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8/28/2020 0 Comments

Summer Speaker Series - 5

2020 is the 100th anniversary of The Catholic Women’s League of Canada (CWL).  The CWL’s national convention/AGM was to be held in August 2020.  However, with the onset of the COVID19 virus restrictions, all levels (diocesan, provincial and national) of CWL conventions/AGMs were postponed.  The National Council of the CWL was proactive in using technology to engage several of the National convention speakers to give their presentations as webinars.  The webinars are called the Summer Speaker Series.  Well over 1,500 people from across Canada and from several other countries tuned in to the webinars.  Today, I share with you some of my notes from the fifth session.

The Catholic Women's League of Canada is a national service organization of women who are members of the Roman Catholic Church, who work together to promote Catholic values and to carry out volunteer and charitable work.
In the fifth session of the Summer Speaker Series, August 14 - National President and Chairperson of Laws, Anne-Marie Gorman spoke on "The League in 2020.”

Ms. Gorman thanked all the presenters of the Summer Speaker Series as well as her staff and executive at the National level for all their work over the past few months.  She reviewed CWL activities for the year 2020 and noted all the changes that took place due to COVID19 restrictions.  We operate under a prohibition or a silence regarding holding virtual meetings and holding elections electronically, so all annual meetings/AGMs were postponed to 2021.  The resolutions that were to be discussed at the 2020 Convention will be dealt with at the 2021 National Convention. 

National realizes that it has to consider changes to our Constitution and Bylaws (C & B) and to the National Manual of Policy and Procedures (the Manual) to allow us to deal with the situation when we cannot meet face-to-face as we are used to doing.  She reminded us that if we had changes that we would like to see take place in the C & B and in the Manual that those recommended changes are due to National by the end of August.  Any suggested changes would be discussed by a committee and vetted for pros and cons.  The National executive would make recommendations for approval, and proposed changes would be brought to convention in 2021.

Ms. Gorman noted that technology has been a gift to us during the pandemic restrictions allowing us to communicate more as provincial, National and implementation committees.  We have had more live streaming of masses, rosaries, webinars, and trainings re:  evangelization the use of technology.  She encouraged us to communicate with our members at the parish and diocesan levels virtually, by phone and in courtyards, fields, and parking lots as the restrictions ease.
​
She praised God for the power of women and their ability to react positively citing the Montreal 2020 National Planning Committee as an example.  She encourages us to continue to support each other, to continue to provide services, and to reflect on our situation.  She stated that women don’t know the meaning of the word ‘quit.’  She encouraged us to plant a tree for our 100th anniversary and to continue to support our voluntary funds:  Catholic Missions in Canada (CMIC), Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA), the CWL National Bursary, and the Cody Fund.  She noted that Catholic Missions in Canada is in dire need of contributions.  She reminded us that October 1 is the CWL Day of Prayer for Home Missions and that funds for the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition are still being collected.  We were encouraged to continue with the Pornography Hurts project using the postcards that are available through the League.  Send them to government officials making sure to ask them a question to ensure that you get a response from them. 

Ms. Gorman responded to questions raised by listeners: 
  • When asked about annual reporting, Ms. Gorman said that annual report/survey forms will be stream lined and will be sent out in the fall.
  • When asked about using webinars again, she answered, “maybe, probably.”
  • When asked about how many trees had been planted during our 100th anniversary, Gorman indicated that she didn’t know but would try to find out.  She said that the goal had been 100 but we had far surpassed that number.  This initiative will be continued in the year 2021.

To close her session, Ms. Gorman led us in the recitation of The League Prayer.

The League Prayer
We humbly pray You, O God our Father,
to bless the Catholic Women's League of Canada.
Bless our beloved country, our homes and families.
Send Your Holy Spirit upon us
to give light to our minds and strength to our wills
that we may know and fulfill
Your great law of charity.
Teach us to share with others
at home and abroad,
the good things You have given us.
This we ask through Our Lord Jesus Christ
and the intercession of our patroness,
Our Lady of Good Counsel.
AMEN

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8/28/2020 0 Comments

Summer Speaker Series - Session 4

2020 is the 100th anniversary of The Catholic Women’s League of Canada (CWL).  The CWL’s national convention/AGM was to be held in August 2020.  However, with the onset of the COVID19 virus restrictions, all levels of CWL conventions/AGMs were cancelled.  The National Council of the CWL was proactive in using technology to engage several of the National convention speakers to give their presentations as webinars.  The webinars are called the Summer Speaker Series.  Well over 1,500 people from across Canada and from several other countries tuned in to the webinars.  Today, I share with you some of my notes from the fourth session.

