Communique #10 — Education and Health
National Chairperson of Education and Health Margaret Schwab, April 7, 2023
As I write this, hope is in the air as the snow slowly melts and the birds reappear. It is days before Easter Sunday, the celebration of our great hope in the risen Lord.
This past February, a League delegation attended meetings in Ottawa with various political leaders regarding members’ concerns expressed through resolutions. There were many meetings in not so many days, and members are grateful to the delegation for their diligence in promoting the League.
Resolution 2015.1 Increased Early Intervention and Access to Children and Youth Mental Health Services was one of the topics discussed. Mental health issues are a huge problem, particularly for those marginalized by their circumstances—refugees, ethnic backgrounds, those living in poverty and those in remote communities. Recognizing this, the federal government has taken several steps, including providing more funding for mental health and specialized training for those working in contact with people suffering from mental health and addictions. A website—Wellness Together Canada—has also been created with services in French and English. Its counselling service is available 24/7 and the website received two million hits during the pandemic. Visit wellnesstogether.ca to learn more.
Resolution 2015.02 Ban Plastic Microbeads in Personal Care Products. The delegation commended the government for the action taken in enacting Microbeads in Toiletries Regulations (2018). Further discussion took place regarding monitoring and cleanup and concerns about other plastic pollution.
Please ask your diocesan counterparts to urge members to read the entire report on the government visit in the spring issue of The Canadian League.
A webinar will be available for the week of 12 Hours of Prayer for Palliative Care. Ontario Provincial Council is presenting the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Horizons of Hope: A Toolkit for Catholic Parishes on Palliative Care to assist caregivers and family members facing a terminal illness to understand palliative care from a theological, ethical and medical perspective. Presenters will be parish nurse and Life Member Shirley Christo, MHSc, MEd, and Dr. Moira McQueen, PhD, on Monday, May 8th, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (CDT). The registration deadline is Sunday, May 7th. Register by contacting Shaila D’Souza at shailaflavy@gmail.com.
Please encourage your diocesan counterparts to remind members that the closing date for applications for the National Bursary Fund is May 15th and encourage them to look at the criteria. Many are already taking further education to aid in their ministries, and the National Bursary Fund is there to assist.
As you share your life with others by being Catholic and Living It! may Our Lady of Good Counsel always be at your side.
Margaret Schwab
National Chairperson of Education and Health