2006 Annual Report of
Manitoba Provincial Council
Terri Scott, Provincial President

Taking stock of work done is always cause for celebration, because to have it recorded on paper lifts members' spirits when they see their accomplishments. So, let us remember, praise and celebrate the activities of the past year.

Let us remember the hours spent:
•  updating archives and photograph albums for past members to see and learn from past achievements
•  mentoring and encouraging new members to join and providing new member kits
•  having fun at potlucks, fundraisers, Share Lent activities, pancake breakfasts, communion brunches and bake sales
•  enriching members' minds and hearts with spiritual growth through Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults, Nathanael Program, bible and encyclical study, Alpha Program, Emmaus, Rule of St. Benedict, and Echo the Word
•  organizing spiritual outreach to the community and inter-faith celebrations such as World Day of Prayer, Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and Remembrance Day services
•  communicating with parishes by posting bulletins and newsletters to raise awareness of the League and its projects
•  reading The Canadian League and old favourites such as Leading the League, the National Manual of Policy and Procedure, Except the Lord Build the House?, and other reading material distributed by diocesan, provincial and national chairpersons, and Catholic newspapers and magazines
•  serving on school and hospital boards so that members could witness to their faith and protect the dignity and rights of patients, residents, students and staff
•  accessing websites such as the national website and other Catholic organizations
• canvassing for Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Canadian Cancer Society, Association for Community Living, Alzheimer's Society of Canada, MaterCare International, Campaign Life Coalition, Parkinson Society Canada, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Breast Cancer Research Alliance, an MRI fund and funding for a local palliative care program
•  selling Grey Cup tickets to fund a home cooked turkey meal for seniors at the church hall
•  writing letters to government to urge it to raise pensions, and to object to embryonic stem cell research and euthanasia and assisted suicide
•  knitting sweaters, teddy bears, mitts and toques, and sewing backpacks and making quilts, blankets and welcome baskets
•  making sandwiches, coffee, snacks and meals
•  volunteering at English as a second language programs
• attending catechism in-services, teaching catechism and marriage preparation, and serving on liturgical committees
•  coordinating catechesis for the diocese
•  gathering signatures for the Ribbon of Signatures Campaign to be sent to government
•  selling daffodils for cancer
•  discussing eye care for the elderly, diabetes treatments, crystal methamphetamine, nutrition, heart health and abdominal obesity, food handling safety in the summer, disaster preparation and avian flu
•  cleaning churches and rectories and tending their flower beds
•  reusing, recycling and reducing, and learning about environmental hazards related to overuse of antibiotics and antimicrobial products
•  watching Catholic television networks
•  researching and formulating resolutions with members' concerns for each other

Let us praise those who organized:
•  all the various prayer devotions that drew members to the Lord which included Eucharistic celebrations, gatherings to say the rosary or the Living Rosary, Stations of the Cross, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, days of reflection, retreats, pilgrimages and all special events and especially those who prayed for members and the sick and dying
•  and instilled love of the League to members, especially the life members and past presidents who convened many events and led by example
•  membership drives and telephone campaigns, and issued personal invitations to swell the membership
•  workshops on trafficking of women, showers and layette drives for Villa Rosa and Alpha House, walking for life ? National Life Chain for pro life and aid sent to Pregnancy Distress Family Support Services
•  letter writing campaigns commending the federal government for supporting the United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and protesting same sex marriage, trafficking of women and children and family violence
•  a school breakfast plan to feed hungry children
•  a collection to educate two tragically orphaned children
•  trips to deliver food and toiletries to the Immaculate Conception Drop-In Centre for children and adults and donations of toiletries to Osborne House
•  donations to Sara Riel Inc., Survivors' of Hope Crisis Centre (for victims of sexual abuse) and the Christmas Cheer Board
•  a donation by one council of radios for a local hospital and reading material for prison inmates
•  a Meals on Wheels drive that was free to all those receiving meals on April 26th
•  the collection bowl for contributions to Winnipeg Harvest
•  the religious service at Stony Mountain Penitentiary and Siloam Mission
•  the presentations on safe schools and living wills, and prepared a resolution on bullying in a technological age
•  the flu clinic in their parish and fed the nurses and provided patients with cookies
•  the annual meeting with the provincial premier and his ministers to discuss the work of members and their concerns