The Catholic Women's League of Canada is a national service organization of women who are members of the Roman Catholic Church, who work together to promote Catholic values and to carry out volunteer and charitable work. In 2020 the CWL has about 75,000 members in over 1,000 parish councils across Canada. The CWL is one of the largest women’s organizations in Canada promoting awareness and responding to political and social issues that affect all Canadians.  While today, approximately 75,000 women make up the CWL, the organization once boasted a membership of over 100,000 women.  For some years now, the national leadership team along with its members have been discerning the steady decline in membership and resistance of members to take on leadership roles.  Across Canada, many other non-profit groups and associations are facing the same membership crises.  In an attempt to stem the decline in membership and to fine tune the organization, the leadership team decided to plan strategically for the future.  A plan was unveiled in August 2018. 
In the fourth session of the Summer Speaker Series, August 14, 2020, Fran Lucas, National President-Elect and Chairperson of Organization spoke on the topic: "The League of the Future: Part III."

With a ‘Star Wars’ theme opening, Lucas reviewed the mission, the core principles and the purpose of the CWL.  The mission is “The Catholic Women's League of Canada calls its members to grow in faith, and to witness to the love of God through ministry and service.”  Its core purpose is to unite Catholic women to grow in faith, and to promote social justice through service to the church, Canada and the world.  Core values are:  faith – following Catholic teaching; service – local, national and international; and social justice – active involvement in society.
We were encouraged to pray the Prayer for Renewal developed by Sr. Susan Scott at all our council meetings. [See end of this article for copy of prayer.]  Ms. Lucas focused on Goal 4 – Addressing Critical Issues with help from the leads for this particular goal, Sharon Cieben and Lisa Henry.  The objectives are:
  1. To validate options in structure and meetings
  2. Participation / lack of engagement / disparity in engagement / competition for time
  3. Perception of the League / marketing / promotion
  4. Lack of training of members / resistance to taking on leadership roles
  5. Use of technology / communication methods and tools

Today’s message focused on Objective 2.  The strategy associated with this objective was:  G4.B1 – leave no member behind and affirm by making members feel welcomed, needed and wanted.  Ms. Cieben reported on the Welcome Program Toolkit which had been developed which will be released in September 2020.  The program is intended to let women know that ‘we’re glad’ they are with us whether newly registered members or long-time members.  It has a member information form and an orientation aspect educating members on our mission, values, resolutions, etc.  It includes a focus on companionship – how to be connected.  We were reminded of the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”  We want to go far.

Ms. Henry spoke on Goal 4:A1 – simplify procedures and reporting processes.  The Reorganization group is looking at the following actions:
  1. Reducing the number of standing committees from the eight we presently have (Community Life, Communications, Education and Health, Legislation, Organization, Resolutions, and Spiritual Development) to three which will be aligned with our core values of Faith, Service, and Social Justice.  This will be voted on by members through an instructed vote.
  2. Examine current levels of the League streamlining executive officers at all levels and creating distinctive roles for each level.  Again, this will be voted on by members through an instructed vote.
  3. Enhance the role of standing committee chairpersons from a reporting role to rotating the meeting program among them.

The group dealing with perception of the League / marketing / promotion has hired Clark Marketing and Communication which is working to:
  • Market The League as an association showcasing the strength of Catholic women, grounded in faith, ready and willing to act. G4.C2
  • Position The League as an organization for all Catholic women that encourages and supports their role and responsibility in the church and society.
  • Transform name, brand and image to reflect current trends and the envisioned future.

Some of the initiatives being worked on include:
      Building a foundation – having a new section on the CWL website dealing with social media and marketing contact with a uniform brand presence and a new social media program.
      Ten Storytelling vignettes and a 100th Anniversary video with achievements, milestones and resolutions that have had an impact on our society.
      Focus on connecting:  Why join?  If you only knew!  Progressive thinkers, positive images, and a one-stop shop for faith, social justice and service.


We were given a peek at what is coming up next:
Goal 2:  Increase members’ knowledge of Catholic social teaching – G2.A2 – Empower members by providing educational opportunities to learn more about Catholic social teaching.
Goal 3:  League Misconceptions – G3.A1 – Address misconceptions about The League.
Goal 3:  Encourage Diversity – G3.A2 – Embrace diverse cultures and ages.
Goals 3:  Toolkits – G3.B1 – Create ready-made adaptable toolkits for use in parishes.
Goal 3:  Spiritual Formation – G3.C3 – Focus on the spiritual and social aspects in councils.
Goal 1:  Increase the capacity and efficiency of leadership – G1.D3 – Capitalize on members’ willingness to take on short-term leadership responsibilities.
 
