Directive # 5
Spiritual Development Betty Colaneri April1, 2010 This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. John 15:12
My dear sisters in Christ,
As we conclude our Lenten season, we look toward to the joy of the resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Today is a day we are called to service. There is so much symbolism in this evening’s beautiful service. I invite you to take each moment in, ponder, reflect and cherish it in your heart. “Receive, give thanks, break and share.” “This is my body. This is my blood. Do this in memory of me.” Jesus washes the feet of His disciples showing us the way into the humble service of others. Fr. Ron Rolheiser says it beautifully in Daybreaks, “This wonderfully expresses what the Eucharist is meant to do. It is a call to move from worship to service, to take the nourishment, the embrace, the kiss, we have just received from God and the community and translate it immediately and directly into loving service of others.
We should be on our knees washing each other’s feet because that is precisely what Jesus did at the first Eucharist.”
There are many versions of the Way of the Cross. Please make an extra effort to say and pray a few versions.
I recently received an email encouraging anyone who received it to pray the Rosary on Good Friday for peace in the world and the return of moral values in our communities.
If possible please pray the Rosary between noon and 3:00 p.m. Let us unite in prayer.
I invite you to join in the passion of Christ. Pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, stand trial with Him, help Him carry His cross, stand at the foot of the cross and finally walk into the empty tomb and proclaim Alleluia He is Risen!
Reminder to mark your calendars!
Day of Peace and Hope Mass – April 23rd
The National Catholic Broadcasting Council has dedicated a mass to honour the CWL Day of Peace and Hope on April 26th. The mass will be televised on Friday, April 23rd at 8:00 a.m. and 12 p.m. EST on Vision TV.
The taping will take place at St. Basil’s Church, 50 St. Joseph Street (off Bay, south of Bloor Street), on Thursday, April 22nd at 5:10 p.m. Members living in the area are welcome to attend and fully participate.
May the Risen Lord bless you and your families this Easter Season!

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Directive # 4 February 16, 2010
Chair: Betty Colaneri

My dear sisters in Christ,

Jesus’ reputation spread more and more and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be cured…[But]he often retired to deserted places and prayed. Luke 5:16

As we begin the season of Lent, the Living with Christ booklet, asks us “to reflect on the core values of our Christian faith, the rhythm of death and new life. Ashes indicate there was once fire. The fire is now gone. We go to the source to be inflamed again. God is fire; we are ashes. The Lord says, “Return to me with all your heart!” The gospel gives us the spiritual tools of almsgiving, prayer and fasting for bringing cold embers back to life. With ashes on our foreheads, let us walk toward the blazing energy and promise of Easter fire.”

A major concern has been the process of recording deceased members. Since this has been such an ongoing concern, our National Spiritual Development Chairperson, Terri Scott, once again outlined it in her latest directive. She states: “The most recent Form for Reporting Deceased Members, dated 2008, requires that parish councils send only one copy; that copy is to be forwarded to national office. One staff member is responsible for inputting these forms into the database and then she will make two copies of each. When a number of forms have accumulated, copies will be sent to the appropriate provincial and diocesan chairpersons for their own Book of Life. Providing that parish councils are diligent in sending in these forms, this system should prove to be more accurate. Please review this policy with spiritual development chairpersons to clarify this process. All forms should be submitted as information is gathered and not held for submission at the end of the calendar year. It is also important to use the current version of the form (revised in 2008). The Form for Reporting Deceased Members (2008) is available at www.cwl.ca under “Supplies and Forms” in a printable or online format.

