ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD CWL NEWSLETTER JUNE 2017 1
Table of Contents 94th Diocesan Convention 12 A Visit From Jesus 7 Calendar of Events 8 Christmas Bazaar 2009-2016 10 Christmas Bazaar Craft Preparation 8 Chuckles, Wits & Laughs 9 Diocesan 2017 Retreat Weekend 14 Hellooo, I m Back! 5 Important Links 2 League Development Day 8 OnGoing Activities 8 PaintNite 14 Past & Present Executive 13 Photos 11 Prayer Shawl Ministry 9 Our Lady of Good Council. Pray for Us. Rita s Remarks 3 Spiritual Direction 4 We Celebrate! 6 Welcome to New Members 6 Important Links: CWL National: https://www.cwl.ca CWL Provincial: http://www.cwl.on.ca CWL Diocesan: http://www.ottawa.cwl.on.ca CWL Parish:http: http//www.annunciation-ottawa.org/catholic-womens-league Editor: Jane Prini (Communications Chair) Proofreading: Michèle Hundertmark, Rita Lemay Production: Rita Lemay (President) AOLP CWL Newsletter 6/2017 2
From Our President: Rita s Remarks Our Lady of Good Council Feast Day Memorial I am humbled and honoured to take on the role of President of our parish CWL Council. The Lord is guiding me on this wonderful journey with you, my sisters in Christ. My hope is that this journey will be a journey of empowerment. Together we will see some of our sisters take a leading role in the different ministries they have chosen. We will build a strong group that is responding to God s calling. We will learn from each other. We will use our talents, lend a hand to each other, share new ideas, and our enthusiasm, support each other and grow both spiritually and socially. All this with the guidance of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, through the intercession of Our Lady of Good Council. Ottawa Diocesan Convention April 2017 As you read the newsletter and see all that your sisters have accomplished I hope that you will continue to follow our theme: Inspired by the Spirit - Women Respond to God s Call. Blessings, Rita Lemay New Diocesan Pres.-Elect: Lynn Lavictoire and new Diocesan President: Onagh Dooley AOLP CWL Newsletter 6/2017 3
Spiritual Direction - Fr. Dennis Hayes CC My Dear Sisters in Christ, This is truly a special Marian Year! In 2017 we r e m e m b e r t h e o n e - hundredth anniversary of our Blessed Mother s apparitions to the three children of Fatima, Portugal in 1917. In order to respond more fervently to the message of Fatima we recently consecrated ourselves as a parish to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at the 9:00am Saturday Mass this past May 13 th. We will also begin celebrating Mass in our parish on every First Saturday from this month of May forward. On every one of these First Saturdays we will make available the First Saturday devotions requested by our Blessed Mother as part of the message of Fatima. This year also marked a very important Marian event at Blessed Sacrament Parish, one of our Companions of the Cross sister parishes situated in the Glebe area of Ottawa. This milestone event marked the return and installation of the Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of the Cape Queen of Canada at Blessed Sacrament. This, is the same pilgrim statue that was venerated and processed through the streets of Ottawa during the 1947 Marian Congress at Lansdowne Park 70 years ago. To mark the 70 th Anniversary of the Congress and to pray for the healing of our beloved country Canada in this its 150 th Anniversary year, Blessed Sacrament will host a special week of devotions and celebrations (June 17 th -23 rd ) to renew the graces that were so evident at the original Ottawa 1947 Marian Congress. I do hope next month in June that we will be able to join up with our brothers and sisters at Blessed Sacrament for some of these wonderful faith filled evenings of prayer and celebration. Yours in Jesus & Mary, Fr. Dennis Marian Congress 70th Anniversary: June 17-23,2017 Sat. June 17th 7:00 p.m. Anniversary opening Eucharistic Adoration followed by parish social Sun. June 18th, 10:00 AM Corpus Christi procession, Holy Mass followed by a parish BBQ featuring the 1947 MC favourite food - Hot Dogs. Monday, June 19th, 7:00 PM Recitation of the Holy Rosary for Canada. see www.blessedsacrament.ca for times Tuesday, June 20th, 7:30 PM Guest Speaker: Fr. Pierre-Olivier Tremblay, OMI, Rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Cape. Recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet for Canada. Note - Holy Mass 6:30 PM Wednesday, June 21st, 7:00 PM Thanksgiving Prayer and Praise evening. Visit Our Lady of the Cape between 9:30 AM & 4:00 PM Thursday, June 22nd, 7:00 PM June 1947 Marian Congress Documentary Screening. Marian Consecration Prayer. Parish social. Friday, June 23rd, 7:00 PM Way of the Cross for Canada. Begin Novena for the healing of Canada. Saturday, July 1st, 4:30 PM Special Mass for the healing of Canada. Reconsecration of Canada across the country. Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of the Cape installed at Blessed Sacrament Parish, 194 Fourth Avenue, Ottawa Mother s Day, May 14, 2017 AOLP CWL Newsletter 6/2017 4
