The Canadian League
Opening the Door to Christ: A New Vision - An Old Heritage
Author: Fr. Roger W. Formosi

Dear League members,

Catholic Missions in Canada will reach its hundredth year anniversary in 2008, only seven years away. As we begin this seven-year journey, we are propelled forward by the statement of Pope John Paul II that, "... we are entering into a 'springtime of faith'."

A tangible enactment of this glorious promise is our partnership with The Catholic Women's League of Canada in a national effort that you have named The Open Door. It is fitting that you, the women of The Catholic Women's League of Canada, partner us on this journey. Our formations have shared roots!

The following extract from our chronicled history will show you how powerfully you, as women, have contributed to the spiritual development of our Canadian people. Early in the twentieth century, you saw the need and you formed to take action. At this time, we were known as The Catholic Church Extension Society of Canada.

An old heritage

Historian Mark McGowan relates, "In 1910, perhaps the most encouraging and productive effort by The Catholic Church Extension Society of Canada was launched. Inspired by the need to serve the church and the Ukrainian Catholics of the west, the Catholic Ladies of Edmonton and Toronto formed the Women's Auxiliary of The Catholic Church Extension Society of Canada. The Auxiliary's weekly column in the Register-Extension asserted, 'We cannot follow them (missionaries) to minister to them, we can do so better from our homes ... to aid in the establishment of God's Kingdom'."

The immense success of the Auxiliary stimulated the establishment of more councils. By 1913, the organization claimed 420 members and another 124 on the unofficial roll.

The labours of the Women's Auxiliary were nothing short of astounding. Priests, prelates and missionaries took notice of their selfless efforts. The then president of The Catholic Church Extension Society of Canada, Father Alfred Burke, exclaimed, "If the Catholic Church Extension Society of Canada had done nothing outside of the establishment of the Women's Auxiliary, it would have justified its existence!"

As president of Catholic Missions in Canada in 2001, I tell you how happy we are to walk again with you on this journey, The Open Door!

A New Vision

Catechesis is the national project that your national executive has selected to highlight in this year, 2001.

From coast to coast to coast, we receive requests for help with education. Whether someone has had the good fortune to attend a Catholic school or not, faith education is a very important component of 'mission'.

I would like to quote a lay missionary working in Labrador so that you may get some sense of the needs, seen through the eyes of the people who live there. This is a letter we received in November of last year.

Sheila Sullivan writes, "This office and centre, now into a third year of operation, serves the catechetical needs of parishes in the Labrador portion of our diocese. We are responding to a new era in catechetics, for the Denominational Educational System in the Province of Newfoundland was dismantled a little more than three years ago and, consequently, a new set of needs emerged. Your gifts (benefactors) ensure that expensive travel by air can take me to our parishes to develop the kinds of catechetical programs our church of today asks of us. Relevant literature, audio-visual materials, office supplies, heat, light and telephone, continue to be made available (through your benefactors).

You are a prophetic voice reminding us of Advent hope and joyful expectancy. You are the voice of truth, justice, goodness, love, friendship, global community and self-giving. You are Good News, you are a story of God-Among-Us. For me, this is how you best pray and live, Come Lord Jesus."

My friends of the Catholic Women's League, you are the 'you' who are so beautifully regarded in Sheila Sullivan's letter.

'Twinning' with a mission is also receiving a great deal of interest and support. This is a way in which the women of your council can get personally involved and derive the experience of 'mission'.

How can you do this? Your prayers provide support for our missions. A collective commitment to support missions through prayer is one of the most important contributions you, as a council., can make.

Your correspondence with missionaries provides morale-building support. Many are isolated in their work. To know that you care, and are walking with them in their often difficult yet radiant path, is a service you can render.

Your visits, for those of you who can undertake this effort, will give you a deep experience of 'mission'. Some councils have chosen a representative(s) to send to their mission.

Financial help should be directed to Catholic Missions in Canada. We provide a formal registration, with you as a mission partner, as well as with three missions from which to choose. You may be sure that any of the missions we support are really in need.

Each year, our allocations committee looks very carefully at mission requests and selects those most in need for support, among the many worthy submissions that we receive.

You have options open to you:

• You financial support can be directed to the national catechesis project through Catholic Missions in Canada.
• You may wish to 'twin' with a mission and direct financial support to the mission through Catholic Missions in Canada.
• You can select a mission to twin with and provide the moral and spiritual support they need, that is, an essential Christian presence.
• You can provide a combination of spiritual and financial support through both twinning and support of the national catechesis project.
  Dear friends, don't miss the personal mission experience!

It is with great love and hope that we take this step with you into the future year.

God bless all of you, members of The Catholic Women' League of Canada, for your strength, your determination, your faith and goodness in giving people in our poorer Canadian communities the magnificent gift of faith. In truth, there is nothing greater. I salute you!

In future issues, we are invited to profile some of our missions. If you have 'twinned' and wish to speak with us about your mission experience, please contact Linda at Catholic Missions in Canada at 1-800-361-1128 or write to me, Father Roger Formosi at Catholic Missions in Canada, 1155 Yonge Street, Suite 201, Toronto, ON, M4T 1W2.