For the Year for Priests, Terri made the following recommendations:
Send: “Thinking of You” cards to active and retired clergy; certificates of appreciation; a letter to all spiritual advisors at special times of the year, such as Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day, etc.; personal letters to spiritual advisors once a month just to thank them or to keep in touch; thank you cards to express appreciation for performing ceremonies such as baptisms, weddings, funerals, etc. in your families.
Take: a video or pictures of priests in action and make a nice album for them to recall fond memories of their vocation after they retire; opportunities to get to know them one on one;
Invite: them for dinner or a family day at your house; for an evening of cards or board games, or rent a good movie they may have mentioned.
Make: a calendar with priests’ names on each day for prayer or a phone call; a priest appreciation dinner; a meal when you know they have a particularly busy time ahead of them such as funerals, church holidays, etc; promise cards, such as kids give their parents, e.g., “We’ll donate our time to help you when you need help.”; a batch of cookies, individually wrapped with a spiritual bouquet promise taped to each cookie; a decorated plant or small tree with spiritual bouquet promises hanging from the branches.
Thank you: for an excellent homily; for a good deed you may have noticed them perform (helping/feeding the poor, affirming children, etc.); for excellent pastoral work.
Chat: with them after mass.
Give them a hand: with their baking, gardening, Christmas card list, cleaning house.
Pray: for seminarians, deacons and priests; a spiritual bouquet for a week in February designated to recognize priests; for each priest in your diocese by dedicating a date on a diocesan calendar with notices in church bulletins; at daily masses, if offered; at family hour of prayer, say a rosary or other prayers for priests.
Ask: for a homily giving the story of their “call”, their reaction, their family’s reaction, etc.; for the sacrament of reconciliation; for their blessing; for special prayer times with them; for them to teach you.
Show them: signs of respect, such as kissing their ring, standing when they enter and addressing them by their proper title.

Mark your calendars!
Day of Peace and Hope Mass – April 23rd
The National Catholic Broadcasting Council has dedicated a mass to honour the CWL Day of Peace and Hope on April 26th. The mass will be televised on Friday, April 23rd at 8:00 a.m. and 12 p.m. EST on Vision TV.
The taping will take place at St. Basil’s Church, 50 St. Joseph Street (off Bay, south of Bloor Street), on Thursday, April 22nd at 5:10 p.m. Members living in the area are welcome to attend and fully participate.

Mary’s Way of the Cross by Richard G. Furey, C.Ss.R. is still available from Twenty-Third Publications at a cost of $1.95 for 1-99. For copies of 100 –299 the cost is $1.49. The more copies you order the price goes down. You can access their website at www.pastoralplanning.com. This is the Stations of the Cross that I used for our recent provincial meeting. If you would like further information about it or have trouble finding it on the website, please do not hesitate in contacting me. I encourage you all to get a copy to use during this Lenten season. It is truly a moving way of reflecting on the Stations of the Cross through the eyes of our Mother Mary.

Our Sunday Visitor at www.osv.com has pamphlets available called, “The Rosary for Children”. It explains how to pray the Rosary as well as having the four mysteries with a brief explanation and illustration. They also have other resources for children.

Items of interest:
· Pray the Rosary on line at www.comepraytherosary.org
· Pray the Rosary with a CD while driving and reduce the risk of “road rage”
· Download the prayer booklet for the people of Haiti at www.pauline.org called
“A World on Its Knees”
· Learn more about the lives of the Saints through reading or DVDs
· Salt + Light TV has the DVD of the Episcopal ordinations of Toronto’s new auxiliary Bishops, Bishop William McGrattan and Bishop Vincent Nguyen.

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Directive #3 - November 28, 2009

To: Arch/Diocesan Spiritual Development Standing Committee Chairpersons
From: Betty Colaneri, Ontario Provincial Spiritual Development Standing
Committee Chairperson
Cc: Provincial Executive, Arch/Diocesan Presidents, National Spiritual
Development Standing Committee Chairperson
Encl: The Reason for the Season; Waiting in Joyful Hope; Advent Wreath

Thus you remain in the midst of the disciples as their Mother, as the Mother of hope. Holy Mary, Mother of God, our Mother, teach us to believe, to hope, to love with you. Show us the way to his Kingdom! Star of the Sea, shine upon us and guide us on our way.”
Pope Benedict XVI