Ms. Lucas concluded with the comment:  “WE NEED YOU!”  She encouraged us to sign up to complete the surveys that are sent out, to participate in focus groups, to complete questionnaires, and to volunteer for working groups. [Sign up by e-mailing clerk@cwl.ca and stating your intention to participate.]

CWL Prayer for Renewal
God of new beginnings, ever faithful God, we thank you for your constant care for
the women of The Catholic Women’s League of Canada.
We have sought to serve you in faith by service to your people.
Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and with the help of Our Lady of Good Counsel,
we continue to discern Your call to seek justice and build Your Kingdom on earth each day.
We ask your guidance as we plan the evolution of The Catholic Women’s League of Canada.
Grant us wisdom, the grace of discernment, and strength.
May each of us open her heart and mind to your will and welcome the new life you bring to the League.
We ask this through Jesus, Your beloved Son and Our Lord, Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.  AMEN.  – Sr. Susan Scott, CAF


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8/19/2020 0 Comments

SUMMER SPEAKER SERIES - 3

2020 is the 100th anniversary of the The Catholic Women’s League of Canada (CWL).  The CWL’s national convention/AGM was to be held in August.  However, with the onset of the COVID-19 virus restrictions, all conventions/AGMs were cancelled.  The National Council of the CWL were proactive in using technology to engage several of the guest speakers for the National Convention to give their presentations as webinars.  The webinars are called the Summer Speaker Series.  Well over 1,500 people from across Canada and from several other countries tuned in to the webinars.  Today, I share with you some of my notes from the third session.

August 12 - Sr. Nuala Kenny, O.C., M.D., F.R.C.P.(C)  speaking on "Women and Healing Our Wounded Church"  "All elements of the crisis of clergy sexual abuse of children and the vulnerable are in stark contradiction to Jesus’ mission, words and witness. Jesus Himself demonstrated a profoundly counter-cultural approach to children and to women. Together, we will review the harms to victims, survivors and the entire Body of Christ from the history of abuse. All are called to healing the Church from this scandal. This reflection brings specific insights from women’s experience and research on vulnerability, abuse of power, care and relational moral thinking.” (Introduction to Sr. Kenny’s webinar, Summer Speaker Series, 2020)

Sr. Kenny’s goals for this session are:
  1. To review lessons from the Coronavid-19 pandemic
  2. To contemplate Jesus and women
  3. To review women’s experiences in the church and insights for renewal
  4. To review challenges and prognosis for conversion to ‘the mind of Christ’
 
Pope Francis said, “I see clearly that the thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful ... I see the church as a field hospital after battle.” (Oct 27, 2015) Dr. Kenny challenged each of us to enter into a topic that we may be afraid to approach.
 
In the past 100 years during which the Catholic Women’s League (CWL) has served God and Canada, we have dealt with and/or are dealing with global crises:
  • 1920s - Post WW1  and the Spanish Flu epidemic – a wounded state in the world and the church
  • 2020 COVID-19 –started from a wounded state in the church and in the world:
    • Ecological crisis
    • Economic inequity
    • Political divisions
    • Pandemic of racism
    • The clergy sexual abuse crisis
 
  1. Goal:   TO REVIEW LESSONS FROM COVID-19:
    1. Unprecedented vulnerability re:  health; the COVID-19 pandemic is leaving the vulnerable more vulnerable – refugees in refugee camps, people needing assistance to get food and medicine; women and children stuck at home in abusive situations; increase in domestic violence.
    2. Dependence on powerful others
    3. Women – the hidden heroines for the most vulnerable.  Also in the church, women are the hidden workers while men are the power and authority.
    4. Closed churches – a Eucharistic fast imposed on us – loss of usual conjugal supports.
    5. Sr. Kenny asks us to reflect on the challenges and blessings we’ve experienced during this pandemic.

