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2026 Calgary Diocesan Convention
The Calgary North CWL Councils hosted the 104th Annual Calgary Diocesan Convention on May 1-2, 2026 at the Doubletree Calgary North, 2120 - 16 Avenue NE, Calgary, AB.
Leah Perrault was our guest presenter. She spoke on the national theme: Ignite Your Passion; Empower His Mission.
In her first session, she spoke about the flame of spirituality that God places in each of us, and our responsibility to nurture that flame, finding and reclaiming the passion that God has given us.
Leah reminded us that God is delighted with us, and that living out our passion depends on our truly believing that God loves us and needs our gifts to be used in service, for ourselves and others.
In the second session, we turned our attention to the change of an era that we are experiencing in the church. There are fewer of us than there were decades ago, and the mission of the church is as important as ever.
Each of us, with our God-given talents and gifts, has the opportunity in the ordinary moments of our every day lives to participate in God's mission. Leah invited us to consider what God is asking us to give: to our families, our churches, our communities - and to stop doing the things that drain us or that we think we ought to do. Jesus is at work, and we can be of service by saying yes to the parts that are ours.
We ended with a reminder that we should listen to Mary's words to the disciples at Cana: Do whatever he tells you!
The following oral reports are for 2025:
Diocesan Officers Oral Reports:
Regional Chair Oral Reports:
St Mary's Chair for Catholic Studies
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2026 Calgary Diocesan Convention
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The Catholic Women’s League of Canada
CALGARY DIOCESAN COUNCIL
Faith – Service – Social Justice
104th Annual Calgary Diocesan Convention
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PRE-CONVENTION MEETING 2026
FRIDAY, May 1, 2026
DoubleTree by Hilton Calgary North
2120 16th Avenue NE, Calgary, Alberta
DRAFT MINUTES
Welcome:
Diocesan President Kathleen Winter welcomed everyone and acknowledged the lands we are situated on.
Megan Warawa, St. Peter’s and Dorraine Robb, St Mark’s, convention committee co-MC’s, made the announcements.
Call to Order:
Kathleen Winter called the pre-convention meeting to order at 8:34 am.
Opening Spiritual:
Led by Faith Chair Margaret Inkster. Lectio Divina: Jesus Calms the Storm. Followed by the League Prayer.
Welcome & Introductions:
Kathleen Winter thanked the Calgary North councils for hosting us. Kathleen Winter presented the convention theme “Ignite Your Passion Empower His Mission” with a focus of “Blessed are the Poor” and outlined the convention agenda. Special welcome and prayer cards were given to first-time attendees of the convention.
Kathleen Winter acknowledged the Honorary Life Members, unfortunately they were not able to attend. Kathleen introduced the Life Members, Past Diocesan Presidents, Diocesan Officers, Spiritual Advisors, and Regional Chairs, and Council Presidents in attendance. Parish Council Presidents were acknowledged and thanked for accepting a leadership role for their councils.
Roll Call: by Diocesan Secretary Gail Poshtar
Approval of Agenda: The agenda was adopted by unanimous consent.
Approval of Minutes from Fall Meeting:
Kathleen Winter declared the Minutes of the Fall Meeting, September 27, 2025, approved as circulated.
Guest Speaker – Leah Perrault - Ignite Your Passion, Empower His Mission
Leah presented a faith filled, inspiring, interactive presentation. You are invited to check out her website: https://www.leahperrault.com.
Introduction and Appreciation of Spiritual Advisors
Parish Council Spiritual Advisors, in attendance, were welcomed and acknowledged by their council presidents and by Kathleen Winter.
Announcements were made by Megan Warawa, St. Peter’s
Regina Caeli and Grace led by Diocesan Spiritual Advisor Father Wayne Poile
Diocesan President Kathleen Winter thanked the staff for the lunch.
Reconvene - Margaret Inkster led the reconvening prayer – “Litany of St. Joseph”
Video Presentation – Betty Colaneri – National President
St. Mary’s University Going Forward – Theresa Duncan, Vice President
Immediate – Prayer Warrior Guild, pray weekly
Long Term – Dr. Scott Morrison will continue the 5 year Strategic Plan
Increase enrollment to 1500 student
New gymnasium by Sept 2027
Refurbish Fr. Lacome Centre into a Student residence by Sept 2029
CWL has been asked to sit on an advisory board
Intermediate
Bursary Fund - $20000 to be raised by 2027
Criteria and preference for the fund were discussed.
Motions will be brought to the floor on Saturday.
Fundraising for St. Mary’s Bursary fund
Donation in collection bags on Saturday
Quilt raffle - $25/each only 400 tickets
- Draw at the Fall Meeting
Catholic Women’s Leadership Foundation – Leadership Program – Janet MacPhee
St. Mary’s University – now offers this program
Andrea Plastiras, St. Pius X and Janet MacPhee, Sacred Heart are currently taking the program
Vendor door prizes
Megan Warawa, St. Peter’s, Calgary announced the vendor door prize winners.