Advent is a time to slow down and practice the art of waiting patiently. Advent is a time to relish looking forward, a time to reinvigorate the spirit, to recall the reason why we celebrate. Jesus is the reason for our hope, the spur to our repentance, the source of our love and the cause of all our joy.
If you don’t already have one, make an advent wreath as a family and pray together as you light the candles each week.
Take time to reflect on the attached passages taken from “The Reason for the Season… Emmanuel!” Daily devotions for Advent by Mitch Finley.
You can send them to members all together as they are attached or cut and paste them to send as daily reflections.
“No longer captivated by the countdown of “20, 19, 18 shopping days until Christmas, we are beginning to see what a rich experience Advent can be when separated from the mad rush to buy, buy, buy. Advent is loaded with opportunities to prepare ourselves for the genuine joy our celebration of Christmas is meant to bring.”

Also attached is Waiting in Joyful Hope, Daily Reflections for Advent and Christmas.
Please note that I have given you the first Sunday of Advent only at this time. I will send the next reflection prior to the day it pertains to. Advent Wreath prayers and symbolisms are also attached for prayer and reflection.

You will notice that both these reflections refer to Hope. As quoted above Pope Benedict XVI refers to our Mother as the Mother of Hope. Our national theme ties in beautifully to the Advent season.

It is my hope and prayer that we take the time to pause and prepare spiritually for the coming of Christ.

Let us all WAIT IN JOYFUL HOPE!

God Bless you all and your families.
Your Sister in Christ,
Betty Colaneri.

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Directive #2 - November 11, 2009

To: Arch/Diocesan Spiritual Development Standing Committee Chairpersons
From: Betty Colaneri, Ontario Provincial Spiritual Development Standing
Committee Chairperson
Cc: Provincial Executive, Arch/Diocesan Presidents, National Spiritual
Development Standing Committee Chairperson
Encl: St. Martin of Tours, Remembrance Day Information, Bible for Catholics

In Flander's Fields -Liet. -Col. John McCrae
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flander's fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, tho poppies grow
In Flander's fields.
This is the month that we pray for our faithful departed loved ones.
Prayer for Everlasting Life
Tender God of Mercy. You so loved us that You sent Your only Son, Jesus, to be our Redeemer. In Him we have come to know You and love You. As we draw closer to You, we seek to share the Good News of Your powerful life-giving love.
In this month of the Holy Souls, we pray for all the faithful departed and especially for the relatives, friends and neighbours who brightened our lives. Make room for them in the embrace of Your love and in Your enormous Heart.
(Here pause to mention those you wish to remember)
Through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of God and of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. I commend them to Your Divine Mercy. May they welcome them into Your heavenly garden.
Tender God of Mercy, may these souls, all who sleep in Christ and all who seek You with a sincere heart, find in Your presence light, happiness and peace. Lead them to the fullness of the resurrection and gladden them with the light of Your face. Amen

News from National:
The following is from the National Spiritual Development Chairperson, Terri Scott.

The Year for Priests will continue until June 11, 2010, at which time some 407,000 priests will be called to Rome to meet with Pope Benedict XVI on the theme of Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of the Priest. The conclusion of the Year for Priests will coincide with the feast day of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and will be celebrated with mass presided by the pope.

At national convention, National Spiritual Advisor Archbishop Martin Currie exhorted members to pray for priests and support them. Msgr. Maurice Comeault, pastor of Blessed John XXIII Parish in Winnipeg said, “My priesthood is your priesthood, a gift from God to myself as an individual but also to the parish. Let us use it and celebrate it with gratitude and thanksgiving”.

Priests and bishops need to know that they have the support of their parishioners. Please
encourage councils to find creative ways to show hospitality and appreciation for the good administration, counsel and stewardship offered so faithfully by the clergy. I welcome news of your creative ideas.

Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany, New York, wrote, “please pray for our priests that they, like Paul, may strive to be loving pastors, insightful preachers, enthusiastic evangelists, collaborative co-workers, compassionate healers and men of fervent prayer - and thus by their life and ministry truly give honour and glory to God and bring hope, peace and joy to God's people.” (Origins September 17, 2009)

Jesus Christ expressed his desire that Christians be united when he said, “that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:21)
Please continue to support this most worthwhile ecumenical organization that supports women. Congratulations again to WICC for celebrating its 90th anniversary this past spring. The World Day of Prayer, a long-standing ecumenical initiative, is held on the first Friday in March and will be celebrated on March 5, 2010.

News From the Vatican

In a surprise announcement from the Vatican on Tuesday October 20th, Pope Benedict has made it possible for Anglicans, uncomfortable with recent changes in the Anglican church (same-sex marriages, female ordination, gay ordination, etc.), to join the Catholic Church.

Just as there are different rites within the church, so will there be a rite made especially for disenfranchised Anglicans. Certain elements taken from Anglican rites will be combined with established Catholic liturgical practices. Whether the Catholic Church will swell with members from the Anglican church remains to be seen. Ecumenism has been a focus for prayer for many years. Is this the beginning of the answer to those prayers? Keep those joining the Catholic Church in your prayers as they face this momentous adjustment.

To read the full announcement from the Vatican, visit the following Web link:
http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/24513.php?index=24513&lang=en

CWL Day of Peace and Hope April 26th

Please encourage members to gather and share good ideas for special projects in preparation for April 26th, the League’s special day to show communities across Canada that members are doers “For God and Canada”. Ideas include visiting those in palliative care, helping new moms, or helping the elderly around their homes. Suggest placing a sign-up sheet in churches to identify those needing help; then suggest that volunteers divide up into groups to respond to the requests and watch communities sparkle. This may inspire women to join the League.

One in the Spirit Workshop

Recently, another One in the Spirit workshop was held in the Winnipeg area. This workshop offers “an opportunity to become more aware of individual spiritual preferences and to enrich your relationship with God and with others.” It is a faith-filled way to explore different communication and working styles and it has the full approval of the national spiritual advisor.

With the first Sunday of Advent, November 29th, the church begins a new liturgical year and the faithful prayerfully anticipate the coming of Jesus.

Please Note:
I am still waiting responses from my last Directive regarding the One in the Spirit Workshop and youth presence in the Church. I look forward to your responses.

Enclosures:
Enclosed are three articles. The first entitled Bible is for Catholics; the second is an
article I found on St. Martin of Tours, Patron Saint of Soldiers and the third a reflection of
Remembrance Day. Kindly take a few moments and reflect on this amazing saint and the selfless men and women that gave and continue to give their lives for us and others.
As I watched the Remembrance Day service at Capital Hill, I was moved by not only the ceremony itself but by the faces of the many veterans that had gathered. As a tear rolled down the check of one, I found myself wondering what memory had come to him at that point. Their faces showed signs of sadness they had to endure and live through but also pride in what they had accomplished and to be there for their fallen comrades. It was a wonderful idea to extend the time of silence to two minutes instead of one but even that seems does not seem sufficient.

As a wonderful organization of compassionate women, we always think and pray for those gone before us marked with the sign of faith and those who have been of service to others.
Keep up the great work of prayer. We are living proof that prayer works miracles and has no boundaries.

God Bless you all and your families.
Your Sister in Christ,
Betty Colaneri.

Directive #1 - 20 August 2009
Chair: Betty Colaneri

Greetings to all of you, my sisters in the League, members of the executive and my fellow counterparts! 

I am very honoured to be elected as your First Vice President to the Ontario Provincial Council.  Our previous Spiritual Development Standing Committee Chairperson, Pauline Krupa, did such an incredible job for the past two years, I will certainly have my work cut out for me!

