CHRISTCHURCH DIOCESEN REPORT NATIONAL CONFERENCE HAMILTON 17^th JULY 2008
 

It is with much pleasure I present my first National Conference Report as President of the Christchurch Diocese.
 

Our membership is holding with 553 members and 21 Branches. We now have 5 Regions and 22 Lone Leaguers. With a country Branch closing down since last National Conference and members unable to take on positions at Council level it was decided to join two city Regions together and this has worked out well. With our membership getting older the Lone League group has more members than some Branches. Pat Duncan writes each month to these ladies and this is very much appreciated by these members. A big thank you Pat.
 

Several Branches have celebrated 25, 40 and 50 year Jubilees. Many members have also received 25, 40 and 50 year badges at these celebrations. Each was celebrated with Mass followed by a luncheon or morning tea and on each occasion a great time was had by all. With the ageing membership the Darfield Branch went into recess just one month after celebrating their 40^th Jubilee. At one of these celebrations I gave out badges to members and the total of ‘Faith and Service’ came to 700 years. This is wonderful work done by these ladies.
 

Diocesan Conference 2007
This was held in the lovely country town of Methven under the back drop of Mount Hutt. Members travelled down from Christchurch by bus or car. The conference Mass was held at Our Lady of the Snow Church and was concelebrated by Bishop Barry Jones with Father John Morrison and two other Priests attending. We adjoined across the road to the Methven Resort for the conference and also the accommodation.
We were pleased to welcome Tui Pasco to her first Christchurch conference since she has taken office as National President. 
Our first speaker on the Theme ‘Church, Culture and Identity’ was well known past racing commentator Reon Murtha. He spoke of his life growing up as a catholic school boy and the influence it had on him. On the second day we had a panel and Jack O’Donnell spoke of the changes he had seen in the Church over 60 years, Susan Dickson gave a power point presentation on identity “We are what we do” and Bede O’Malley told us how he uses his faith to try to do what he feels is right in public office.
Clare Dooley, Director Catholic Youth Team shared with us her enthusiasm for World Youth Day which was inspirational. She showed us a power point presentation from the previous World Youth Days. This will be a once in a life time experience for these young people who are going to see Pope Benedict. After all they will be our future Church. This week Clare is the Christchurch Representative who is to have lunch with Pope Benedict.
A collection was taken up for Gizo in the Solomon Islands and $1060.50 was raised.
Sue Crone received a well deserved Life Membership to the Diocesan Council.
We said goodbye to Lorraine Doyle as she finished her term as President.
A beautiful dinner was held on the Saturday evening and this was finished off with some light entertainment.
The hospitality from Region 4 was superb. From the cup of tea for the travellers before Mass, to the cookies in our rooms, the welcome cards, souvenir placemats at dinner, flowers and a tour of the country side made us feel very welcome. A big thank you to our country members for making us most welcome and also to John McNeill our bus driver.
 

Diocesan Conference 2008
We had difficulty getting the speakers as this was the weekend that a Pilgrimage was to be in Temuka for World Youth Day. So we looked outside the square and both our speakers were from the Anglican Church. The first one was Reverend Lynda Paterson, Director of Theologian House in Christchurch. She comes from Ireland and studied at Oxford University.
Examples from the old master and modern painting were used to study the settings of Martha and Mary as portrayed by the artist and to analyse the posturing of characters in the paintings. We all need to be both Martha and Mary she said “To work is to pray”.
She gave an excellent account on the theme of Martha and Mary.
 

Christchurch teacher Sue Angus spoke on her work in Thailand teaching English to under-privileged children. Sue and her husband spend sometime each year as volunteer workers. They have gathered up sewing machines in New Zealand for young people to start up a cottage industry. By teaching the girls some skills such as sewing, bed making and cleaning duties it is hoped they may get jobs and not work on the streets.
 

One of our members Sister Marie Rita McLean National Chaplin for ‘Faith and Light’ and three others gave a presentation of the work and philosophy of the group. It was interesting to hear about their work with these special people. It is a world wide organisation and in New Zealand there are ten communities, three of these are in Christchurch.
A collection was taken up and $640 was raised.
 
Branches have been working hard to raise money for their Mission Stations with the usual raffles, cake stalls, funeral catering, auctions & fashion parades. Bingo and euchre evenings, sale of lily bulbs are some of the many activities that have been held. In the works of our past President ‘If members stood still too long they would either be sold on a sale table or raffled’. But all this was held to raise money for their Mission Stations. We had a small increase in what was collected last year and a total of $47.441 was raised.
Some Branches sent money to their Mission Station for students to be able to go to WYD in Sydney. Also help was given to the young people in their Parishes.      
Thanks to Sue Crone who keeps in touch with the Mission Secretary and keeps us informed. Also thanks to Maureen Kerr who sent Branches with Mission Stations in Samoa a lovely report on her trip to the Islands. This was very much appreciated by their Branches. 
 

