Spring 2009
Father Tom Moisan, Diocesan Spiritual Advisor

CARING, COMPASSION AND LOVE

In the past six months we have been constantly reminded of the bleak financial prospects that our country as well as most countries of the world will be facing. With each prospect of recovery have come ever gloomier reports that have seemed to dash hope. And yet, in the midst of all this, we became a part of the "Miracle on the Hudson." We watched and listened to the media as the first reports of the downing of US AIRWAYS flight 1549 in the Hudson River. All 155 passengers and crew of five escaped what surely could have been their demise. We needed to find hope and optimism in our frustrated world. Don’t you feel God was present to all these people?

If God is not present in our lives, there can never be hope, for it is through our Faith that we are filled with hope and optimism. Each one of us must keep our eyes and ears open to what is going on in our midst. We must hear what is unsaid and see what is not visible if we are to be faith filled people, willing to go beyond our comfortable world so as to be able to help those of God's people who are most in need.

As a member of the Catholic Women's League of Canada, you are called to serve God and Canada. How this is to happen is not so clearly spelled out and when you will be called upon is uncertain. Be conscious of those about you as League members as well as those in our communities. Be a welcoming person doing the will of God. Be warm and inviting, making the effort to bring a member to a meeting who has no way of getting there. Become involved in your own council by being willing to step "up to the plate" and offering your gifts so as to make the council alive. If each of the passengers on flight 1549 said "it's not my job", surely they would have all perished. Your council needs you to be an "alive" member working for the good of God and Canada! Are you willing?

I drew the title of this paper from the focus of the readings on the recent Fifth Sunday of Ordinary time where we are reminded that loving one another can be part of our showing God that we are most grateful for all that He has done for us. From the beginning of time, God has cared for and provided for us as we are His children. While we may not always see or believe this, in the first reading of this day we heard Job lamenting what may seem to fit our lives so well: Life on earth is a drudgery. The paradox of our faith is that, when God appears most distant from us, He is, in fact, the closest.

The second reading on this Sunday from Paul reminds us that when we live for the sake of the Gospel, God provides for us. When we are doing God's will, He provides for us. This is why we can find countless examples of individuals and councils jumping into action whenever and wherever a need arises.

And in the gospel we encountered Jesus' healing of the mother-in-law of Peter. Jesus gave us all an indication of how we too must respond to the problems of those about us. Sometimes we can get so buried with our own battles and difficulties that we can become much like Job. We can wallow in self-pity, self-doubt, self-reproach, rather than picking ourselves up, dusting ourselves off and allowing God into the deepest and scariest corners of our lives. We must be ready to minister to all people, whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Let us all move forward as Caring, Compassionate and Loving people. If we so this, we might just find that the world we live in isn’t quite so bleak.

God bless you.

Spring 2008
Father Tom Moisan, Diocesan Spiritual Advisor

Those of you who know me will agree that I find it very difficult to sit back and let the roof collapse and say nothing. I guess that has always been and always will be who I am. I do speak up, maybe too often.

All too often as I look around (and listen) at our Catholic Women's League functions, be it at the parish, the regional, diocesan, provincial, and national, it becomes quite obvious that there are many women at all these levels who are filled with enthusiasm and hope for the future growth of the League both spiritually and physically who are fearful that they may upset the proverbial "apple-cart" and refrain from offering their thoughts or volunteering to become involved for whatever reason. I find this very sad. If the members are to grow spiritually and in number, this wealth of new blood needs to become active and involved. Our Lord is our model of what it is to become involved. He never shied away from listening and being involved. There is always a risk to anything that is of change.

In a previous Spectrum, I asked the question: ARE YOU WILLING TO LEAD? From the many phone calls and face-to-face conversations, this sparked a challenge that has had a positive effect. A few presidents even asked if they could reproduce this and give it to their members. As well, my list of 10 observations at last Fall's Regional Meetings also made many sit up and take note. I do not consider myself as someone who has the answers on what to do to make the CWL the most dynamic organization in the world, or at best Canada. Each one of us has the power to motivate, if we are willing to take the risk and make an effort to lead.

As we enter some rough waters in the near future, we have no idea what will befall our country. We all need to place our trust in Almighty God and pray for not only ourselves but for our Prime Minister and all elected officials that they will do what is right and just for all the people of our land and not just special interest groups.

Let us pray for the Catholic Women's League on all levels that its members will never back away from speaking out when they see injustice happening on all levels.

Lastly, let all members of the many Hamilton Councils work together to live out For God and Canada. There is much to do but with God's help and that of Our Mother of Good counsel, we will accomplish much. To paraphrase John F. Kennedy, Ask not what your Council can do for you but rather what can you do for your Council.

Make your plans now to attend this year's Hamilton Diocesan Council's 88th Annual Convention.

God bless you.