  2. Goal To contemplate Jesus and Women:
    1. Jesus learned from his mother, Mary, a woman of modest means, a faithful Jew.
    2. Mary, along with Joseph, educated and formed the man that Jesus became.  Before and after the Temple experience, Jesus lived under the authority of his parents.
    3. Mary is mother and disciple:
      1. At the wedding at Cana, it is Mary who notices the embarrassment of the family when there is no more wine.  She directs Jesus even when Jesus hesitates.
      2. At the foot of the cross, Jesus provides an ‘advance care plan’ for his mother when he directs John to be Mary’s son, and Mary to be John’s mother.
      3. In Hebrew society, women remained at home and could not study the Torah; however, in the New Testament, counter-cultural interactions of Jesus with women and minorities take place:
        1. Jesus speaks with women and non-Jews in public.  The woman at the well has an intense, real, deep, spiritual conversation with Jesus, so intense that she goes and tells others about Jesus and brings them to Christ.
        2. Jesus learns from women.  The Canaanite woman with the sick daughter teaches Jesus that his ministry is not just for Jews but for all when she says, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' tables.” ... Matt 15: 21-28; Mark 7: 24-30.  Jesus is convinced.
        3. Jesus refuses to view women as unclean.  He treats outcasts and marginalized with respect and compassion.  He asks accusers of the woman taken in adultery to consider their own sins – “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw the first stone at her.”  John 8:7.
        4. Jesus has encounters with unnoticeable (not named).  He has compassion for silent sufferers such as Peter’s mother-in-law, the woman with the hemorrhage who touched his garment, the daughter of Jairus, and the son of a widow.
        5. Women are treated as disciples.  Jesus had many women with him who supported him – Mary of the story ‘Mary and Martha’ was a disciple.  Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, the apostle to the apostles.  She ventured out to the tomb when the men were afraid and in lock-down.
        6. Jesus’ interaction with children was also counter-cultural.  Jesus shares what he thinks about the abuse of children.  “And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.  If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Matt 18: 5-6

  3. Goal:  To review women’s and children’s experiences in the church and insights for renewal: 
    1. Sr. Kenny reflected on clergy abuse and the treatment of children and women in the church. She stated that sexual abuse happened early on in the church, first noted in one of the canons at the Council of Elvira (306)
    2. Public revelations in the 1970s forced recognition of the evil of clergy physical, emotional and sexual abuse of women and children.  Kenny notes that the church did not choose to do an examination of conscience; they were forced to.
    3. Pope Francis recognizes systemic and cultural issues in the church – the temptations and the diseases of leadership.
    4. Dr. Kenny speaks of the pathology in clergy sexual abuse – an abuse of power, trust and conscience – harming the vulnerable – profound harm and outright cover up – secrecy and denial to avoid scandal – bureaucratic responses regarding policies – failure to address systemic issues.
    5. Jesus and power:  “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.”  (Phil 2:6) Jesus assumes vulnerability for love of us and our use of power for others.  Jesus used power only to help people, never to oppress.
    6. Women’s experience with power:  the early church gathered in houses; women were a part of these gatherings.  By the 4th century, an imperial, monarchical, hierarchical, patriarchal, clerical and Euro-centric system existed with a sharp distinction between clergy and laity and where men owned their children and their wives.
    7. Pope Francis speaks on clericalism and abuse:  He has ordered that clergy “just say no to abuse... of power, conscience or any type.”  “Saying no to abuse means saying no with force to every form of clericalism”. (Sept. 9, 2019 Matters India)  “Clericalism whether postured by priests themselves or by lay persons... supports and helps to perpetuate many of the evils that we condemn today.”
    8. Women can help the healing process by breaching the silence; meaningful input is needed, requiring respectful listening, not judgmental rhetoric. Some think that ‘talking about abuses’ will only make things worse.  Priests especially have difficulty.
    9. Morality:
      1. Focus on sin-centred, confession-oriented with no attention to Scripture or relational consequences (i.e.) some clergy abused children but did not have sex with women and felt that they hadn’t broken their vow of celibacy; there was no attention to conscience or virtue, only focus on obedience to a vow.
      2. Dominance of sexual morality such as abortion, contraception; experience of heavy burdens especially for women
      3. Women’s experience in regards to sexuality: 
        1. ambivalence about the body and pleasure
        2. Vatican II renewal:  a personalist approach [all human beings deserve respect] to marriage and the role of sexuality with both unitive [capable of uniting] and procreative purposes. 

  4. Goal:  To review challenges and prognosis for conversion to ‘the mind of Christ’:
    1. Avoid tragedy, fatigue, burn-out and feelings of helplessness
    2. Break ongoing silence and denial with courageous, respectful dialogue
    3. Reject irreconcilable and polarizing responses (i.e.) some people want to go back to a powerful church for the wealthy, excluding women; some priests and bishops are returning to prehistoric practices such as celebrating in Latin, excluding women as readers and cantors.  Dr. Kenny says that this is not good.  She reminds us that we should not be asking ‘Who is the celebrant?’ when we want to know who the priest is leading the celebration.  She reminds us that we are all celebrants. 
    4. Pray for the grace of atonement; believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to make all things new.  She suggests that clericalism may lead to the death of priesthood.  She asks:  If you’re on a pedestal bleeding and crying, who is going to help you? 
    5. We must deal with the big personal issues of power including not taking women seriously, justice and equality between men and women in the church, and the need for honest, open conversation.

Reflection and Action - Making a Difference: 

Dr. Kenny asks:
  1. What do you see as the biggest personal challenges in healing the Church today?
  2. What resources and assistance would be of the most help to you?

