Events

July 30 is International Friendship Day. It is a day to recognize Jesus as being the ultimate example of a friend. Today we pray for guidance on how to be a true friend for others not just when it is convenient, but to show the world His love, forgiveness, and kindness.

The liturgical calendar includes The Most Holy Name of Mary, originating in Spain in 1513, whose observance was extended by Pope Innocent XI to the universal church in 1683 in thanksgiving to Our Lady for the victory on September 12, 1683, by King Sobieski of Poland over the Turks who were besieging Vienna. “We venerate the name of Mary because it belongs to her who is the Mother of God, the holiest of creatures, the Queen of heaven and earth, the Mother of Mercy” (Catholic Encyclopedia). Members are invited to pray for Mary’s intercession on this special day.

Celebrated annually on the third Saturday in September, this day is meant to foster spiritual development and celebrate the graces received through members’ service. Parish councils are encouraged to organize a gathering with a guest speaker, participate  in or host a prayer service or welcome other sisters in the League to speak about other Catholic women’s organizations in their home country. October is the month of Mary—a time when devotion and prayer to our Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, are encouraged. Devote extra time to the Holy Rosary.

Each year, the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) asks Catholics worldwide to remember those displaced by conflict and persecution. God walks with his people is the theme chosen by Pope Francis for his message for WDMR, which will be celebrated on September 29th. The Holy Father reminds us that “all of us, God’s people, are migrants on this earth, on our way to the ‘true homeland’, the Kingdom of Heaven.” Members are invited to pray for migrants and refugees and all displaced persons, mindful of the corporal works of mercy, which are tangible ways of being united with their suffering.  

In his pilgrimage to Canada in July 2022, Pope Francis described his apostolic journey to Canada as a “penitential pilgrimage.” He began his message at Maskwacis by saying, “I have come to your native lands to tell you in person of my sorrow, to implore God’s forgiveness, healing and reconciliation, to express my closeness and to pray with you and for you.” The Catholic Women’s League of Canada is committed to healing and reconciliation, expressed by its document of resources titled “Walking Together with Indigenous Catholic Women.” Members are encouraged to pray the attached prayer and to express their solidarity.