Happy New Year!
I just completed my December family tour which began on the 12th and ended yesterday, January 14, 2019. In that time frame, I drove to Ottawa, Mississauga, London, back to Mississauga, and flew to Kelowna, all to be with family throughout the conclusion of Advent and the Christmas season. While the crèche journeyed with us to Ottawa, and the children assisted with the travel of Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, wise men, and animals towards the stable in Bethlehem, it seems that when we arrived in London with said group, the camel and donkey appeared to have decided the travel was too much for them, for they were located still on their journey in Ottawa. Next year, they will have to begin a bit earlier! One of the great gifts I received was getting to hear wonderful homilies at St. Joseph’s in Ottawa, St. George’s in London, and St. Charles Garnier in Kelowna. A blessing that got my heart aflutter occurred in London, at St. George’s, when a New Brunswick member from Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rothesay, Mary Margaret Doucet, was sitting very close to me. It was such an early Christmas gift to get a hug from someone from “home”, and meet her husband, daughter and grandchildren.
What a blessing technology is to permit family time while carrying out duties as national president. On January 4th I took part in a two-hour teleconference with the national implementation committee, chaired by Sharon Ciebin (Coquitlam, British Columbia) and attended virtually by the entire team of co-chairperson Lisa Henry (Sudbury, Ontario), Sr. Susan Scott (Stony Plain, Alberta), Jacqueline Nogier (Snow Lake, Manitoba), Fran Lucas, national board liaison, and Executive Director Kim Scammel.
On January 11th, I traveled from Kelowna, British Columbia to Calgary, Alberta to visit the Hyatt Regency Hotel, site of the 2019 national convention, met four of the host convention committee led by Judy Montes and Marilyn Schafer, and attended a full meeting of the planning committee on the 12th. Following the meeting we did a tour of the facilities, which will meet the League’s needs in August.
There is a lot to do as winter progresses, but I consider it such a privilege to serve as best I can. May God continue to bless all of my dear sisters and bring joy to you in 2019. Until next time…