​Prophetic Possibilities for the Church
(2014) a book by Dr. Nuala Kenney.  “The recognition of the importance of underlying systemic and cultural factors is not new. In 1989, following devastating revelations of child sexual abuse by Irish Christian brothers and diocesan clergy in St. John's, N.L., I (Dr. Kenny) participated in the lay-led Archdiocesan Commission of Inquiry into the Sexual Abuse of Children by Members of the Clergy. Its 1990 report summarized the available literature on the sexual abuse of children. In assessing why and how the abuse had occurred, the Commission concluded that no single cause accounts for the abuse but that a number of factors coincided to allow the abuse to occur. It identified six factors in urgent need of further exploration by Church leaders for their role: power, education, sexuality, support for priests, a management approach and avoidance of scandal.

Twenty-five years after Newfoundland and despite compelling research and experience, the hierarchy, with notable exceptions, is still unable or unwilling to acknowledge the systemic and cultural factors that have shaped and, at times, fostered the sexual abuse crisis. Why the moral blindness in failing to recognize the deeper issues of ecclesial sin and the denial of the pain and suffering inflicted on the whole Church? Agere sequitur esse is an old moral maxim. Action does indeed follow being, and Church leadership has responded to the global crisis with the same denial, minimization of harm and protection of image as in individual cases because of deeply enculturated attitudes and practices. Deep within a culture, a moral blindness can infect so that it becomes impossible to see and assess its dark side. This is when it is crucial to learn from others.”

 
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8/19/2020 0 Comments

SUMMER SPEAKER SERIES - 2

​2020 is the 100th anniversary of the The Catholic Women’s League of Canada (CWL).  The CWL’s national convention/AGM was to be held in August.  However, with the onset of the COVID19 virus restrictions, all conventions/AGMs were cancelled.  The National Council of the CWL were proactive in using  (www.vatican.vatechnology to engage several of the guest speakers for the National Convention to give their presentations as webinars.  The webinars were called the Summer Speaker Series.  Well over 1,500 people from across Canada and from several other countries tuned in to the webinars.  Today, I share with you some of my notes from the second session.

August 11th - Dr. Donna Orsuto, professor of spirituality at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy spoke to us from Rome on "Women Together Caring for our Common Home."  For more information on Dr. Orsuto, check the end of this article. 


Dr. Orsuto – Part I
 
Dr. Orsuto emphasized that we as women can implement Laudato Si’ (www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-frances). This encyclical, she believes, is more relevant now with the COVID19 pandemic than when it was released five years ago by Pope Francis.  Orsuto encourages us to focus on the messages in Laudato Si’.  She points out that Pope Francis is passing on Jesus’ message:  “You Lord are calling on us.”
 
Today is the Feast of St. Clare (1194 – 1253), the first woman to write a monastic rule for women.  For St. Clare, Orsuto says, “less was truly more.”
  • Clare recognized her own need to be nurtured while nurturing others.  Clare was immersed in a “culture of caring.”
  • Clare recognized the importance of learning to see and appreciate beauty – to praise God when seeing leafy trees.  If you don’t appreciate the beauty, it’s no surprise that you don’t care for the inhabitants of the earth, human and non-human.
  • Orsuto encourages us to ask St. Clare to intercede for us as we “care for our common home.”
 
Pope Francis, five years after his encyclical (June 14, 2020) released a book entitled Journeying Towards Care for Our Common Home:  Five Years After Laudato Si’ in which he presents challenging proposals for the practical implementation of his encyclical throughout the church and in the wider world.  Orsuto and the Pope believe that everything is connected.  Each specific crisis we face is a part of a single, complex, socio-environmental crisis that requires a true ecological conversion.
 
Orsuto refers to the Canticle of Creation (St. Francis of Assisi) which Pope Francis uses to open and close the encyclical, Laudato Si’.  Our common home is a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.  We have an intimate relationship with nature:
  • Our destructive action makes our earth less a home for all, not just for humans.
  • We’re always pilgrims on the journey.  We are strangers and should only carry what is essential.  We should receive everything as a gift.  We are passing through and have no rights or privileges.  We receive others’ generosity as God’s providence.
  • We must cherish earth so the next generation can journey.
 
Orsuto speaks of the methodology underlining Laudato Si’.  We must SEE, JUDGE and ACT. 
  • See what is happening.  Pay attention to what is happening to our common home.  Hear the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.
  • Judge what we can and should do.  Recognize our responsibility for the crisis.  We’re often self-centred.  We need to be converted.  “The external deserts in the world are growing, because the internal deserts have become so vast.”  (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, “Homily for the Solemn Inauguration of the Petrine Ministry”)
  • Act responsibly to care for all of creation in our homes as well as in the public forum.  The ecological crisis is a moral crisis.  What are we going to do about the crisis?  Everything is connected.  Our actions affect people and things in other parts of the world and future generations.  We must strengthen the conviction that we are “one single family,” and there is no room for ecological indifference.
 