Let us celebrate the time we:
•  hosted provincial and diocesan conventions, workshops, Day of Celebration, and pre and post convention meetings
•  were leaders of parish devotions, prepared children for the sacraments and other catechetical programs, and provided comfort and support to the bereaved by making funeral lunches
•  organized prayer services for seniors in personal care homes and residences
•  visited the sick and shut-in at hospitals and personal care homes to distribute communion
•  gifted money to those needing it, especially Coady International Institute, Child Care International, Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP), Catholic Missions In Canada, foreign missions, Esk-Omi Missions, Kee-Pas Missions and missions in Nunuvut, God's River and others
•  contributed funds to Operation Christmas Child, Fellowship of the Least Coin, Kid Kits, Call of the Poor, Plan (formerly Foster Parents Plan) and Christian Child Care
•  worked with the Knights of Columbus and children preparing for their confirmation to deliver Meals on Wheels
•  found time to be prayer partners, make spiritual bouquets and pray for each other
•  participated in Genius of Woman workshop
•  celebrated the life members: eight in St. Boniface Diocese and 12 in Winnipeg Diocese
•  participated in the International Weekend of Prayer, fasting and planning for action against sex trafficking
•  supported Local Investment Towards Employment (LITE), Chez Nous/Our Place, a thrift shop, Rossbrook House, Marymound School, North End Women's Centre, Micah House, Reading Grannies Program, St. Benedict's Educational Centre, and Habitat for Humanity
•  sent cards and letters to ill members, gifts to residents in care homes who were celebrating a birthday and prayer shawls were lovingly knitted for the sick
•  urged government to monitor employers and the way they treat workers
•  held receptions to welcome newcomers to Canada
•  donated clothes, household goods, money, toys and even a bedroom suite to help newcomers to Canada
•  assisted foreign students by billeting and helped them adjust to a new country
•  wrote a resolution to encourage the government to provide housing and services for the mentally ill
•  provided food and billets for a youth retreat
•  attended a food bank's supper and auction and supported it with donations of money and purchased items for sale
•  invited guest speakers to educate members about due diligence in mining techniques and sent cards of protest to government
•  had a guest speaker on the Marquis Project that partners with community organizations in East Africa and Central America to help them reach their development goals; only fair trade coffee is used at that council's meeting now
•  funded projects with clothing, school supplies and uniforms, wheelchairs and teachers' supplies
•  supported missions in the Philippines, Honduras and Haiti, Lesotho Aids Orphans, Ryan's Well Foundation, grandmothers aid in Africa, Amnesty International, and Canadian Organization for Development through Education and one member went as an observer for the Democratic Republic of Congo elections
•  presented rosaries and/or rosary booklets, missals, frames for certificates and gifts for first communicants and confirmations
•  gave over $2,400 to students wishing to further their education
•  promoted emergency response information kits, wellness and health programs and People with Arthritis Can Exercise
•  grew hair for young cancer patients
•  used the media to promote League meetings, fundraisers and other celebrations; one council assisted in televising mass from its parish
•  discussed pending legislation and topics such as adult literacy, child poverty, increase in Old Age Security, and Goods and Services Tax exemption on funeral services
•  wrote letters of protest on assurances regarding religious freedom in the matter of performing same sex marriages, choosing supreme court judges, quality of drinking water, and tissue donation after death

President's activities
•  served on Women's Inter-Church Council of Winnipeg and helped prepare packages to distribute for World Day of Prayer
•  planned and assisted at Day of Celebration
•  attended provincial pre-convention, convention, and post-convention meetings in June and two planning meetings for convention and all three diocesan conventions
•  attended the national convention and all pre-convention, post-convention, winter and fall meetings
•  prepared a public speaking presentation for the national executive
•  represented the League at Caritas Catholic Foundation of Manitoba fund raising dinner
•  spoke on MaterCare International to one parish council and also the Ukrainian Catholic Women's League of Canada
•  hosted the resolutions meeting to prepare for the meeting with government in September
•  attended at John J. Stapleton's Knighthood of Pope Gregory
•  attended the Alpha House fund raising dinner
•  chaired the meeting with the premier
•  attended the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Workshop and National Forum on Seed