Shari Guinta, National President, October 25, 2023
FOR: Presidents at All Levels
“The future starts today, not tomorrow” (Saint Pope John Paul II).
This is my first president’s message, and I want to first thank everyone who sent greetings, offers of prayers and masses for me and the national executive. We are very thankful for these kind and thoughtful gestures.
The Catholic Women’s League of Canada is a World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO) member. I was fortunate to attend its conference in May in Assisi, Italy. There were 900 Catholic women from around the world present, participating in Eucharistic celebrations in different languages, prayers, presentations and resolutions. The League’s own Barb Dowding, past national president (2014-2016), was elected vice president for North America. You will hear reports periodically from Barb and offers of news from WUCWO. Its North American conference will be held in conjunction with the League’s 104th annual national convention in August 2025 in Toronto. Please encourage members to view the national website and WUCWO’s website.
Various resources continue to be created by the working groups regarding the strategic planning initiative. Councils should check the national website and use these workshops and information sessions that have been created. They are very professional and creative. Please use them!
The national executive/board will meet in Winnipeg for its fall meeting in November, and there will be training sessions for the executive members, including board governance. This is in accordance with the “next steps” and “future mission” that the League is now travelling into from planning strategically. Times are changing, and the League must keep step.
I am very pleased with the comments that have come back from the Unity Outreach. It has been a positive experience for everyone, and I applaud the presenters and members that attended and provided input. It has been very useful, and the data is now being used to move forward with task forces in the various areas identified. Thank you!
Finally, I want to thank those councils that have been creative in increasing their membership. I was somewhat disheartened after the pandemic and sad that the League lost members and councils. The good news is even more delightful when I hear of new councils starting and closed councils being restarted. There are some good stories out there!
May God bless you in your work “For God and Canada!”
Your sister in the League,
Shari Guinta
National President