Dr. Orsuto tells us, “Change your Lifestyle!”  Can I live without my air conditioner?  We must live our vocation to protect God’s handiwork.  This is intentional, not optional.  We must face our tendency to consume and embrace a lifestyle where ‘less is more.’  We must develop a deep enjoyment which is free from the obsession with what we have.  We must cherish each moment.  We need an ecological conversion, a community conversion.  Be connected with all creation.  Spend time in nature.  Be grateful for the gift of creation.  Repent as an individual and as a society of our sin against the environment.  Change our lifestyle.  “Live simply so that others may simply live.” (St. Elizabeth Ann Seton/Ghandi)  Read the pledge suggested by Pope Francis (www.livelaudatosi.org) and of the Global Catholic Climate Movement (www.catholicclimatecovenant.org/program/st-francis-pledge).  “I pledge to pray, live, and advocate Laudato Si’.”
  • Pray for and with creation – pray at a meeting, take group breaks outside, rediscover the garden, observe spiders, ants and insects creating mansions.  Organize a prayer service for the good of creation.
  • Live more simply:  our daily actions should include walking, biking or carpooling to work; they should include ecological practices such as composting, the 5 Rs:  refuse, reduce, reuse, re-purpose, and recycle.  We should take time to be with others, to listen to one another.  Veganism is good for the planet.  Consider solar power.  Drive within the speed limit for efficient consumption of fuel.  Use rainwater to water indoor and outdoor plants.  Along with other organizations, the Catholic Women’s League of Canada must consider its actions.  For example, conventions entice hundreds of people to travel by vehicle and by air.  This creates pollution.  We need to be open to different ways of meeting.  How necessary is it to meet physically?  How often do we need to meet physically?  We must discern the need.
  • Advocate to protect our common home:  We need to develop policies, working with other organizations and taking on ongoing advocacy initiatives.  In this global crisis, we must work together.
 
The pandemic has helped us to slow down.  We must sustain this ‘slowing down’ and remain together as family living a simple life even after the pandemic.  We can use Pope Francis as a model:  He walks the talk, taking personal responsibility for his actions. 
  
Dr. Orsuto – Part II
 
Women together can influence how Laudato Si’ is implemented in our homes, parishes and communities.
 
SEE:  Orsuto asks, “What have women done before?  Mary Ward in 1670 said, “And I hope in God it will be seen that women in time will do much.”  What are women doing now?  What’s the best way forward?  What are practical ways to act together?
 
Three women who put into action ‘care for our common home’:
  1.  St. Clare of Assisi – ‘less is more’ – you can be immensely happy with little.
  2. Catherine Doherty (Ekaterina Fyodorovna Kolyschkine de Hueck Doherty) – 1896 (Russia) – 1985 (Canada) – an advocate for the poor, Doherty founded Friendship House in Canada and in USA to offer food, Catholic education and companionship.  She founded the Madonna House Apostolate.  Her spirituality required that she live a sober, simple lifestyle.  She is known for her emphasis on the spirituality of the present moment:  the duty of the present moment is the duty of God.  She wrote on the concept of stewardship which enters into the nitty-gritty everydayness of our lives.  We must have good stewardship of our own hearts, our speech, our attention, our neighbours, brothers and sisters.
  3. Dorothy Day (1897 – 1980): a member of the Catholic Worker Movement; as a social activist, Day had a passion for justice and the cause of the oppressed; developed a newspaper for the working class; set up farms for people to work the land; performed works of mercy; she was a voice for the land; she wanted a land and craft-based society.  Her diaries are found in The Duty of Delight and her letters are found in All the Way to Heaven.
 
Orsuto feels that these three women were prophetic.  Our grandmothers, our mothers, teachers, catechists and parish workers also have shown us in their actions that ‘less is more.’  In the present, our young people like Greta Thunberg are witnesses of ‘care for our common home.’  We need dialogue between the generations.  The young are not in decision-making roles yet; the older generation is needed to make decisions.
 
Women have already taken initiative: 
  • Activities of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) – 2019 plenary session theme:  “Sowers of Prophetic Hope For the Planet.”  There is a global initiative of religious to implement Laudato Si’.
  • World Union of Catholic Women’s Organization (WUCWO) – https://wucwo.org/index.php/en/messages-resources/mensajes-de-la-presidenta-general/1484-monthly-message-June-2020: a healthy planet depends on us; personal conversion must be accompanied by pastoral and community conversion
  • Global Catholic Climate Movement is based on Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si.’
 
