Catholic Women’s League holds 96th annual event in Charlottetown

Catholic women from across Prince Edward Island attended the Catholic Women’s League (CWL) 96th annual provincial convention at the Rodd Royalty in Charlottetown the first weekend in May.

Following some welcome and introductory comments/introductions by president Irene Gallant, a ceremony entitled the Crowning of Mary was held.

Father Brian MacDougall, spiritual adviser, spoke about the theme “Inspired by the Spirit, Women respond to God’s Call”.

The first guest speaker was Sr. Phyllis Gallant, a retired teacher and association co-ordinator for the CND community for the Maritime provinces.

Referring to the convention theme, Gallant focused on the Holy Spirit and encouraged everyone to share stories with children and grandchildren of how God has helped people in their lives.

Life member Judy Lewis talked about the Catholic Women’s Leadership Foundation which was established in 2014. Fourteen have been selected by the foundation for the first certificate program in Catholic Women’s Leadership.

The evening ended with a spiritual exercise and a social time, with cake and refreshments being served.

Saturday morning, Fr. Brian MacDougall, during the spiritual opening, talked about the rosary, particularly the luminous mysteries.

Peter Mutch from Catholic Family Services Bureau updated the members on the special services provided by the bureau.

The business session began with members of the executive giving highlights from their annual reports.

National president Margaret Ann Jacobs conducted an interactive presentation on strategic planning. She defined planning strategically as “a process for knowledge-based decisionmaking that aligns an organization’s activities with its purposes, values, goals and visions of the future”. Members reviewed the draft strategic plan which is designed to move the CWL into the future.

At noon time, a banquet was held with head table guests Bishop Richard Greco, Knights of Columbus state deputy Jazz Poirier and his wife, Yvonne Jacobs, and women representatives from the Anglican, Presbyterian and United churches.

The afternoon session opened with a spiritual program, the Celebration of 2017 deceased CWL members. Individual memorial cards were presented to councils whose members had passed away throughout the past year.

A donation will be given to Catholic Family Services as a living memorial for all the deceased CWL members.

Dr. Heather Keizer, chief of Mental Health and Addictions for Health P.E.I., spoke about healthy boundaries and healthy relationships.

Dr. Keizer encouraged members to do several things for healthy relationships: to evaluate self, values and what is wanted, set communication priorities, prepare and set intensity and practise communication with mindful empathy.

Life member Marg Fitzpatrick entertained the members with stories from her collection.

Proceeds from the mass collection will be given to Catholic missions in Canada.

Anderson House will receive the funds amassed from the gift bag sale of tickets.

MacDougall was the celebrant of the mass and installed the new provincial executive.

The Mormon church on Friday will celebrate the 40th anniversary of reversing its ban on black people serving in the lay priesthood, going on missions or getting married in temples, rekindling debate about one of the faith’s most sensitive topics.

The number of black Mormons has grown but still only accounts for an estimated 6 per cent of 16 million worldwide members. Not one serves in the highest levels of global leadership.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has worked to improve race relations, including calling out white supremacy and launching a new formal alliance with the NAACP, but some black Mormons and scholars say discriminatory opinions linger in some congregations from a ban rooted in a belief that black skin was a curse.

In a 2013 essay , the church disavowed the reasons behind the ban and condemned all racism, saying the prohibition came during an era of great racial divide that influenced early church teachings. Blacks were always allowed to be members, but the nearly century-long ban kept them from participating in many important rituals.

Scholars said the essay included the church’s most comprehensive explanation for the ban and its 1978 reversal, which leaders say came from a revelation from God.

But it didn’t include an apology,