CWL convention addresses social justice issues

By Eva Arsenault

WINNIPEG — The 64th Annual Catholic Women’s League of Canada Manitoba Provincial Convention was held on June 2-3, hosted by the Winnipeg Diocesan Council and the St. James-Assiniboia Parish Council. The St. James-Assiniboia Council was formed in 1986 and consists of four parishes: St. Paul the Apostle, Blessed John XXIII, St. Charles and St. Ann’s.

St. Charles Church was the venue for the 110 delegates who attended the gathering. Janice Butler, chair of the convention committee, together with her 10-member team, worked for more than a year preparing for the event.

The convention began with a mass at St. Charles celebrated by Winnipeg Archbishop James Weisgerber. Among the special guests at the banquet were the archbishop and Betty Ann Brown Davidson, national president-elect and chair of organization for the Catholic Women’s League of Canada. In keeping with the theme of the convention, Women of Faith and Justice, Weisgerber reminded delegates that “faith calls our lives and our communities to work for justice.”

The entertainment for the evening was provided by Keewatin Otchitchak (Northern Crane) a group of traditional women singers, accompanied by the drum.

Jacqueline Nogier, Manitoba provincial president, said the convention “provides another opportunity to educate members on a range of topics.”

An effort is being made to schedule the three diocesan conventions on different weekends to allow members to attend more than just their own convention.

“This allows the women to be exposed to happenings in all areas of the province,” Nogier said.

The convention was an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of members of the league throughout the province. Janet Brunger, Winnipeg diocesan council president, said, “to each one of us, the little bit that we do is not much but when we multiply that little bit by many hands, many hours and many coins, it becomes an incredible gift.”

Mary-Margaret Patterson, chair of community life, reported on the multitude of ways members of the Catholic Women’s League are living the advice of Jesus: “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do unto me.”

Patterson said CWL members support numerous women’s shelters, halfway houses and crisis centres. “Hampers of food and household goods were gathered and delivered to many different venues, such as missions for street people, drop-in centres and inner-city community centres. Work parties visited several soup kitchens to serve and house clean. Infant formula, clothing and necessities were collected and provided to pregnancy support services and shelters for underprivileged women. In all this activity, the needs of the Aboriginal community were included in the decisions as to where the support was directed.”

One of the primary tasks of the CWL is to address social justice issues and ethical questions. The CWL seeks to influence legislative and administrative bodies at all levels to preserve the dignity of the human person. Politically, one of its major roles is to prepare resolutions which are representative of the beliefs of Catholic women and to lobby the government to act on those resolutions.

Four resolutions were presented this year by the Manitoba Provincial Council at the convention: improved living conditions for First Nations and Inuit communities; mandatory drug and/or alcohol rehabilitation in correctional facilities; Canadian Blood Services ID Number for The Catholic Women’s League of Canada; and expanded powers for inspection and enforcement of medicinal marijuana license provisions.