40th anniversary quilt project. Every council created one quilt square of a specific size and colour that depicted a special scene. The project was led by the St. Francis of Assisi Parish Council in Petawawa, Ontario.

Fundraising and donations
All councils reported many fundraising activities including: silent auctions; penny auctions; barbecues and dinners; canvassing for charitable foundations; yard sales; thrift shop managing and sales; raffles; and bake, pie and fudge sales. In addition, councils reported hosting a St. Patrick's Day stew sale, fundraising for a local youth emergency shelter, raising over $1,600 at a Christmas potluck and penny auction, fundraising for Project Fresh Start, which provides permanent housing for the homeless, and raising over $2,000 for the overnight relay Run for the Cure.

Members attend fundraising events hosted by other organizations. Members of one council attended a Dine for Donkeys event where the proceeds went toward the purchase of donkeys and carts for women in a village in Northern Ghana. Other members joined their Protestant sisters for their fundraising events.

Donations were made to all suggested national and provincial council charities. Most councils gave extensive support to MaterCare International and local charities. In addition, they supported the Blind Children's Fund, a charity sponsored by the Military Police across the country.

Political involvement and government lobbying
As Canadian citizens, members exercised their right to voice their opinion on issues of concern. A growing number of members engaged in letter writing and participated in petition . Some wrote letters to Canada Post in favour of keeping the Nativity scene on Christmas stamps. Many campaigned by encouraging family and friends to ask for the Nativity-scene stamps at their local post offices. Right to Life cards were sent to local members of parliament and an awareness dinner was held with proceeds going to the Right to Life Association. One council reminded members with a skit to continue working with the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace on the Water: Life before Profit! campaign. Some members joined their civilian counterparts in speaking out against same-sex marriage. They reported on their discussions on the abuse of children, women and seniors, as well as monitored the impending legislation on euthanasia. Letter writing to members of parliament on these issues is ongoing.

Twin councils
All councils have a twin council. Some councils reported on various contacts throughout the year, including the sending of Christmas cards and having prayer partners.

Presidential activities
It has been a privilege and honour to be part of the national executive. I represented the Military Ordinariate at spring and fall meetings in Winnipeg and Toronto, and at the annual national convention in and Vancouver, British Columbia.

In my opening remarks as the new provincial president in 2004, I promised that my number one priority was to serve and remain in dialogue with all councils. This was not an easy task when dealing with a provincial council that reaches from Nova Scotia to British Columbia. I sent more than a dozen communiqués (memos) to the administrative committee and parish councils, and the many e-mails and telephone calls discussing procedures or solving problems give witness to a kept promise. I also knew that it was time to meet with councils face to face. My first tour began in Borden, Ontario. From there I visited the councils in Trenton, Kingston, Ottawa and Petawawa. I also met with Padre Darren Persaud, who was interested in revitalizing the council in North Bay. The last time I spoke with him, he reported that he was forming a group that would meet once a month for spiritual renewal. He hopes that this will spark the re-start of a CWL council. From North Bay, I visited the council in Shilo, Manitoba, and members of the council in Cold Lake, Alberta.

My next trip took me to Esquimalt and Comox on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. In late November I visited the Winnipeg, Manitoba, council and in December the council in Edmonton, Alberta. Each visit was conducted in the form of a potluck supper with a question and answer session or a workshop on parliamentary procedures, election procedures and eligibility, etc. In some parishes, I attended mass followed by a social gathering.

Another priority of my presidency was the promotion of a better knowledge of Catholic history, the teachings of the Catholic church and our spirituality as Catholic women. In this, I had a wonderful ally in the spiritual development chairperson, who passed on spiritual and educational information to the councils (on the liturgy, the pope's encyclicals, history, etc.).