“Christ(beside(me,(Christ(before(me,(Christ( behind(me

The League’s Monthly E-newsletter

March 2013

“Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me,

Christ above me.”


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From the Editor Greetings,

Spring is in the air, and we are experiencing springtime in our church with the election of the new pope, His Holiness Pope Francis. May God bless him with good health and the strength he needs at this time in history.

Members are sharing stories within their province in diocesan and provincial newsletters. Could these stories be shared in Be League so others across Canada can learn about what is happening at the grassroots level?

Congratulations to the recipients of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medals. I know there are many more across Canada, and I encourage members to submit names of other recipients so they can be acknowledged in Be League.

Catch the Fire! is truly catching on, and we have some more colourful photos in this issue. Have you been to a presentation yet?

Congratulations to Teena-‐Marie Cyr and thank you for the picture of Catherine (perhaps a future member?).

There is also news of the visit of Archbishop Pedro Ricardo Barreto of Peru in support of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace Share Lent campaign.

As Betty Anne Brown Davidson mentions in this month’s “BA’s Bonne Aventure”, the national executive met in Toronto the first weekend of March and launched Facebook and Twitter accounts. The picture in this issue (page 7) is the one on Facebook. Like us on Facebook, tweet or retweet us, and invite others to do so as well.

May these last weeks of Lent be a time of spiritual renewal for us all, and may the words of Easter morning, “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad,” have special meaning. A Blessed Easter to everyone!

God Bless, Cecile Miller National Chairperson of Communications

In This Issue BA’s Bonne Aventure 3 Catch the Fire! 4 Council News 5-‐6 St. Joseph Basilica 5 17 Wing/St. Marguerite Bourgeoys 5 Queen Diamond Jubilee Medals 6 Note from the Executive 7 Anniversaries and Service Awards 8-‐9 Be League March Quiz 10


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BA’s Bonne Aventure

As we hasten toward Easter, I feel the expectation of the early disciples. What will they find? What is this the women have told them? Could it really be good news? Will hearts burn again because of Him?

Across Canada, the final preparations are being made for diocesan and provincial conventions. Very soon, members will be driving, car-‐pooling, busing and taking the train to gather for their annual meetings. What will they find? Will they find good news? Will their hearts burn again because of Him?

In this spirit, I flew to Regina to meet the national convention “Dream Team” headed by Marge Szabo and Yvonne Bachelu. I found a lovely, practical convention site with additional hotels nearby. The women exuded warmth and anticipation for members’ arrival; hospitality is the name of the game! Members will be visiting honorary life members Jean Mahoney’s and Velma Harasen’s hometown! There will be exciting things to do. Hearts will be moved by the Spirit when members behold the art exhibit in the prayer room.

Upon return from Regina, my parish council’s election was held. It went well with all positions filled with fresh faces and new ideas. They eagerly experienced Catch the Fire! while I tested out a We Have Seen the Lord! theme workshop at a development day attended by 318 members in Toronto.

One weekend later, the national executive met in Toronto for three days. A fond, frivolous, funny farewell was bid to six provincial presidents. Their successors will be welcomed when the executive meets in August at the pre-‐convention meeting.

A fair measure of patience, prayer, hope, outreach and conferencing kept the League wheels turning. I am taking a wee March break in Majorca with my family before hustling off to visit the federal government with National Chairperson of Resolutions Shari Guinta and National Chairperson of Legislation Anne-‐Marie Gorman before the Easter Triduum.

May you walk with Jesus, as He loves you enough to wear that crown of thorns for you. May you feel the absence of an empty tomb. And on Easter Sunday, may you dash with elation to announce, We Have Seen the Lord! to all you meet.

Betty Anne Brown Davidson

National President

*April’s Be League will be featuring submissions from B.C. & Yukon.


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Catch the Fire! facilitator Cindy McCardle sent pictures from the Catch the Fire! workshop held January 26th in Stratford, Prince Edward Island.

Agnes Geiger reports 16 ladies (pictured below) from St. Peter Parish Council in Nanaimo, British Columbia attended a Catch the Fire! workshop held January 26th..

Jacinta van Dongen sent pictures (below) from St. Ann Parish Parish Council’s Catch the Fire! workshop held also on Jan. 26th in January 26th in Abbotsford, British Columbia.