Hellooo I m Back! by Michèle Hundertmark President Elect Where did the winter go? Well some may have spent it down south, me, I spent it with the outstanding doctors and nurses at the General Hospital and at the Ottawa Heart Institute. It s a long story most of you know, but suffice it to say, I m here due to our amazing health care system. But that s not what I want to tell you; I want to tell you what I discovered You know how people say, "I ll pray for you and you graciously say, Thank you, I d really appreciate that. Inside I would think things like, will they remember? How much good will that do? Will God listen? Don t bother I have been sceptical to say the least and I am ashamed to say that I have disregarded intercessory prayer as valid or even helpful. Just call me Thomas. Was it because I didn t feel I was worthy of their prayers or that God wouldn't listen to their prayers? Was it because I was afraid God wouldn t answer their prayers? That was probably more like it. But something happened in those five weeks in our health care system, I did NOT experience any anxiety, hopelessness, anger or fear. Now my husband, family and friends did, but I didn t. What was wrong with me? I was peaceful most of the time and if I was anxious it was about the date of the surgery, when were they going to fit me in, not the surgery itself. Was I naïve? I don t like to think so. But I had an overwhelming feeling I wasn t alone. I always felt wrapped in a blanket of calm. How can I explain this calm except to say it must have been because of prayer. What else could it have been? Prayers from family: my immediate family, from my CWL sisters, from my parish community, from my neighbours, from my friends, from people I didn t expect. God united family and friends to weave a blanket of love and calm to surround me and heal me and my family through intercessory prayer. Don t we have an awesome God? How do you feel about intercessory prayer? Do you feel like you re not good enough? Are you sceptical about it s advantages? Do you feel like you don t want anyone to know your business and that you re doing just fine thank you very much and you don t need any prayers? Well you sound like me, like I was. We all need prayer now and then but our pride (which is also a deadly sin, for good reason, btw) gets in the way and we won t let people pray for us which is right where Satan wants us to stay. God loves a contrite heart and knows what we need at all times. His peace is there for the asking. If you can t ask Him, ask Our Blessed Mother Mary, He will never say no to Her. Your prayers will be heard when She asks. She has a way with the Father. So, after five weeks of being in the hospital, I got a better heart, I learned that intercessory prayer works, when I allowed my pride to be pushed aside and now I m trying to hear what God wants me to do, not what I want to do for God. Thank you from the bottom of my new heart for all your prayers, Your sister in Christ, Michèle Hundertmark AOLP CWL Newsletter 6/2017 5
We Celebrate Each Other The afternoon of Sunday, May 14, 2017 several couples from our parish celebrated significant wedding anniversaries at the Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass in Notre Dame Cathedral, with Arch-Bishop Terrance Prendergast presiding. Congratulations to our CWL sisters and their husbands. You are an inspiration for us all. Welcome to New 2017 Members Carmen Buzzell Natalie Millan Edith & Dick Mockler - 65th Janet & Ken Warren - 40th Monica de Romer & Richard Brisland.- 30th Cynthia & Scott Millan 25th Rosanne & Eric Kirshner - 25th AOLP CWL Newsletter 6/2017 6