My husband Nick and I celebrated our 25th anniversary this year on July 14 and were fortunate enough to celebrate it with our children in Italy! This was my first time there and my husband had not been back since he left at 9 years old.
It was an incredible journey of discovering our roots, spirituality, culture and history all rolled into one. We also made friendships with people on tour with us from all around the world. We got back on July 31st and I had just a few days to get things back in order to leave for national convention.  After catching the “bug” several years ago, I have enjoyed going to national and look forward to it every year.  I particularly like going where I have never been before and Newfoundland proved to be a wonderful experience. It is a beautiful province and the people were extremely friendly and welcoming. That combined with spending time with my sisters in the League made for an incredible end to my summer adventures!

Back home, the four of us live on a vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake and attend the parish that I become a member of the CWL 23 years ago. I received my life membership in 2005.  Over the years I have been involved in so many things from event planning, to fundraisers, to producing fashion shows and musical productions. The most rewarding work has always been the volunteering. This year my son graduated from high school and for the first time in 20 years I will not be involved with the school as chairperson for the School Council. I too have graduated and look forward to my work with the Ontario Council of the CWL.
Everything we do with the League and as Christians begins with a sign of our faith.  Faith is the foundation of our League and of who we are.  I will work to the best of my ability to ensure that we continue to share and experience our faith journey together.

As the saying goes, “A family that prays together stays together”. We are a family and prayer will be our driving force to do work for God and Canada.
I look forward to being of service to you and welcome your input.  Please feel free to contact me at any time.

May our Lady of Good Counsel guide you and may God bless all of you as you continue to work for His people.

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Oral Report for the Spiritual Development Standing Committee
July 5 – 8, 2009
Chairperson Pauline Krupa

Looking back over these two years I can honestly say that the old saying “time flies” has taken on a whole new meaning!

When I first began thinking about how I could best support members as chair of this standing committee I quickly came to realize that it is far better to do one thing well, than try to do many things not so well.  Two areas were given the greatest attention:  With the  49th International Eucharistic Congress being held in Quebec City, The Eucharist was one area and the Pauline Year the other.  Research from both provided members with materials to study and use from a variety of websites.  Our St. Paul Resource (on line) has proven to be an asset to many councils, not only in Ontario but right across Canada.  

Each member was encouraged to pray The League prayer for the intention of Arch/Diocesan councils.  A calendar was provided so that over the course of these two years, everyone across the province prayed for the same Arch/Diocesan council daily.  

The video, “Celebrate What’s Right with the World”, has journeyed across the province, “back and forth, back and forth” – it has been places I still dream about traveling to.  It will continue to be available by booking it through the new Spiritual Development Chairperson.


Prayer services are my passion!  Those who know me well will attest that I sometimes go a bit over-board when planning.  Thank goodness my guardian angels are close by to keep me grounded.  


In the past two years the process for reporting deceased members has undergone some changes.  Transitions are always difficult.  We find ourselves smoothing out the kinks as we go along.  I assure you that every effort has been made to have our Provincial Book of Life up to date.  Should you notice a name missing or an error in spelling please contact your own Arc/Diocesan Spiritual Development Chairperson who will then forward the information to the proper person.  Please remember in your daily prayers the more than 1,400 members whose names appear in this year’s list.

Earlier this year Pope Benedict XVI announced the Year for Priests.  This is not just a year to pray for those in holy orders, rather it encompasses much more.  Councils are encouraged to study the Pope’s announcement to gain a clearer understanding of what we are being asked.  Being the party person that I am, I encourage everyone to celebrate your Spiritual Advisor in a big way sometime in the next year.

When I think of Women of Peace and Hope, as it relates to this Standing Committee, I think of each one of you who by your very “nurture” are caring and compassionate women responding to your baptism call of service for others.  The peace you bring might be a gentle touch to let a friend know you are there and the hope might be donation you make for breast cancer research.  You are God’s people bringing peace and hope to the world.

I thank God for you.  

I leave you with this lasting thought to ponder – It was a woman who first visited the tomb to see Jesus – she was the one who was told – “Go and Tell.”

My sisters in The League, I salute you!

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