2005 Annual Report of Nova Scotia Provincial President
Mary MacLeod

It is my privilege to report on the activities of the Nova Scotia Provincial Council. I write this so that someone reading it 50 or more years from now will gain an understanding of the issues faced in 2005.

Information was circulated to all parish councils on the redefinition of marriage. This was not a major issue for many members who felt that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms would prevail and members should therefore get on with other issues.

One new issue was euthanasia. There was great concern that proposed federal legislation would legalize the pre-mature ending of life. Many councils provided education on this issue and diocesan workshops dealt with the subject.

Trafficking of women and children received a lot of attention from councils.

There was ongoing discussion of insurance, a sign of the times in which members live. Councils not covered by parish policies were given the opportunity to purchase insurance through national office.

Amalgamation of parishes was an issue in all three dioceses. Many members experienced anxiety over the possibility of losing their council's identity as some parishes closed and others merged.

The provincial resolution on the right of grandparents to have access to their grandchildren was adopted at the 2005 annual national convention.

The provincial council hosted a visit from Dr. Robert Walley, founder and executive director of MaterCare International. Unfortunately, it was a very stormy night and attendance was not as high as expected.

In August, the three diocesan councils and the provincial council met to discuss ways to work together.

The standing committees worked with varying degrees of success within the parishes. Many parish presidents served a second and even a third term. Increasing membership is the solution to this problem.

The bulk of work continued to be centred around the parish and immediate community. Members also became involved with issues that concerned the Canadian church.

Challenges identified for future years include the need for ongoing education on preparation and implementation of meaningful resolutions. Members will need to discern the most urgent issues in their communities and encourage resolutions that address them.

A second major challenge identified was the need to encourage new members and mentor them so that they would have the confidence to become leaders of tomorrow. All Catholic women need to be educated about the League's mandate so that they will consider using it as a means of ministering in their parishes and communities.