2008 Annual Report of
Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Council
Ellen Kilfoy, Provincial President

One of the highlights for Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Council was the visit of National President Danielle McNeil-Hessian. Danielle attended the fall meeting in Grand Falls-Windsor and conducted a workshop on the new theme, Women of Peace and Hope .

The spiritual development of members continued to be the priority in parish councils. Meetings began and ended with mass or a prayer service/reflection. Members participated in monthly CWL mass, prayer services, reflections, retreats, days or evenings of reflection, a spiritual day of awareness, liturgies of the mass and hours, Scriptures from Scratch, stations of the cross, the Rosary, The Living Rosary and the crowning of Mary. They hosted the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes in their homes to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the apparitions and special prayer services for the Feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Feast of the Assumption and Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Workshops fostered League development and members' leadership skills. Membership continued to be a focus. Many parish councils experienced difficulty getting members to offer themselves for positions such as president and president-elect. Members paid per capita fees; participated in orientation programs, special ceremonies and receptions for new members, workshops, the annual provincial convention and fall meeting, the annual national convention, the World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations (WUCWO) North American Regional Conference in Winnipeg and participated on pastoral councils as liaison for the local council.

Councils celebrated anniversaries and again co-hosted the annual provincial convention and corresponded and/or gathered with their Elizabeth Project partner. As well as their full calendar of sales and celebrations, they held a dinner of appreciation for Sisters of Mercy leaving community and a reception for Sisters of Mercy Jubilarians.

Members were concerned about social issues and continued to financially support and volunteer with many worthwhile causes such as MaterCare International, Coady International Institute, Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, Newfoundland and Labrador Right to Life Association, St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Janeway Children's Miracle Network Telethon, the Archbishop's Appeal, The Holy Grotto project, a parish environment committee, St. Patrick's Mercy Home, parish fundraising efforts, Elizabeth House, The Gathering Place, Girl Guides of Canada, Covenant House, school breakfast programs, literacy programs, Pour for the Cure, Parish Family Aid and local food banks, a heritage renovation fund, Daffodil Place, blood donor clinics, breast cancer research, The Alzheimer Society, Emmaus House, Daybreak Parent Child Centre, Samaritan's Purse, Operation Christmas Child, Christian Children's Fund, WUCWO, Grace Sparkes House, Catholic Missions In Canada, a cancer relay, Pope's Pastoral Works fund, Adopt-a-Mom campaign, Christopher News Notes, World Youth Day, National Bursary Fund, diocesan missions, Father Gio's Mission in Canada, local hospitals, The Good Shepherd Fund, Immaculate Heart of Mary School (private catholic school), acute care centers, Iris Kirby House and the Friends of St. Eugene.

Members continued to care for the community through visiting, volunteering and organizing events. New this year was a bingo party for the visually impaired. Members knitted and sent Izzy dolls to children in Afghanistan and prayer shawls for sick and suffering. They continued to contribute financially to a member undergoing family health problems and the 2009 annual national convention, which will be held in St. John's.

Members attended a right to life conference and banquet; participated in a walk for life and a rosary for the unborn on Good Friday, ecumenical prayer services, fellowship evenings, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Christmas hymn sing, memorial masses for deceased of the parish, memorial and candlelight services and honour guards for deceased members, Remembrance Day mass for soldiers who died in Afghanistan, Marian Cenacle, parish liturgies, bereavement committees, marriage rehearsal committees, liturgy committees, World Day of Prayer, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and Salvation Army prayer wave; distributed refreshments during the Pat McGrath memorial walk for cancer, mass cards to bereaved families; coordinated a youth retreat weekend, mass at homes for seniors, parish ministries and catechism; sponsored sacramental preparation programs, a march for life, a Good Friday vigil, a National Family Week display in church, parish food banks, socials and gifts on Mother's Day and Father's Day, National Pro-Life Fund and Catholic Missions In Canada; placed Catholic literature in church; donated to the needy of the parish and for school items sent to a mission in the West Indies; made a funeral pall where cremation has taken place, rosary beads and gifts for children receiving the sacraments, medals, candles, ribbons for children's liturgy, a spiritual bouquet for mothers, token of appreciation to parishioners for their support, baptismal bibs and crosses for new babies, and gowns for newly baptized children; planted bulbs in front of the church along with first communion and confirmation candidates; prayed for National Family Week and novenas to Ste. Anne, Our Lady of the Cape and Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament; attended bible study programs, a pilgrimage to Ste. Anne de Beaupré, Cap-de-la-Madeleine and St. Joseph's Oratory, a prayer night and hymn sings.

In addition to activities reported last year, members kept informed on issues concerning education and health by distributing information on the use of bottled water, and many issues of personal safety and wellbeing. A focus group and public meetings were held on housing and homelessness. Members wrote to the federal government and members of parliament (MPs) urging the government to integrate palliative care into federal health care services and requested $17 million dollars cut from the budget be reinstated for literacy programs. Letters were also written regarding the prevention of human trafficking at Olympics. ; and presented awards and contributed to scholarship funds, citizenship awards and public speaking awards to student, and a video on breast examination.

Members were provided with a list of resolutions adopted at the annual national convention and encouraged to discuss them at regular monthly meetings. Councils supported these resolutions by writing letters and signing petitions to enshrine the rights of the unborn, support the revision of the Youth Criminal Justice Act , end trafficking of children, provide hospice palliative care, support Bill C-484 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (injuring or causing the death of an unborn child while committing an offence) and label toxic materials in household products. Members were deeply troubled and saddened by the appointment of Dr. Henry Morgentaler to the Order of Canada . They expressed their disappointment by marching in protest and writing letters. Members continued to monitor current legislation and write letters to the MPs to make them aware that the League continues to have an interest in legislation. .