Confirmed Delegates, remember:

Wear your CWL pins (and scarf if you have one).
All attendees are encouraged to wear red on Friday in honor of our military and missing and murdered women.
Please bring:
- A bag to hold your convention materials
- Your Council Banner (and stand)
- Cash to purchase items from our vendors and for donations to our featured charities
- Isezerano & Abdi Days for Girls Social Enterprises will be an exhibitor at the convention. Joanne is asking for "hotel-sized" bars of soap. You can bring them to her exhibit table.
When you arrive at the convention, you need to check in and pick up your convention materials. You can do this:
- Thursday, May 2 between 5:00 to 7:00 pm (tentative), or
- Friday, May 3 between 7:45 and 8:30 am, or
- Saturday, May 4 between 8:00 and 8:30 am
A name badge will be provided when you sign in at the convention. Please wear it at all times, as you cannot enter the convention room without it.
You must sign the attendance record each day you are at the Convention.
Food:
- Breakfast each day is on your own
- Morning breaks include beverages and snacks
- Lunches and suppers are at the hotel. Meals must be prepurchased when you register so we can give the numbers to the caterer. They cannot be purchased at the Convention.

Early Bird Draw: Members who register and pay by March 22 will have their name entered in a draw to win one of two gift baskets.

Meetings

Friday – Pre-Convention Meeting:
Friday is an informative day with motivational guest speakers. Our clergy and spiritual advisors are welcome to spend the day with us to hear the speakers, or just come for lunch. They do not pay the registration fee if they attend only the Friday lunch. Parish Councils should pay for their Spiritual Advisor’s lunch (and fees if staying the entire day). We will introduce all spiritual advisors who have joined us.

The Friday speakers will be Rev. Tim Boyle, Dr. Bonnie Annicchiarico, and Dr. Peter Baltutis. In addition, we will be having a workshop, “Opportunities and Challenges of Being a Lay Woman in the Catholic Church Today”. We will share Friday supper at the hotel. Bishop William T. McGrattan will celebrate the Opening Mass at St. Cecilia’s Parish, 321 – 90 Avenue SE, at 7:00 p.m. It will be followed by a Wine & Cheese Reception hosted by the Knights of Columbus.

Saturday – Convention Meeting:
The convention meeting begins with a Memorial Service for our deceased members and spiritual advisors, followed by the business session. It is important to attend the Saturday convention as there will be an election of new Diocesan Officers and nominations for the ABMK Provincial Officers.

The Closing Mass and Installation of the Diocesan Officers will be held at St. Bonaventure Parish, 1600 Acadia Drive SE, at 5:00 pm, followed by the banquet at the Holiday Inn & Suites Conference Centre.

Parish Council Presidents:

This is an election year! You must bring the white copy of your Council's Instructed Vote with you on Saturday to participate in the election of new Diocesan Officers and nominations for the ABMK Provincial Officers.
The Post-Convention Meeting on Sunday will be led by our new President, Kathleen Winter. This is a short meeting where we bring forward motions to pay expenses, etc., and discuss upcoming Provincial & National Conventions. Parish Council Presidents should be there as they must vote on the financial decisions on behalf of their council. If a Parish Council President cannot attend, she should send a designate. All members are welcome to attend.

Parish Councils are asked to bring their Council Banners (with stands) to the Convention.

Convention Charities

Members and Councils are also asked to consider a monetary donation toward our featured convention charities.

Calgary Diocesan Council has a tradition of collecting donations from members and councils to support the Church and charitable organizations in our diocese and beyond. Any cheques can be payable to “Calgary Diocesan CWL Council” or the recipients.

Friday, May 3rd Community Collection - Calgary Catholic Immigration Society: CHARITY REGISTRATION #118823244RR0001 Donations support immigrants and refugees by funding essential settlement and integration services like housing, healthcare, education, language and job skills training, and employment. (ccisab.ca)

CCIS also serves areas outside Calgary including Brooks, Claresholm, Cochrane, Drumheller, Hanna, Taber, Medicine Hat, Okotoks, and High River; and has an agreement with the Diocese of Calgary to facilitate refugee sponsorships.

The Saturday, May 4, 2024 Memorial Service Collection recipient chosen by the Diocesan Officers is the Diocese of Calgary – Vocations Ministry. Donations support seminarians in their calling to the diocesan priesthood, men enrolled in the permanent diaconate program, and women and men discerning their call to consecrated life.

Make cheques payable to: "Calgary Diocesan CWL Council" or "Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary (Vocations)."