REPORT OF ONTARIO PROVINCIAL PRESIDENT
DOROTHY McGUIGAN

?The Church gives thanks for all the manifestations of the feminine ?genius' which have appeared in the course of history, in the midst of all peoples and nations, she gives thanks for all the charisms which the Holy Spirit distributes to women in the history of the People of God, for all the victories which she owes to their faith, hope and charity: she gives thanks for all the fruits of feminine holiness.? (Dignity and Vocation of Women, Pope John Paul II)

•  Continuing with the theme, cast out into the deep, the first executive meeting brought members together in a wonderful workshop aimed at examining why it is difficult getting members to stand for office. Facilitated by life members Joleene Kemp and Shirley George and the provincial president, this workshop questioned, brainstormed and came together under the guidance of Provincial Spiritual Advisor Bishop John Boissonneau, DD, to realize that membership is a ?call to service,? a natural progression to answer one's baptismal call.

•  At the annual provincial convention in Niagara Falls, the provincial council's kit ?Elder Care ? A Gift to be Shared!? was introduced, which directed members to become involved fully in every standing committee with the care of the elderly. (This project was a direct result of the winter executive meeting workshop previously mentioned.) A marvelous kit, chock-full of resources, was presented to each arch/diocesan president who was then sent home on a mission to do a project under each standing committee and bring back her results to the 2005 provincial convention.

•  Honorary/life members were busy with local members publishing a children's book of Christian stories, Bedtime up North. Three life members represented national council at the Department of Foreign Affairs Canada Annual Human Rights Consultations, while another member made recommendations to the national communications chairperson on the website.

•  Arch/diocesan presidents reported projecting the theme into all their activities. Alexandria-Cornwall Diocesan Council members served the meals at ?Relay for Life? with 2,500 people attending and raised $3,000. Hamilton Diocesan Council participated in an ecumenical theatre group that wrote, directed and produced two biblical plays. One group of seniors presented a restorative justice approach to elder care; another group presented a play, Stay on Your Feet, focusing on the prevention of falls in older adults. Hearst Diocesan Council achieved a complete executive on its council. Its members provided a turkey dinner for the elderly and sang songs for seniors and shut-ins at the hospital, all in support of the elder care theme. Kingston Archdiocesan Council developed its members at regional meetings with workshops on ?Resolutions, Marketing & Recruitment Strategies? and ?Making Reports,? which aided members in re-discovering the League. London Diocesan Council hosted the 84th Annual National Convention and local members benefited greatly from the experience. Ottawa Archdiocesan Council purchased a cemetery bench in memory of a member. It also reported that mentors were active, giving information sessions for both old and new members. Pembroke Diocesan Council's 33 parish councils wrote many letters to members of parliament (MP), attended diocesan workshops and general meetings. Peterborough Diocesan Council presented the CWL message in verse and song at the Diocesan Laity Symposium, where 12 parish councils provided hospitality for 500 people, 200 of which were League members. Sault Ste. Marie Diocesan Council reported that its executive training and orientation sessions were adapted and tested in local parishes with great success. St. Catharines Diocesan Council focused on Women in the Bible, each council wrote a brief description of its favourite woman and compiled a book to give to members at retreats. Free membership was offered to 16 to 19 year-olds plus those over 80 years old. Thunder Bay Diocesan Council challenged each parish council to complete a project that reached ?beyond the comfortable.? Four regional meetings were re-introduced with astounding success in their discussions. Timmins Diocesan Council sent 46 letters from its annual convention to the prime minister in support of the Sisters in Spirit campaign. Toronto Archdiocesan Council reported a growth in membership. Thirteen councils with more than 10 new members and four councils with more than 20 new members offered 6,221 masses, 6,086 communions, 7,885 rosaries and 3,280 prayers/sacrifices/Stations of the Cross for the newly-ordained priests at the Odinandi banquet.

•  The provincial and national councils were represented by the education and health chairperson at the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute. She also developed an action plan/kit in response to a failed resolution on prevention of childhood obesity. The community life chairperson attended a two-day workshop on trafficking in women and children. The communications chairperson drafted the annual two-page advertisement in The Catholic Register for the provincial convention, as well as a promotional advertisement, Call to Service, in the fall. The past president prepared a discernment tool, suitable for all levels of the League, to assist members to better understand their respective calls to service, with an accompanying workshop. Step-by-step guidelines were prepared for the nine arch/dioceses conducting elections. Life Member Joleene Kemp was appointed to the Northwestern Advisory for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and is on the board of the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.

•  Thirteen arch/diocesan conventions were a wonderful mixture of spirituality, education, fun and accomplishment. Four diocesan councils held elections under the new format and with the gentle guidance of Life Member Joleene Kemp, everything came out perfectly. The provincial council was effectively represented by the president and her team made up of First Vice-president Shirley George, Second Vice-president Margaret Ann Jacobs and Communications Chairperson Muriel Murphy.

•  Four new diocesan presidents were welcomed: Joan Gaensbauer, Peterborough Diocese; Margo Swerdtfegger, Alexandria-Cornwall Diocese; Judy Imbeault, Hearst Diocese; Maria Odumodu, London Diocese.

•  St. Catharines Diocesan Council hosted the provincial convention in beautiful Niagara Falls with the theme, cast out into the deep. Bishop Richard Smith, Bishop of Pembroke and National Spiritual Advisor, enlightened members in his keynote address. Maureen Etkin from the Ontario Strategy to Combat Elder Abuse spoke on available resources to help stop this great tragedy in our communities. Resolutions were adopted on residents in long-term care facilities, marijuana, suicide and the Ontario disability support program. The resolutions on marijuana and suicide were subsequently adopted at the national level. The closing highlight was the presentation of the new program ?Elder Care ? A Gift to be Shared!? All arch/diocesan presidents were commissioned to go forth into their respective dioceses to cast out into the deep and make a difference in the lives of the elderly. They were to bring the results of their labours to the next provincial convention.

•  The president and First Vice-president Shirley George met with the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops and discussed forthcoming plans for the year, resolutions and an annual visit to the government. They also visited the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace office and picked up their latest brochures for each diocesan president.

•  At the fall executive meeting, a motion was made to amend the criteria of the Bishop Bernard F. Pappin Memorial Bursary Fund to include seminarians studying anywhere for service in Ontario . The question of directors and officers' liability insurance was discussed and an ad hoc committee formed to look into this. Life Member Joleene Kemp and Pauline Krupa presented a discernment workshop in preparation for election year in 2005 and Joleene also created a beautiful memorial service in honour of the late Past President Patricia Beattie.

•  Toronto Archdiocesan President Celestine Hall represented provincial council at Rosary Sunday.

•  Members were deluged with information with regard to Bill C-38, An Act respecting certain aspects of legal capacity for marriage for civil purposes. They contacted the prime minister, justice minister and MPs expressing their concerns, asking that the definition of marriage not be changed and that a free vote on the matter be allowed.

•  The provincial council's 2004 resolutions brief was sent to government and three visits to Queens Park took place in December to discuss both 2003 and 2004 resolutions.

•  Organization Chairperson Marlene Pavletic formulated and distributed, to all dioceses, the new Provincial Development Fund guidelines and application form which focused on the spiritual development of members.

•  Two arch/dioceses were preparing for per capita increases, Hamilton in 2006 and Toronto in 2005.

•  London and Toronto arch/diocesan councils took advantage of the National Development Fund to provide League development to their members.

•  Several diocesan councils took advantage of the Provincial Council Grant for the national convention held in Ontario, enabling more members to attend a national convention.