Communiqué #12 – Faith
Rolande Chernichan, National Chairperson of Faith, November 30, 2024
Dear sisters in the League,
Greetings! It is with joy that I encounter you through this communiqué, with the words of Pope Francis, “A joy ever new, a joy which is shared.” In his exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, the Holy Father reminds us, “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus.” His exhortation encourages “the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.”
Advent ushers in liturgical Year C and Christmas Eve heralds the birth of Jesus and the start of Jubilee 2025: Pilgrims of Hope when the Holy Father opens the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. A jubilee year presents opportunities for journeying in faith and pilgrimage, seeking reconciliation and renewal in Catholics’ relationship with God.
In keeping with the policy of quarterly communiqués, provincial chairpersons are urged to draw from the following information to communicate to their diocesan counterparts and members:
Great Symphony of Prayer webinar series: The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), in charge of organizing the 2025 Jubilee for Canada, launched a series of eight free-access webinars on the theme of prayer, entitled “A Great Symphony of Prayer” led by Dr. Josephine Lombardi. The April series “The Our Father as a Programme of Life” is available on the CCCB Jubilee webpage. The October “Mary, the Saints and Scripture” series will soon be available using the same link. Chairpersons are encouraged to share this information with members, inviting them to view the webinars during Advent as part of their spiritual preparation for the Jubilee.
CWL Advent Webinar, “A Walk Through Salvation History” (December 15th): Mark your calendar and register to join sisters across Canada for Advent.
Pilgrimage to Rome 2025: Jubilee of Hope: Thank you for your interest and favourable response to the survey circulated in September. Planning is underway for a pilgrimage to Rome in November 2025. Watch for registration information in the winter issue of The Canadian League.
Pope Francis’ Encyclical ‘Delexit Nos’ (He Loved Us): Released October 24, 2024, the Holy Father speaks about the human and divine love of the heart of Jesus. It is Pope Francis’s fourth encyclical, coinciding with the 350th anniversary of the first apparition of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. Members are urged to prayerfully read the encyclical.
World Day of Prayer (March 7, 2025): Councils and members are invited to join in prayer and action by sharing in this global ecumenical movement led by Christian women. The day’s theme, I Made You Wonderful, based on Psalm 139:1-18, reinforces that women and girls are “fearfully and wonderfully made” in the image of God.
Lenten Webinar: “Hope in the Midst of Turmoil” (April 6, 2025): Mark your calendar and join sisters across Canada! Register here!
As we celebrate Christmas and begin a New Year and Jubilee 2025 as Pilgrims of Hope, I echo the prayer of St. Paul in his letter to the Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Blessings,
Rolande Chernichan
National Chairperson of Faith
Go to CWL.ca for the link.
An Advent Reflection
Margaret Ann Jacobs
National Chairperson of Spiritual Development
December 2011
During Advent, all members are called to find opportunities
to become more aware of how God touches our lives each
day so that we can be a sign of this love in the world. Daily
meditation, liturgy of the hours, scripture reading and reflection, perhaps Advent calendars or
Jesse trees may be a preferred avenue of preparation for the rebirth of Christ in our lives. Let
this be an opportunity to activate the principles of all members as we pray together, “Dear Lord,
during this Advent season mould our hearts in preparation for your return.” Specifically, I would
like to encourage the renewal of the tradition of the advent wreath. What an amazing way to
refocus on the value of family prayer and channel energies and highlight our responsibility as
Christians to reach out to others in need.