A Visit From Jesus by Liz Gauthier Often one person s testimony inspires others to live more intentionally as missionary disciples of Jesus Christ. This witness covers #6 of the Object of the League. (To recognize the human dignity of all people everywhere) Editor. Monday is my day to work in a huge antique store in the downtown of Ottawa. As a senior, I am on a fixed income so I enjoy the extra dollars Mondays brings me. A few Mondays ago, I had enough bus fare to get me to my work place, but I worried about having enough for my return fare. At around three in the afternoon, I checked my return fare and was very, very short. Interrupted by customers and busy throughout the day, I forgot my concerns. That particular Monday had been a very warm, sunny day, so I had left the front door of the store wide open and was cleaning furniture very near this sunny entrance, when I noticed and greeted a slightly intoxicated man who was walking up the pathway to the store. He greeted me with a hopeful question, asking if there existed a shortcut through the store to the streets behind. With the utmost gentleness and effort to maintain the mans dignity, recognizing his condition, I assured him no such shortcut existed and that he would have to walk all the way around. He needed me to repeat this dialogue several times, as around meant a longer journey for him and therefore was a disappointing option. As he began to leave, he stumbled and dropped his jacket, dispersing a handful of coins on the walk - perhaps coins that had earlier been panhandled. The man bent over to pick them up, but collecting them all was no longer as important to him. He stood up and grunted, "I am tired of bending over, the rest is for you." I waited till he was well on his way and out of sight. I was in awe. As I collected the coins, I realized that there was more there than I needed for my bus fare. I believe Jesus visited me this day bringing me bus fare, his disguise that of an intoxicated man. AOLP CWL Newsletter 6/2017 7
Bazaar Crafts Preparation by Cheryl Bradley In preparation for our Christmas Bazaar next November, it was suggested that we create a monthly craft project. This way with several of our sisters helping throughout the year, we would have a larger selection of items to offer the patrons of our bazaar. We began in January by featuring knitted and crocheted projects but added sewing in February when several of our non-knitters made a request to include sewn items. So far these are the month's initiatives: January..toques & hats February scarves & cowls + microwave potato bags March..mittens & fingerless gloves + adult bibs April.. slippers + children s craft aprons May dishcloths + tea cozies In June, those interested will head off with bags of patterns and materials to get through the summer months! This undertaking has been extremely well-received by our members and has gone well beyond the Craft Team's initial expectations. We are truly grateful to those who have donated their time and talents to produce so many beautiful items. We look forward to our largest fund-raiser of the year with great anticipation, not only for the joy it brings on Bazaar day but for the joy it brings all those who will be helped in the months that follow. God bless you all for your amazing efforts! Cheryl s little elves with some of the crafts June 17, 2017 September 13, 2017 September 19, 2017 October 11, 2017 November 8, 2017 Calendar of Events Paint Afternoon Fundraiser Ongoing Events CWL General Meeting Alpha begins again CWL General Meeting CWL General Meeting December 1-3, 2017 Ottawa Diocesan Retreat (see back page for details and to register early) Your Executive meets every 1st Wednesday of the month, September to June. Come and join us each month for our General Meeting and for fellowship. Typically we meet the 2nd Wednesday of the month in the parish hall from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Watch the parish bulletin for reminders and any possible changes. The December meeting is a social. Plan to attend. Invite a friend who are considering being a member. Show her how much fun we have. AOLP CWL Newsletter 6/2017 8
Prayer Shawl Ministry by Sharen Reynaert We began in June 2007 under the leadership of Morlene Amyot to promote community building through knitting and crocheting shawls for reasons other than those covered by Victoria Quilts. Through prayer and quiet time, spirituality is incorporated during the making of the shawls. It is a spiritual practice, which embodies our thoughts and prayers for the recipient. We create shawls for consolation or celebration. They are gifts freely given in unconditional love. These shawls are made in prayer, for prayer, and are passed on hand-tohand and heart-to-heart. We coordinate with the Baptismal team to get the names of first time mothers who are having their babies baptized in our parish. We also coordinate with the Pastoral Care Team to get names of sick and bereaved parishioners. The bulletin has a phone number that anyone can call to have a shawl delivered to anyone in need. The parish priests can give names to us as well. Some of our shawls have been mailed out west, down east, south of the border and one even went to Russia. This ministry is open to all