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Hamilton diocese: Model for diocesan mission awareness campaign
BY KATHLEEN ANCKER, C.F.R.E.
From left: Jerri Hasey, and CMIC committee members Georgina Bourke, Hamilton CWL diocesan president, Anna Brady, Hamilton CWL diocesan treasurer, and Shirley Sullivan.

From left: Jerri Hasey, and CMIC committee members Georgina Bourke, Hamilton CWL diocesan president, Anna Brady, Hamilton CWL diocesan treasurer, and Shirley Sullivan.

In 2008, Catholic Missions In Canada celebrated 100 years of supporting Catholic missionaries and their work across Canada. Despite its long history, very few Catholics in Canada know about our organization.

The 100th Anniversary Committee—which included a representative for the Catholic Women’s League (Betty Anne Brown) and the Knights of Columbus (Arthur Peters)—issued a challenging goal: to hold one event in every diocese across Canada.

The purpose of the event was across Canada. two-fold: (1) to raise awareness of the work done by Catholic missionaries across Canada, and (2) to raise funds to support the needs of Catholic missionaries across Canada.

With the blessing of the Bishop Anthony Tonnos of Hamilton, a gathering in the Pastoral Centre at St. Dominic parish in Oakville, Ontario, in November 2007 was arranged to discuss the possibility of holding a “Catholic Missions In Canada Awareness” event in the Diocese of Hamilton.

Catholic Missions In Canada president Father Philip Kennedy, on extreme right, with: from left, Father Martin Vallely, dean of Hamilton deanery and pastor of St. Francis Xavier parish in Stoney Creek, Ontario; Father Ted Hughes, chaplain for Correctional Services of Canada Kingston Penitentiary; Father Roger Formosi, former CMIC president and now dean of Halton deanery and pastor of St. Dominic parish,

Catholic Missions In Canada president Father Philip Kennedy, on extreme right, with: from left, Father Martin Vallely, dean of Hamilton deanery and pastor of St. Francis Xavier parish in Stoney Creek, Ontario; Father Ted Hughes, chaplain for Correctional Services of Canada Kingston Penitentiary; Father Roger Formosi, former CMIC president and now dean of Halton deanery and pastor of St. Dominic parish,

Our host was Father Roger Formosi, pastor of St. Dominic’s parish and past president of Catholic Missions In Canada. Also at the meeting were Georgina Bourke, president, Hamilton Diocesan Catholic Women’s League; Mary Carlin, past president, Hamilton Diocesan Catholic Women’s League; and Terry Green, director, Hamilton Diocesan Association, Knights of Columbus. Both the League and the Knights agreed to take up the challenge.

To allow more parishioners to participate, the committee decided to plan three events in the northern, central and southern regions of the diocese.

Local committees would be set up in each area, with the Knights and the League combining their incredible energy and talents to make each event a success. The Diocese of Hamilton became the prototype for hosting such events across Canada.

The Northern Event was held on Sunday, October 19, 2008, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, in Walkerton, Ontario.

The planning committee was chaired by Mary Carlin, past president, and Evelyn Collins, corresponding secretary of the Hamilton Diocesan Catholic Women’s League, and Doug Oehring, past Grand Knight, Knights of Columbus Council 2042.

Bishop Douglas Crosby of Corner Brook and Labrador with: from left, Brian Hughes, chair of the Knights of Columbus Hamilton Diocesan Association and district warden of District 35 North Zone; Mary Jane Yaeger, Hamilton Diocesan Catholic Women’s League president-elect and organizing chair; Mary Carlin, past president; Ana Sousa, chair for spiritual development, and Georgina Burke, incumbent president.

Bishop Douglas Crosby of Corner Brook and Labrador with: from left, Brian Hughes, chair of the Knights of Columbus Hamilton Diocesan Association and district warden of District 35 North Zone; Mary Jane Yaeger, Hamilton Diocesan Catholic Women’s League president-elect and organizing chair; Mary Carlin, past president; Ana Sousa, chair for spiritual development, and Georgina Burke, incumbent president.

The hall was decorated in an autumn theme by members of Knights and their wives, while displays showcased the work and history of CMIC. An excellent “Bruce County Beef” dinner was enjoyed by 121 attendees, while they were regaled with tales of the Canadian missions by Father Roger Formosi. The event raised a total of $4,090. The Southern Event was held on November 8th at the Hamilton Convention Centre in Hamilton. The chairpersons of the planning committee for the dinner and silent auction were Rosanne Sogan, 1st vice president and Resolutions chair, Hamilton Diocese CWL for the League, and Jim Monkelbaan, District Deputy 100 and South Zone chair, Diocese of Hamilton for the Knights.

Hamilton Diocese Catholic Women’s League officers Cynthia Harris, Beth Anne Elliott, Georgina Burke and Rosanne Sogan.

Hamilton Diocese Catholic Women’s League officers Cynthia Harris, Beth Anne Elliott, Georgina Burke and Rosanne Sogan.

Missionary Bishop Gary Gordon from the Diocese of Whitehorse in the Yukon, inspired the 121 diners with harrowing tales of minus 45-degree weather that missionaries braved for the love of the people they served. The event raised $4,272 for our Catholic missionaries.

The Central Event was a dinner held on November 30th at the Cambridge Knights of Columbus Hall in Cambridge, Ontario.

The planning committee was chaired by Mary Jane Yaeger, president-elect, and cochair Ana Sousa, chair for spiritual development of the Hamilton Diocesan CWL, and Brian Hughes, District Deputy 35 and North Zone chair, and co-chair Gerry Kelly, District Warden for District 35, Diocese of Hamilton for the nights of Columbus.

Missionary Bishop Douglas Crosby, O.M.I., from the Diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador, guest speaker, spoke about ministry among the Innu people in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Despite a cold blustery day, 160 people came to enjoy a wonderful meal, experience the fellowship of the Knights and the League and to learn more about CMIC. The event raised $2,448.

Kathleen Ancker, C.F.R.E., is national development director of Catholic Missions In Canada. 
*I want to extend my grateful appreciation to all volunteers— members of the Catholic Women’s League, the Knights of Columbus, as well as the clergy and parishioners—who worked to make each event a very special evening. The combined events hosted 402 people with $10,729 raised to help support the religious and lay missionaries and their mission communities across Canada.
–Father Philip Kennedy, President, Catholic Missions In Canada

© 2011 Catholic Missions In Canada Charitable BN # 119220531 RR0001