PROVINCIAL CONVENTION 2022
We celebrated 100 years of service very well! 142 delegates (members and spiritual advisors) and 5 guests attended our in-person gathering at the Rodd Royalty in Charlottetown on May 6th & 7th. 25 of our 30 Councils were represented!
We were honored to have our National President, Fran Lucas, join us for the full Convention and she shared with us more on the new theme, Catholic & Living It!, as well as the progress of the Strategic Plan and the future of the League. She also challenged us to make 100 ribbons for Ukraine and bring them to National Convention for a huge display to show our support.
We were privileged to have Lt. Governor, Antionette Perry, join us for Mass and the Banquet. She spoke so eloquently. She congratulated and thanked the members for their many years of service.
We had a beautiful Mass celebrating 100 Years of Service for God and Canada and the Provincial Officers affirmed their positions and committed to continue to be faithful to their call and help all League members for the next year.
Business Sessions took place with voting on Amendments and sharing of Annual Reports. Chartered Councils were recognized as well with a special certificate. We had a beautiful memorial for our deceased members and a letter was presented to the council for the family who lost their loved one.
We heard an inspiring and engaging story by Julie Pellissier-Lush on 7 generations and we learned about her history, her culture and her knowledge. This was a highlight of the Convention!
During the banquet, Life Member, Elaine Black, shared a PowerPoint presentation on the history of CWL in PEI, which was jam-packed with interesting facts most of us did not know.
And, of course, we had fun! We enjoyed hearing Marg Fitzpatrick’s funny story, we learned to Line Dance and we enjoyed a relaxing Fireside Chat with our National President Friday evening with snacks, wine and music! On Saturday, we had special entertainment from our Life Members who put on a skit and sang so beautifully in their habits.
It was a busy 2 days of faith, fellowship and fun!
About PEI CWL
The Catholic Women’s League on Prince Edward Island consists of 30 councils representing approximately 1700 members. This membership is part of a National membership of over 70,000 members all working “For God and Canada.”
The first council to be organized on PEI was the Charlottetown Council (then called sub-division) in the summer of 1921 with 107 charter members. From this early beginning, interest in this organization of Catholic women blossomed into what it is today.
Our National Theme is “Catholic & Living It!” which is lived out on Prince Edward Island.
PRESIDENT’S PROFILE
Gay Garvey
Prince Edward Island Provincial President
I am very happy to be elected as your Provincial President for the years 2021-2023. This past year and a half has been, as it is often referred to, “unprecedented”. I agree, COVID-19 has thrown us into uncertain and new ways of doing things. At the same time, we have been called to be prudent, to pray and put our trust in God’s wisdom.
For those who don’t know me, I am usually called by my middle name, “Gay Garvey”. I was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario where I attended Catholic school and graduated from St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing with my RN Diploma. In 1971, my husband Tom and I moved to PEI, worked and raised our 5 children. om passed away in 2015 and my oldest son Michael in 2019. I now have 11 grandchildren who are the joy of my life.
I have been a CWL Member for 37 years at St. Dunstan’s Basilica Parish, Charlottetown. I was on the PEI Provincial Council from 1998-2002 and 2016 to present. I have also been involved with the Canadian Youth Pro-Life Organization, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition/Palliative Care, PEI Right to Life Association, Ignatian Spirituality Exercises and Prayer Group plus parish involvement over the years and most recently COVID Ministry.
I worked for 22 years at the Dr. John Gillis Lodge in Eldon, PEI. During that time, I worked as the Director of Nursing for 12 years and then as staff RN up until I finally retired. I also obtained my RN Certification in Gerontology at the same time.
At the National AMM the new two-year theme, “Catholic and Living It!” was announced by our new National President, Fran Lucas. It will run from January 1st, 2022 to December 31st, 2023. Fran hopes that building relationships as a ‘Catholic and Living It’ will make for stronger families, members, councils, parish communities, partner organizations and beyond.
God Bless You and Your Families and May Our Lady of Good Counsel Guide Us.
PARISHES
| All Saints , Cardigan Corpus Christi, Glenwood Holy Redeemer, Charlottetown Immaculate Conception, Palmer Road Our Lady of the Assumption, Stratford Sacred Heart, Alberton St. Ann’s, Emyvale St. Anthony’s, Bloomfield St. Brigid, Foxley River St. Columba, East Point St. Cuthbert’s, St. Teresa’s St. Dunstan’s Basilica, Charlottetown St. Felix, Tignish St. Francis of Assisi, Cornwall St. Georges, St. Georges |
St. Joachim’s, Vernon River St. John the Baptist, Miscouche St. Joseph’s, Kelly’s Cross St. Malachy’s, Kinkora St. Martin’s, Cumberland St. Mary’s Holy Family, Kensington/Indian River St. Mary’s, Souris St. Michael’s, Corran Ban St. Patrick’s, Ft. Augustus St. Paul’s, Summerside St. Peter’s, St. Peter’s Bay St. Peter’s, Seven Mile Bay St. Pius X, Charlottetown St. Simon & St. Jude, Tignish St. Lawrence / St. Theresa, Morell |