Bishop John Cuneen retired in May 2007 we would like to thank Bishop John for his interest and commitment over many years to the League.
We welcome Bishop Barry Jones and look forward to working with him.
In January 2007 Father John Morrison was transferred to the West Coast Parish of Greymouth. We are very thankful that with this appointment he is still able to be our League Chaplin. Although Father isn’t able to make every monthly meeting he still keeps in touch with us. Thank you Father for being able to come with us to Hamilton.
 

WUCWO
We are thankful to Mary Slattery who keeps us well informed with information she receives from the International Secretary. Many Branches once again celebrate the day with other Branches or Sister Churches with either Mass or a Liturgy at which a collection is taken up and the evening finishing off with a Speaker.
 

Hospital Support Trust
We had been asked by the Dioceses to have a Representative on this organization several years ago. With the close of Sunnyside and Templeton Hospitals this group sadly held their final meeting in May last year. I would like to thank everyone who has befriended someone from either Sunnyside or Templeton Hospital. We hope Branches will be able to stay in touch with their friend.
Thank you to all who have represented the League on this committee. This has been very much appreciated.
Another organisation that has gone into recess is the Christchurch group of PPSEAWA. Thank you to the members who over many years represented the League on this committee.
Thank you to the members who have represented the League on Outside Organisations this has been very much appreciated.
 

 

 

SPIRITUAL
A Day of Reflection was held at Rosary House. We came away with a lot to think about.
November 2006 held the last Christ the King Procession. We now celebrate Corpus Christi but this is in winter and due to the cold weather we unfortunately didn’t get a very good turn out. But some members are able to come and the procession was this year held around the inside of the Cathedral.
Mass for Life is now held at the Cathedral.
Many branches invite sister Churches for an Ecumenical Services.
Branches start their meetings with Mass, Prayer or Meditation. Thank you to our Chaplains for their untiring work.
Opening and closing Masses are well attended.
 

SOCIAL CONCERNS 
Many and varied concerns have been discussed by branches of the League over the last two years. The Easter trading is probably the one that comes up the most. Party pills, young offenders, sale of fireworks are to name a few.
A plea for knitted woollen premature baby garments for the Neo-Natal Units especially at Christchurch, Whangarei, Wellington and Middlemore Auckland. As a result members have been busy with their   knitting needles.
Members also knit hats & gloves for ‘Street Out Reach’ these are given to the people who live on the street. 
 

    
 

The Branches who receive Lottery grants take members out on bus trips. If it wasn’t for this grant some of these members wouldn’t have the chance to have an outing.
 

Over the last two years several members have passed away and my sympathy goes to their families and Branches. Two ladies who passed away were with us at the last Conference in Wellington. One was our past President Geraldine Scott and the other was Noeline De Courcey. After Noeline shifted from the Dunedin Dioceses she was very involved in the Christchurch branch at Darfield and she was a delegate on N.C.W. Each month she would send in a very detailed report which was written by hand. May these ladies and other members R.I.P.       
 

Over the last few months I have been involved in the ‘Day’s in the Dioceses’. I was the co-ordinator for my Parish. Our visitors came from Fort Worth Texas. This was an interesting time and to be able the meet these Pilgrims has been very rewarding. At Wellington Conference when the dates were discussed I didn’t know what DID meant and I’m pleased that this Conference is being held this week because I would have been disappointed to have missed this experience. I’m sure these pilgrims and our own will experience something they will remember for their lifetime on their visit to Sydney and Mass with Pope Benedict.    
 

Last September, along with Sue and Zella I went to Adelaide for the Australian Conference. We meet up with Tui and several other New Zealand members. The Conference was well run and we heard some very interesting and varied speakers and enjoyed the fellowship. It was great to meet the Australian League members and see how they run their Conference. But when it came to morning, afternoon teas and lunchtime, there was a big hold up for a cuppa. The catering staff need to be trained by NZ CWL ladies on how to pour drinks quicker! We were able to incorporate some sight seeing and shopping and many laughs and a good time was had.   
 

Thank you to Father Morrison for his spiritual leadership and the time he has given celebrating Masses and attending meetings.
Many, many thanks to my hard working executive Zella, Sue and Shirley. These ladies have made my job less stressful and they are just a phone call or email away. 
To all of the members on Council and those who work behind the scene who generously give their time and talents in the name of Faith and Service.
 

Yours in Faith and Service
Jenny Muschamp
Christchurch President