Dunedin Diocese Report to Conference July 2008

Another year has gone by as our 338 members in 16 branches work in their parishes and communities keeping the League motto of Faith and Service to the forefront.
Branches reported to the Diocesan Conference the depth of the work done on the Theme. They studied and took action on everything from Grandmothers to young children and our Identity as members of our communities and Churches, to identifying who we are as Catholics; our culture as in ethnicity, to the culture of families; and as our members considered Church, they asked, Who is the Church? Is it individuals? Is it an organization? Who are its people? What are their ages? What defines a member of the Church?
The answers were revealing and thought provoking. All I could comment as a summing up is that we all learned a lot about ourselves, what influences us, and they way we live our Faith. The three Remits from the Diocese endorse the work Branches have done during the year.
From the reports, branch activities change little as we are creatures of habit. However there were a few new initiatives. Thanks to the Tindall Foundation, The Alexandra branch ran a 4 day holiday camp for 35 10 to 15 year olds at a remote site in the Central Otago Mountains. Rivers were forded to get there, the power generator went off at 10.30pm and did not come on again until 6pm the next day, all sorts of outdoor activities filled the days, great food was enjoyed, songs were sung, and the moving Sunday Mass was experienced by some children for the first time and for others, the first in a long time.
South Dunedin refurbished an antique piano they found in one of the old Parish Offices, restoring it to its former glory for the use of the Branch giving beautiful music for them as they work!
Lottery board funded bus trips took members and guests to many places of interest.    
The Mission Report records the giving of $32,000 to charitable work which equates to over $100.00 per member. This is a tremendous effort especially when the age of our members is considered.
Now we come to the best news which I have kept until last.
There is to be a new branch established in the Dunedin Diocese!!
Dunedin North has taken some steps towards re-establishing a Branch which closed many years ago. The women are mostly young mothers with a professional background who want to come together under the League Banner. We welcome them with open arms and know that you will all be praying for their success.
Here is a quote I found in the Anderson’s Bay Branch Theme report on Faith.
“It is never enough to hold, maintain, or keep the faith. We must develop, pass on and allow the faith to grow with our own experience and the experience of our contemporaries.”
Now, as we work this year, recognizing , with help from Kay Blackburn, that in our busy and varied lives we are both Martha’s and Mary’s, may our Faith deepen, our friendships blossom and Catholic Women’s League flourish.
Deirdre Jolly