JUDGE/DISCERN:  How can women best implement Laudato Si?’  We need to be connected and co-responsible:
  1. Be Connected:  Cultivate communion; work together.  In our churches and in our communities, we’ll only have a lasting commitment if we work together.  African proverb:  “If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together.” (Ratan Tata)
  2. Be Co-responsible:  Recognize that we are responsible for the crisis and for carrying on the mission of the church.  Don’t sit around and wait for someone else to do this.  Be a full, conscious, active laity.  Pastoral responsibility needs to be recognized and encouraged.
 
ACT:  Where do we go from here?  We need to react as a human family, to pray together that with God’s help we can make a difference.  Dr. Orsuto encouraged us to say the Common Prayer for the Fifth Anniversary of Laudato Si’ available on the internet (laudatosiweek.orgwp-content/uploads/2020/04/LSW-Common-Prayer.pdf) and to continue to be inspired by Pope Francis. 
 
In closing, Dr. Orsuto shared a quote by Mahatma Ghandi, “We but mirror the world.  All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body.  If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change.  As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him.  This is the divine mystery supreme.  A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness.  We need not wait to see what others do.”
 
 
Originally from the United States, Dr. Orsuto lectures and gives retreats worldwide. She is the co-founder and director of The Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas in Rome and has authored various books and numerous articles in the area of spirituality.  Dr. Orsuto is active in ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. She currently serves as a consultor for the Congregation for Divine Worship and is a member of the Commission for Ecumenism and Dialogue of the Diocese of Rome. In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI named her a Dame of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of Saint Gregory the Great. 

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8/19/2020 0 Comments

Summer Speaker Series - 1

From Aug. 10 – 15, 2020, The National Council of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada was to host their 100th anniversary celebration of the League at its annual convention and AGM.  Because of pandemic restrictions, the convention was postponed to 2021 and guest speakers for the convention were recruited to present to thousands of members and interested people through a webinar series called Summer Speaker Series.  Today, I present to you my summary of our first speaker, Dr. Cory Andrew Labrecque, Associate Professor of Bioethics and Theological Ethics, University of Laval speaking on "Speak to the Earth and it Shall Teach You: On the Christian Vocation to Tend, Guard, and Heal."  For more information on Dr. Labrecque check the end of this article.  Summaries of the other webinars will be highlighted later this week.

"The Catholic Women's League of Canada's Summer Speaker Series
with Dr. Cory Andrew Labrecque.
 
Labrecque began with the quote:  “Rise!  Let us be on our way.” (Mark 14: 42)  These words were used by Jesus when Judas betrayed him to the authorities.  ‘Betray’ infers a position that allows the betrayer to treacherously place the victim in a harmful situation.  Labrecque believes that humankind has betrayed the earth.  However, he sees the words of the quote as an invitation to continue and to do better after we’ve stumbled or failed.  With the earth and with the poor, we must continue and do better. 

Dr. Labrecque spoke of the variety of pollutions and harsh realities that humankind has created:  industrial, air, water, agricultural, and land pollution; overpopulation; over-consumption; deforestation; resource depletion; widespread destruction of species; loss of biodiversity; and global climate change.  The encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ by Pope Francis says that our mother, earth, “groans in travail.”

Labrecque invited us to think about our own homes – Would I throw garbage throughout my home, leak chemicals there, put toxins in the drinking water or bulldoze all the grass and trees in my yard?  He asks us now to think of the earth as ‘our home,’ and he wonders why we would do all those things to ‘our home.’ 
Who is to blame?  Labrecque referred to an article called ‘The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis’ (1967) by Professor Lynn White, Jr.  White suggests that religion, particularly Christianity, is an important, and possibly the only factor in how human societies relate to the natural world.  It puts humans at the centre – the earth serves humankind; earth is considered valuable only because humans can use it.  At the end of his article, White writes:  “Saint Francis, proposed what he thought was an alternative Christian view of nature and man's relation to it; he tried to substitute the idea of the equality of all creatures, including man, for the idea of man's limitless rule of creation. He failed. Both our present science and our present technology are so tinctured with orthodox Christian arrogance toward nature that no solution for our ecologic crisis can be expected from them alone. Since the roots of our trouble are so largely religious, the remedy must also be essentially religious, whether we call it that or not. We must rethink and re-feel our nature and destiny. The profoundly religious, but heretical, sense of the primitive Franciscans for the spiritual autonomy of all parts of nature may point a direction. I propose Francis as a patron saint for ecologists.”