parishioners, even those who do not knit or crochet are welcome to join us and we will teach them how. As of the fall of 2009, Sharen Reynaert has been the coordinator of this ministry. As such, she does the scheduling for the year and coordinates it with the parish office, organizes materials and notifies members of the monthly meeting. We have 16 active members. All members are involved in the various prayers throughout our meetings, in the entry of shawls in our Registry, preparation of the cards and gift bags to put our shawls in and hospitality responsibilities. Both Fr. Yves & Fr. Dennis are members too, as one or the other comes monthly and blesses the shawls before we send them on their way. We meet the second Thursday of each month from September to June inclusive. We meet in the Parish Hall from 1:00 until 3:00. Around 2:00, one of our priests comes to bless the shawls that we have made in the past month. Our Shawl Registry is updated at each meeting with the name of the crafter, the person who received it, the date it was given and a number is assigned to each shawl that has been made. Monthly agendas and activities are recorded by the coordinator and kept in a binder for anyone s perusal. On June 9, 2016, we broke the 1000th. prayer shawl mark. As of last Thurs. April 6, we have made 1086 prayer shawls! Chuckles, Wits & Laughs President, Rita prayed for a way to install humour in our monthly meeting. She was awaken in the middle of the night with Chuckles, Wits & Laughs (CWL). Now at the monthly meetings, a humorous quote or cartoon is shared with the ladies. Here are a few examples: I DANCED LIKE NO ONE WAS WATCHING, BUT SOMEONE WAS WATCHING AND HE THOUGHT I WAS HAVING A SEIZURE AND CALLED AN AMBULANCE! AOLP CWL Newsletter 6/2017 9
Christmas Bazaar Evolution 2009-2016 by Sharen Reynaert 2009.In mid-nov., President, Nancy Skipper sends out urgent plea for a bazaar convener or it will not happen. Newly retired Sharen takes this on. The Christmas Bazaar takes place within 3 weeks, Dec 3 2009. Bake, Craft, Raffle and Tea Room areas were in the hall, the White Elephant area was in the Annex, and the Babysitting area was set up in Rm. 25 The bake tables had been set up in the middle of the room so we kept to that floor plan, the Crafts were set up on the south wall, the Raffle at the west end and the Tea Room at the east end, we made tourtieres & fruit pies 2010 same floor plan, Raffle added a 50/50 draw, Toonie Surprise Bags were added to the end of the craft tables and we made tourtieres & fruit pies, froze them (unbaked) and put baking instructions on the top of each box of pie 2011 the Bazaar was on the third Sat. in Nov., after looking at other Bazaar dates in our dioceses, and so our yearly regulars could count on us, that date would continue to be our Bazaar date from this time forward (we are getting known in the area as a great Bazaar), babysitting was discontinued as we needed Rm. 25 for collection and preparation of baked goods 2012 a higher priced New-to-You area in the hall, to add a more overall attractive look to the hall replaced the less expensive White Elephant area from the Annex (difficult to clear the space in time for the 5:00 mass). Only tourtieres were made since they have been our most popular Bake sale item 2013 added Greeters in the Narthex & t h e s a l e o f A d v e n t c a n d l e s t o Membership table 2014 - we used a new floor plan to facilitate traffic flow through the hall. The Bake area was moved to the south wall by the kitchen for easy access to the pies in the freezer, and to encourage patrons to look at the rest of the Bazaar areas and we tried a Silent Auction table with 4 items, started Craft Days, ordered large Sandwich Board Sign to put out in front of Church, inventory of decorations was compiled 2015 since there was no volunteer to chair the Raffle, a Silent Auction table with 10 items was set up in it s place on the west wall 2016 used same floor plan since 2014, and set up as in 2016 Still smiling after making 175+ pies Nov 11,2016 AOLP CWL Newsletter 6/2017 10
Christmas Bazaar Volunteers get ready to welcome patrons - November 19, 2016 Tea Room Guest & Volunteers Bazaar Tea Room Guests catching up after the general meeting - May 2017 CWL make Mrs. Dool s Sweet & Sour Beef for an ALPHA night at Annunciation Spring 2017 AOLP CWL Newsletter 6/2017 11