Announcements Megan Warawa, St. Peter’s, Calgary
MOTION Moved by Janet Lymer, St. Peter’s, Calgary, seconded by Susan Travis, St. Marks, Calgary, that we begin the new business until Bishop McGrattan arrives.
New Business
- Post Convention Meeting Discussion – Theresa Duncan
MOTION: Moved by Theresa Duncan, Diocesan Officer, and seconded by Dianne Durda, Holy Family, Medicine Hat, that the 2026 Post-Convention Meeting, currently scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, be cancelled, and that the time be reallocated to an informal discussion on priorities and plans for the future Diocesan Council. ADOPTED
- Nominations for ABMK Provincial Election
- The position of President will be filled by Jan Myhre who served as Vice President from 2024 – 2026.
- The position of Past President will be filled by Betsy Fletcher who served as President from 2024 – 2026
- For the position of Vice-President: Mary Molloy is nominated
- For the position of Secretary: Renee Spohn is nominated.
- For the position of Treasurer: Janet MacPhee is nominated.
- For Standing Committee Chairpersons: Lolain Alsmo and Janet MacPhee are nominated
The Nomination Form will be filled in, copied, and sent to Mary Hunt, the Nominations and Elections Chairperson for the provincial council. The names we have chosen today will form the Instructed Vote that the [new] diocesan president will carry to the elections at Provincial Convention in Calgary in June.
- Invitation to the 2026 Diocesan Fall Meeting
Theresa Duncan, Diocesan Officer, representing Sharon Strobbe, Medicine Hat Region, invited CWL members to the 2026 Diocesan Fall Meeting and Workshop hosted by the Medicine Hat Region to be held at St. Mary’s, Brooks on September 26, 2026
- Invitation to the 2027 Diocesan Convention
Heather Britto, Drumheller Regional Chair, invited CWL members to the 105th Calgary Diocesan Convention hosted by Drumheller Region at Sacred Heart Parish, Strathmore, on April 30 - May 1, 2027.
- ABMK 79th Annual Provincial Convention
June 5 - 6, 2026, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Whitecourt, AB
- 106th Annual National Convention
August 9 - 12, 2026, Halifax, Nova Scotia
- ABMK Hosting National Convention 2028 – August 20 to 23, 2028
President Kathleen Winter read Cathy Bouchard’s, (Co-Chair of convention), announcement. The logo for the convention was presented. The theme of the convention will be “Guided by God’s Spirit From the Mountains-Across the Prairies – To the Northern Lights. The proposed venue is the Westin Edmonton Hotel. Planning committees are hard at work. Edmonton Diocese will take the lead in publicity and transportation, Calgary Diocese is taking the lead in fundraising, and the other three dioceses are supporting hospitality, printing, and more. Fundraising items include a lightweight jacket and greeting cards. There will also be a Silent Auction at the upcoming Provincial Convention.
- Distribution of Collections
Diocesan Treasurer Diane Miedema reported that Friday, May 1st collection proceeds of $1904 to be shared ($952 each) by Airdrie and District Hospice Society (chosen by the Convention Planning Committee) and Society of St. Vincent de Paul - The North Particular Conference of Calgary (chosen by the Convention Planning Committee)
- Gift Baskets – Diane Miedema announced the names of the winners.
Registration Report: Convention Registration Chair Audrey Young.
| 35 |
Parish Voting Delegates |
| 37 |
Parish Accredited Delegates |
| 9 |
Diocesan Officers |
| 2 |
Regional Chairs |
| 0 |
Honorary Life Members |
| 4 |
Life Members |
| 34 |
Members |
| |
Past Diocesan Presidents |
| |
Hierarchy |
| 1 |
Diocesan Spiritual Advisor |
| 3 |
Parish Spiritual Advisors |
| 0 |
Other Clergy |
| 0 |
National Representative |
| 1 |
Provincial Representative |
| 1 |
Parliamentarian |
| 1 |
Guest Speakers |
| 1 |
Guests/Other |
| 139 |
TOTAL Attendance |
Father Wayne Poile – Diocesan Spiritual Advisor
Bishop McGrattan is unable to attend
Fr. Wayne spoke about the importance of CWL and his reflections on Leah Pearault’s talk.
Kathleen Winter acknowledged our photographer: Annie Chirka
Announcements: Supper is at 5 pm and Mass at 7 pm at St. Mark’s Parish, Calgary.
Closing Spiritual
Faith Chair Margaret Inkster led the closing spiritual with the “Prayer for Ongoing Renewal” and hymn “Lead Me, Lord”
Thank you to Margaret Inkster, Faith Chair and Susan Travis, St. Marks, Calgary for our closing spiritual.
Adjournment:
Diocesan President Kathleen Winter declared the meeting adjourned the at 3:50 pm