Labrecque presented the two accounts of Genesis: the first account involved the creation of the universe which Labrecque presents in a unique way.
  
Environment – days one to four
1st Day:  Light
2nd day:  Sky and Sea
3rd day:  Dry Land
4th day:  Vegetation


Inhabitants - corresponding to the first four days are found in days five to eight.
5th day:  Sun, Moon and Stars
6th day:  Birds and Fish

7th day:  Animals

8th day:  Humans

God saw everything, and it was very good.  He didn’t just see humans; all of creation was good.

Fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over fish, bird, every living thing, and every green plant.  Dominion can be despotism where we exploit and toss aside things or it can be stewardship where we look after everything because everything is very good.  God asks us to be stewards, not despots.

God’s creation of humans is one event among many events of creation.  We were created in God’s image, and we need to be able to see that “everything” that God created was very good, not just us.  Don’t be deluded that “the land is mine”; it is God’s and he wants balance and harmony

There is a Sabbath, Shabbat (Jewish), a day of rest, for everything, not just for humans.  Environmental rest is needed - 7th day, 7th year, 50th year (the year after 7 sets of 7 years.)  We have stopped practicing this time of rest.  Perhaps this pandemic we are dealing with today is the earth crying out for a time of environmental rest.  Since the start of the pandemic, air pollution and toxic emissions have decreased.  Carbon dioxide has been cut down.

Labrecque moved on to the Second Creation:  In the Garden of Eden, Adam was given the authority and responsibility to name the animals; Adam and Eve were commissioned to tend and to till.  Their disobedience caused a strain between humankind and the earth.  Labrecque points out that the main character in this story is the “garden” not humankind.  Humankind was created from the earth, for the earth.

There are several environmental themes in Catholic Christian Tradition:
  • God as Creator and Author – unity in all creation; oneness of God
  • Emphasis on the goodness of creation
  • Nature is not divine; it worships the creator.  Canticle of Daniel 3:57-82   Not just humankind praise God – sun, moon, shower, dew, fire, heat, ice, snow, wind, stars...
  • Value is given to the physical/material
  • Humans were created from dust – we are a part of nature with a special role and responsibility.
  • Dominion is not equal to domination; dominion is stewardship.  Tending and tilling is part of our Christian identity.
  • God has a penchant for the poor and vulnerable.  Nature/the environment is the new poor.  We must look at the Eco-crisis as a question of justice for the poor and vulnerable (ie) Climate change is being looked at as a civil rights’ issue...causing asthma in children, etc.

In his encyclical, 'Laudato Si’ (2015), Pope Francis refers to compulsive consumerism, tyrannical anthropocentrism, a throwaway culture that finds it easy to quickly discard and replace people and things, the existence of an intimate relationship between the poor and the fragility of the planet, duty towards nature as an essential part of faith.  He reminds us that no matter who is to blame, the earth belongs to God.  Labrecque left us with several questions to ponder and to act on:
 
Questions to think about: 
What are the challenges/obstacles for people?  
Does care for creation lead to nature worship? 
How does making reference to ‘the environment’ as ‘creation’ impact the way we approach the issues at hand? 
How are we called to act?
​

Dr. Labrecque praised the Catholic Women’s League of Canada for their work on social justice issues through their resolutions.  He encouraged The League to continue to “Rise!  Let us be on our way.” 
 
About Dr. Cory Andrew Labrecque, Ph.D., is an associate professor of bioethics and theological ethics, and the inaugural chairperson of educational leadership in the ethics of life at the faculty of theology and religious studies at the University of Laval in Quebec City, where he also directs the program in applied ethics. Previously, he served as the Raymond F. Schinazi Scholar in bioethics and religious thought, and the director of the graduate program in bioethics at the Center for Ethics at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.  He earned a bachelor of science in anatomy and cell biology, a master of arts in religious studies with a specialization in bioethics, and a doctorate in religious ethics at McGill University in Montreal. Dr. Labrecque’s teaching and research examine how the Abrahamic religions—with a focus on the Roman Catholic tradition—approach ethical issues in medicine, biotechnology and the environment. He is especially interested in ethical issues at the end of life and understandings of human personhood. He was recently appointed vice-president of the National Committee for Ethics and Ageing by the province of Quebec’s minister for seniors and was recently named corresponding member of the Pontifical Academy for Life.


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    Hi! My name is Fr. Doug Jeffrey, OMI and I am the pastor of the Meadow Lake Cluster.  I serve the faith communities of Our Lady of the Smile, Waterhen, St. Jude's, Green Lake and Our Lady of Peace, Meadow Lake. I arrived in the cluster on August 15th, 2019. You can see more information about me on the home page!

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