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