Betty Colaneri, National Vice-President, April 17, 2024
FOR: Provincial Vice-Presidents (new structure) and Provincial Chairpersons of Organization (old structure)
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who
believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (Jn 3:16).
My sisters in the League,
This month, the catchphrase for the promotion of the “1” Campaign is:
“1 Life Can Change the World”
Easter Sunday has come and gone, but the story continues. For the first to witness the resurrection, it was a new beginning. For members, as Easter people, it is the strong foundation of their faith that is woven into their daily lives.
‘1’ life was born into this world, but his resurrection changed the world. Thousands of years later, the story of Jesus touches the hearts of so many in every nation on earth. It has stood the test of time because of its profound significance and the impact it created. Reflecting on the first Easter morning at the empty tomb, picture the image of Mary weeping because she thinks they have taken the Lord. Then imagine her joy when she sees the risen Lord! Without hesitation, she believed that it was Jesus. As women, our hearts are open to hear the good news and then proclaim it, as one of the League’s past national themes (2012–2014) conveyed beautifully, We Have Seen the Lord! Just as Jesus entrusted Mary to be the first to proclaim the resurrection, he entrusts us to do the same. When we doubt ourselves and think we have so little to offer, we need to look no further than the gospels to confirm that with God, all things are possible—the miracles of changing water into wine, five loaves and two fish that fed thousands.
Today, some of the demons that haunt society are in the form of mental illness, sickness, hostility, racism, injustice, poverty, unemployment, fear, anxiety and hunger. Members can be the ‘1’ to bring hope and joyfully proclaim the good news to a worried world. Please encourage members to be that ‘1’ and reach out to those members who may feel neglected. Perhaps a telephone call or a note to let them know they care. A conversation can change the feeling of being a burden to a sense of self-worth.
There is a scene in Angel Studios’ TV series “The Chosen,” when Nicodemus encounters Mary after Jesus healed her from her demons. He asks how this happened, and her response to Nicodemus is simple yet profound. “…I was one way, and now I am completely different, and the thing that happened in between was him. So yes, I will know him for the rest of my life!”
‘1’ life that changed the world can make everything possible. Be the ‘1’ to proclaim it!
Respectfully submitted,
Betty Colaneri
National Vice-President