Create an advent wreath together: evergreen symbolizes renewal in Christ – renewal hoped for
by those before Christ’s first coming and the ultimate renewal we long for in Christ’s second
coming; the circular shape symbolizes the completeness of God; the candles symbolizing the
light of Christ coming into the world – three purple, one rose, one white in the centre for
Christmas day. Candle 1 – Hope (purple); Candle 2 – Peace (purple); Candle 3 – Joy (rose);
Candle 4 – Love ((purple); Candle 5 – Christ (white). Each candle is lit on the appropriate
Sunday of Advent and then each day as part of the family’s daily prayer routine. Gathering
around the dinner table offers a wonderful way to encourage family bonding and for each
member to share. After the prayer is said for the week, each member of the family could offer an
individual request focusing on the theme for each week (i.e. hope, peace, joy, love). This would
be an excellent opportunity to reach out to others less fortunate, focus on the presence of Christ
in our world and highlight the real meaning of Christmas.
Advent Wreath Prayers
Lighting the Advent Wreath:
Almighty God, we begin this advent season as an advent people – ready to do your will. Let your
blessing come upon us as we light this wreath. May it turn our hearts to you in the days ahead.
Grant us the peace and joy we long for, as we await the coming of your Son with patient hearts.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Scripture
“Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious
crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also
must be patient.
Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (James 5.7-8
Margaret Ann Jacobs
National Chairperson of Spiritual Development
December 2011
During Advent, all members are called to find opportunities
to become more aware of how God touches our lives each
day so that we can be a sign of this love in the world. Daily
meditation, liturgy of the hours, scripture reading and reflection, perhaps Advent calendars or
Jesse trees may be a preferred avenue of preparation for the rebirth of Christ in our lives. Let
this be an opportunity to activate the principles of all members as we pray together, “Dear Lord,
during this Advent season mould our hearts in preparation for your return.” Specifically, I would
like to encourage the renewal of the tradition of the advent wreath. What an amazing way to
refocus on the value of family prayer and channel energies and highlight our responsibility as
Christians to reach out to others in need.
Create an advent wreath together: evergreen symbolizes renewal in Christ – renewal hoped for
by those before Christ’s first coming and the ultimate renewal we long for in Christ’s second
coming; the circular shape symbolizes the completeness of God; the candles symbolizing the
light of Christ coming into the world – three purple, one rose, one white in the centre for
Christmas day. Candle 1 – Hope (purple); Candle 2 – Peace (purple); Candle 3 – Joy (rose);
Candle 4 – Love ((purple); Candle 5 – Christ (white). Each candle is lit on the appropriate
Sunday of Advent and then each day as part of the family’s daily prayer routine. Gathering
around the dinner table offers a wonderful way to encourage family bonding and for each
member to share. After the prayer is said for the week, each member of the family could offer an
individual request focusing on the theme for each week (i.e. hope, peace, joy, love). This would
be an excellent opportunity to reach out to others less fortunate, focus on the presence of Christ
in our world and highlight the real meaning of Christmas.
Advent Wreath Prayers
Lighting the Advent Wreath:
Almighty God, we begin this advent season as an advent people – ready to do your will. Let your
blessing come upon us as we light this wreath. May it turn our hearts to you in the days ahead.
Grant us the peace and joy we long for, as we await the coming of your Son with patient hearts.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Scripture
“Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious
crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also
must be patient.
Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (James 5.7-8
The Adoration of the Child
C. 1524-1526
oil on canvas inv. 1890 no. 1453
The subject of this painting is based on the vision of the birth of Christ that Saint Bridget (Birgitta) of Sweden (1303-1373) recounted in her Revelations and Prophecies. In the pale light of dawn, a beautiful and joyful Madonna kneels before the newborn Jesus. contemplating his beauty.
Uffizi Gallery in Florence
C. 1524-1526
oil on canvas inv. 1890 no. 1453
The subject of this painting is based on the vision of the birth of Christ that Saint Bridget (Birgitta) of Sweden (1303-1373) recounted in her Revelations and Prophecies. In the pale light of dawn, a beautiful and joyful Madonna kneels before the newborn Jesus. contemplating his beauty.
Uffizi Gallery in Florence
Wishing you all a meaningful advent. See you on Dec 10 at our Christmas Luncheon. Lenten retreat December7 at 3- mark your calandar!
Blessings,
Anne