94th Ottawa Diocesan Convention April 29, 2017 by Jane Prini Nine from this council attended the Diocesan Convention Saturday, April 29, 2017. Father Dennis joined us for the banquet. It was a day filled with sharing of information between councils, laughter, song, prayer, the blessing of the 80+ lap blanket/shawls each council contributed, the passing of a Resolution, and the elections of the new Diocesan Officers. The Resolution presented by Holy Spirit Parish Council concerned the full implementation of the Supreme Court s Decision (1999) for Indigenous Women Offenders. It urges judges to use what is called a Gladue Report for each offender. This report, that is typically 30 pages long, details the extenuating circumstances of the offender s life which the judge then uses to determine affective and often alternatives to incarceration. An example would be Healing Lodges with Elders. Our guest speaker was Ann Shore. She spoke passionately of the Mission Possible. We are each called, gifted and sent by our Creator God to be His hands, feet and voice in our environments. We are sent out but God never abandons us. He thirsts to be in relationship with each one of us. She encouraged us to look with the eyes of faith for God s blessings moment by moment. She told stories of how she missed seeing or being that blessing and stories of how she was successful. She encouraged us to let God see us so we can see Him without condition and to reach out to others with that knowledge to make God visible to others. They need to see the glow of Christ in us, and we need to allow them to see Christ through us. She reminded us that we might be the only gospel (the 5th Gospel) that people read rather than Matthew, Mark, Luke or John s Gospel s. She encouraged us to examine our day each night, looking for times when we did see God s blessings and then reflect on those times when we might have missed them, resolving to do better. We have a new Diocesan Council of Officers: President: Onagh Dooley President-Elect: Lynn Lavictoire First Vice President: Rosanne Nadon Second Vice President: Sandra Blais Secretary: Suzie Noaro Treasurer: Diana Baines Past President: Joanna Sisk Standing Committee Chairs: Grace Buchmayer, Nancy Grimshaw, Dyann MacDonald Our Lady Crowned in Roses with lap quilts/ shawls from parishes present. 80+ lap quilts/shawls from CWL parishes The Banquet and those who attended AOLP CWL Newsletter 6/2017 12
So Long, Farewell 2014-2016 Executive Great Job Ladies Katherine LeLievre, Annie Provick, Rita Lemay, Janet Warren, Jackie Cuthill, Donna de la Bourdonnaye, June Thibault (front) Meet Your New Parish CWL Executive January 2017 - December 2018 At the December 2016 General Meeting the new CWL Executive was elected with their term beginning January 2017 until December 2018. We have a full Executive Council. Those returning to positions are: Rita Lemay, Annie Provick, and June Thibault and Fr. Dennis. Those who have experience as executive from other years of service are: Michele Hundertmark, Bonnie Lalonde, Lynn Leduc, and Jane Prini. New to serving in this way are: Paule Balanaser, Suzanne Langlois, Donna Martin, and Adelaide Jean-Pierre. Their bios are on the CWL bulletin board in the parish hall. Rita Lemay Michele Hundertmark Jane Prini Annie Provick President Pres.-Elect/Organization V.P./Communications Treasurer Paule Balanaser Donna Martin Adelaide Jean-Pierre Bonnie Lalonde Secretary Spiritual Development Christian Family Life Community Life Lynn Leduc Suzanne Langlois June Thibault Fr. Dennis Hayes Health & Education Legislation/Resolution Past-President Spiritual Advisor AOLP CWL Newsletter 6/2017 13
You re Invited: PaintNite (Afternoon) Fundraiser Hosted by: Annunciation of the Lord CWL Where: Annunciation of the Lord Parish Hall 2414 Ogilvie Rd, Gloucester, ON K1J 7N5 When: Saturday, June 17, 2017, Time: Cost: How: 12:30-2:30 p.m. $45.00 + taxes To Register www.paintnite.com/events/_1174361 A local artist will assist and inspire us - all while we socialize. We'll end up painting fond memories and a priceless Walk in the Park masterpiece. No art experience needed! Invite your family, friends and neighbours to join you for a fun afternoon get together and get painting. Deadline to register: June 16, 2017 Any questions? Contact: Rita Lemay - jrlemay@rogers.com or 613-741-7102. The Catholic Women s League of Canada Ottawa Diocesan Retreat 2017 Friday evening December 1 - Sunday December 3, 2017 Women Responding To God s Call A wonderful opportunity to take time, to be still, and know God. Time for prayer, sharing, input, silence, and fun Where: Maison Notre Dame de la Providence Retreat Centre 1754 St. Joseph Blvd., Orleans, On Facilitators: Sister Linda McIsaac, csj & Anna Tremblay Cost: $225.00 (2 night s private room with shared washrooms, meals, snacks) Contact: Rosanne Nadon (rosannenadon@rogers.com) Only 60 spaces. Do not be disappointed, register early. AOLP CWL Newsletter 6/2017 14