Denise Brennan reports three Catch the Fire! workshops were held in the the Diocese of Peterborough. One in Bowmanville with 27 attendees, one in Campbellford with 30 attendees, and one in Otonabee-‐Keene with 30 attendees.


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Council News

St. Joseph Basilica Parish Council, Edmonton, Alberta

Fran Lucas, national chairperson of community life, reports Archbishop Pedro Ricardo Barreto of Huancayo, Peru, spoke to a large crowd on Ash Wednesday, during his first stop of a journey to several major cities across Canada in support of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace’s (CCODP) Share Lent Campaign. Also in attendance were Archbishop Richard Smith (Edmonton) and members of CCODP including Executive Director Michael Casey and Communications Officer Kelly Di Domenico.

17 Wing/St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish Council, CFB Winnipeg, Manitoba Congratulations to Teena-‐Marie Cyr on the birth of her baby girl, Catherine Aurora Cyr, on October 26th. Teena reports she was expecting her third child at the national convention in Edmonton last year and many members were interested in news of baby Catherine’s arrival.

*Like our Facebook page: “The Catholic Women’s League of Canada” *Follow us on Twitter @CWLNational


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Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medals Congratulations to Trudy Strowbridge (pictured below, top left) of St. Thomas of Villa Nova Parish Council, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador; Mary Marshall of Holy Redeemer Parish Council, Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador; Marie Raymond (pictured below, top right) of St. Patrick Parish Council, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador; Anne Bown of Mary Queen of Peace Parish Council, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador; Rita Janes (pictured below, bottomcenter) of St. Pius X Parish Council, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador; and Joan Hopkirk of St. Thomas A Beckett Parish Council, Pierre Fonds, Quebec, on being awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for outstanding community and volunteer service.


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Note from the Executive

The national executive met for its provincial annual winter meeting in Toronto on March 1st and 2nd. This was the last executive meeting for six provincial presidents who will be completing their two-‐year term later this year. They are Alberta MacKenzie Provincial President Sheila Houle, Manitoba Provincial President Jacqueline Nogier, Newfoundland & Labrador Provincial President Lidwina Critch, Ontario Provincial President Marlene Pavletic, Quebec Provincial President Janet MacLean, and Saskatchewan Provincial President Tillie Aessie.


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Anniversaries and Service Awards

35th Anniversary St. Kevin Goulds, Newfoundland & Labrador

Maple Leaf Service Pin

Irene Antle St. Anthony Daniel Sydney, Nova Scotia Carol Barron St. Thomas of Villa Nova St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador Barbara Ann Geehan St. Thomas of Villa Nova St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador Lynette Geehan St. Thomas of Villa Nova St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador Dorothy Locke St. Thomas of Villa Nova St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador Agnes O’Mara St. Thomas of Villa Nova St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador Lynne Rowlandson Holy Trinity Englehart, Ontario

CORRECTION: Maple Leaf Service Pin was awarded to: Barb Nash Saint Joseph Kentville, Nova Scotia

60 Year Pin Fay Doyle Holy Cross Fort Mcleod, Alberta

50 Year Pin Claire Boudreau St. Julia St. Catharines, Ontario Betty Ann Devitt St. Edward Duncan, British Columbia Mary Dugo St. Julia St. Catharines, Ontario Jeannine Ferbers Our Lady of Perpetual Help Winnipeg, Manitoba Therese Janssen St. Edward Duncan, British Columbia Jan Van Leuween St. Julia St. Catharines, Ontario Patricia Lindberg St. Edward Duncan, British Columbia

40 Year Pin Mary Jo Armstrong Divine Infant Orleans, Ontario Annette Canough St. Julia St. Catharines, Ontario Mary Eccles St. Julia St. Catharines, Ontario Yvonne LeVert St. Anthony Daniel Sydney, Nova Scotia Lorraine MacIntyre St. Anthony Daniel Sydney, Nova Scotia Betty McAskill St. Anthony Daniel Sydney, Nova Scotia Loyola McDougall St. Anthony Daniel Sydney, Nova Scotia


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Stella Smeryczanksi St. Julia St. Catharines, Ontario Connie Woodford St. Thomas of Villa Nova St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador

25 Year Pin Anne Marie Dwyer St. Anthony Daniel Sydney, Nova Scotia Agnes Ebbs St. Thomas of Villa Nova St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador Emily Finnegan Our Lady of Perpetual Help Châteauguay, Quebec Barbara Ann Geehan St. Thomas of Villa Nova St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador Mary Hawco St. Thomas of Villa Nova St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador Dianne Jarvis Our Lady of Perpetual Help Châteauguay, Quebec Shelly MacDougall St. Anthony Daniel Sydney, Nova Scotia Mae Moore St. Thomas of Villa Nova St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador Toni Vosters Our Lady of Perpetual Help Winnipeg, Manitoba

10 Year Pin Cecilia Assailly Our Lady of Perpetual Help Winnipeg, Manitoba Elma Aucoin St. Anthony Daniel Sydney, Nova Scotia Jean Barron St. Anthony Daniel Sydney, Nova Scotia Ruth Benwell Divine Infant Orleans, Ontario Daisy Carroll St. Thomas of Villa Nova St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador Robin Cecchini St. Julia Parish Council St. Catharines, Ontario Patricia Chura Divine Infant Parish Council Orleans, Ontario Theresa Collins St. Thomas of Villa Nova St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador Dianne Dunsford Our Lady of Perpetual Help Winnipeg, Manitoba Mabel Dwyer St. Thomas of Villa Nova St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador Sandra Foran Divine Infant Orleans, Ontario Natalie Grenier Divine Infant Orleans, Ontario June Handrigan St. Thomas of Villa Nova St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador Margaret Hickey St. Thomas of Villa Nova St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador Ruth Kennedy St. Julia St. Catharines, Ontario Madeline Kett Divine Infant Orleans, Ontario Dorothy Locke St. Thomas of Villa Nova St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador Louise Malloy Divine Infant Parish Council Orleans, Ontario Liz Martyniuk Our Lady of Perpetual Help Winnipeg, Manitoba Phyllis Matheson St. Anthony Daniel Sydney, Nova Scotia Betty Mulrooney Our Lady of Perpetual Help Châteauguay, Quebec Cecilia Oickle Divine Infant Parish Council Orleans, Ontario Eva Palencar St. Julia Parish Council St. Catharines, Ontario Margaret Ricciuto St. Julia Parish Council St. Catharines, Ontario Trudy Strowbridge St. Thomas of Villa Nova St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador


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Be League March Quiz

1. Who was the first pope in history to resign his office? 2. Who is the only person in history to be pope more than once? 3. In 1268, the longest conclave in history began. How long did it take? 4. Our new pope will become the _______#________ pope in the history of the church. 5. Who is the “official Papal shoemaker”, responsible for Pope Benedict XVI’s red shoes? BONUS:

Who is the Vatican’s tailor? 6. How many votes are required to elect the pope this year? 7. Which pope had the shortest reign in history at 13 days? 8. Which pope had the longest reign in history? 9. What was used to signal the election of a pope before white smoke was introduced in 1914? 10. Who was the last cardinal in history to be elected pope without being a bishop?

February Answers

1. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent for Roman Catholics. What is the first day of Lent in Eastern Catholic and Orthodox churches? (Clean Monday)

2. In Latin, Lent is referred to as quadragesima. What does this translate to? (Fortieth) 3. What is the Wednesday of Holy Week referred to as? What does it commemorate?

(Holy Wednesday or Spy Wednesday – the day Judas spied on Jesus in the garden and first conspired to betray him)

4. In the Middle Ages, what patriotic animal’s tail was eaten in Wales and Arctic regions during Lent because it “resembled a fish?” (beaver tail)

5. What did the Father call Jesus on the mountain? (My beloved Son) 6. Which three disciples went with Jesus to the mountain? (Peter, James and John) 7. The day before his arrest, Jesus and his disciples prayed at the Garden of Gethsemane.

What does Gethsemane mean? (Olive Press) 8. What is the original meaning of Lent? (Spring) 9. What feast day always occurs during Lent? (St. Joseph’s Feast) 10. What devotion has special place during Lent? (Station of the Cross)

Congratulations are sent to Maureen Brennan, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Council, Pembroke, British Columbia, first to correctly answer the February quiz.

Documents

“Christ(beside(me,(Christ(before(me,(Christ( behind(me