The first Annual Meeting for the Parish of Saint Leonard was held May 25, 2008 on the Feast of the Body & Blood of Christ. It began at 2:00 p.m. Approximately 120 parishioners gathered at the Gaul Centre of the parish to hear reports regarding the pastoral and temporal activity during the year 2007. Parishioners had received supporting written materials (hard copy, electronic version via e-mail, website version) the week prior in order to allow some review time. Reports were presented from 5 committees of the Pastoral Council - Catechesis & Youth, Liturgy, Pastoral Care of the Sick/Bereavement, Finance & Administration, and Facility; 6 subcommittees of the Finance and Administration Committee - Auditorium Committee, Ways & Means, Men's Club, Lingan Hall Committee, Saint Agnes Centre Committee, and Cemetery Committee; and 4 associated organizations - St. Joseph’s New Victoria Altar Society, the Catholic Women’s League, St. Vincent de Paul, and the Carmel Centre Society. The financial report for the year was reviewed and questions submitted prior to the meeting by a parishioner were addressed. Tea, coffee and water prepared by volunteers made a short recess a time for socializing and refreshment.
Following the break the Chair named her wish to step outside of the day’s agenda and proceeded to offer brief comments on the current issues facing the parish as a way of acknowledging that many people present for the meeting were concerned about the future direction of the parish. Upon concluding her remarks, the Chair refocused the group on the day’s Annual Meeting agenda and moved forward by opening the floor to questions. Questions of clarification of the Financial Statements were responded to - some in detail and others by way of follow up work required post-meeting. Process questions and questions relating to detailed items were also asked and addressed. Comments ranging from support of the work and those doing the work to various disappointments and struggles facing the parish were received and acknowledged by the Chair. The meeting was adjourned at 4:35 p.m.
Report from 2007 Annual General Meeting
Development & Peace Fall Education Campaign
“Working for our land, fighting for our rights”
Imagine This…
Location:
Siria Valley in Honduras
Situation: The people live in poverty, though at least in the past, they were able to grow
enough food to feed themselves. That situation changed when a gold mine opened in 1998. The mine forced many families off their land. Since that time, gold has been extracted by cyanide leaching. This process is under attack world-wide because it not only wastes much water but frequently poisons the soil, rivers and ground water. In the Siria Valley, the mine in question is pumping so much water that many village wells have dried up. Others are now
contaminated with cyanide, lead, and arsenic. Because these wells are the only water supply for the villages, many people have high levels of arsenic and lead in their bodies. But
there is more to this situation which further calls us to do something about it: the company in question is a Canadian company and a profitable one at that. What’s more, it is supported by us through our pension plans and our investment structures.
What can we do?:
Our government needs to pass laws to ensure that Canadian mining companies quit making messes and quit pushing people around. Then mines can be generators of development and not generators of poverty and sickness as they often are now. Our own Catholic international organization, Development and Peace, is holding a campaign to see this happen. Inside your bulletin this weekend you will find an Action Card that says to our government: “We insist that you develop legal mechanisms to hold Canadian mining companies accountable for their actions in the Global South.” Please take the time to sign both the card to the Prime Minister and to our MP, Mark Eyking. You can drop the cards in the mail yourself, or you can drop signed cards in the collection basket on the December 6th/7th weekend. Alternatively, you could sign the online petition on the Development & Peace website.In February of 2008, the Pastoral Council of the Parish of Saint Leonard formed a Steering Group to oversee the important work begun by the Facility Committee with respect to parish properties. In January of 2009, the Steering Group handed their work over to Pastoral Council. In the month that followed, both Pastoral Council and Finance & Administration reviewed and completed the work, resulting in the Parish of Saint Leonard Discussion Document.
Parish of Saint Leonard Discussion Document
Parishioners are encouraged to read the document in its fullness and to spend some time reflecting and praying about it. Following this, parishioners are invited to provide feedback to Pastoral Council using the Discussion Document Response Form.
Discussion Document Response Form
It is requested that the Response Forms be completed and submitted by the Feb 29th/March 1st weekend. A parish meeting will be held at 2 PM at the Mount Carmel Auditorium on Sunday, March 8th.
Parish of Saint Leonard Discussion Document
Now Available