TO: Provincial Presidents and Secretaries
CC: National Officers (for information), National Life Member Liaison
FROM: Betty Colaneri, National President
ENCL: National Convention Reflective Feedback
Please forward this message to presidents.
In the Sacred Heart, every treasure of wisdom and knowledge is hidden.
In that divine heart beats God’s infinite love for everyone and for each of us individually.
(Summary of the theme from Pope St. John Paul II’s “Mass Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” 1984).
My dear sisters in the League,
As regular meetings begin again, let us be mindful of keeping the heart of the matter at the centre of all that we do. Structure and protocol are important and necessary to maintain the effective work of the League. Yet, in attending to them, let us not lose sight of something even more important: our relationships—our relationships with God and with one another.
At the national convention, Dr. Cory Labrecque shared an important message that words matter. Words can affect people differently and can sometimes wound in ways that often remain unseen. He also spoke about dignity, vulnerability and the importance of presence in a broken world.
His message brought to mind a homily I recently heard by Cardinal Thomas Collins. He mentioned attending a conference where, as soon as the break began, everyone reached for a cellphone. He pointed out the irony: those attending the conference were no longer present to the people with them, yet they were making themselves present to people who were not at the conference.
Perhaps this helps explain why the “Meet and Greet” at the national convention was such a success. Members appreciated having time simply to connect, embrace, laugh, have conversations and truly be present with one another in a casual setting. There was no agenda, just an opportunity to enjoy the gift of sisterhood.
As you gather for meetings in the months ahead, I encourage presidents to intentionally set aside time for members to simply be present to one another. The work is important, but so are the women called to do that work.
Another thought-provoking speaker at the national convention was Giancarlo Brotto, Chief Executive Officer of Pave Edu, Inc., who spoke about the rapidly evolving reality of artificial intelligence (AI) and its increasing presence in everyday life. He challenged members to consider how the League could develop “AI Angels.” Members would learn, remain vigilant and advocate for the responsible and safe use of AI for families, communities and the country. Please share his presentation with members.
Findings from the pre- and post-session surveys demonstrate a meaningful shift from believing action could wait to recognizing the importance of acting now:
- Before the session, 55 respondents (19%) felt that preparing families and communities could wait one to two years or was not urgent. After the session, that number fell to two respondents (1%).
- Before the session, 105 respondents (35%) felt that building their own AI capacity could wait one to two years or was not urgent. After the session, that number fell to eight respondents (4%).
- Ninety per cent said the Catholic perspective on AI became clearer and 84% left with practical ideas they could use.
- One hundred thirty-seven members—75% of respondents—said they would lead, participate in or support a League “AI Angels” community.
What stands out most is how dramatically the “this can wait” group diminished following the presentation. The responses indicate a much greater readiness among members to begin learning, preparing and supporting their communities now.
Encourage members to seriously consider what it might mean to become an “AI Angel.” The League has an opportunity not simply to react to technological change, but to help shape conversations about AI through the lens of Catholic faith, human dignity and concern for the common good.
The enclosed document outlines the findings from the presentation.
By the time this communiqué is received, Thanksgiving will be quickly approaching. It is a beautiful time to reflect on the many gifts God has given and the blessings that surround us. Among those blessings are the League and its sisterhood.
I am truly thankful for all members of this remarkable organization for their faith, dedication, service and the countless ways they support one another while carrying forward the mission of the League.
With gratitude,
Betty Colaneri
National President