Nasha Doroha Celebrates 50 years!
Сьогодні ми святкуємо Золотий Ювілей свого улюбленого журналу Ліги Українських Католицьких Жінок Канади “Наша Дорога”. 50 років для Вічності — це мить, а для періо дичного видання — вагомий і від-
повідальний проміжок часу…
Фотозвіт з діяльності ліґи українських католицьких жінок Канади – СФУЖО
Download the SFUZHO AGM November 1, 2020 report, below:
http://www.ucwlc.ca/wp-content/uploads/ЛУКЖК—UCWLC-for-SFUZHO-AGM-November-1_2020-1.pdf
Featured Organization
UCC Saskatchewan
“UCC Saskatchewan relies on your support to meet our vision of building a strong, culturally vibrant Ukrainian community in Saskatchewan, and to facilitate services in our province,” said John Denysek, president of UCC Saskatchewan.
Featured Member Organization
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From the video “UCWLC – Eparchy of Saskatoon: Highlighting Celebrating 75th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada in 2019”
Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada Eparchial Executive – Eparchy of Saskatoon (currently in Regina, location rotates every 2 years) Established: 1944 Objectives: |
2020 UCWLC Interactive Mosaic
A Message From The 120th Anniversary Commemorative Committee
Since our committee was mandated by the UCC Triennial Congress last November to facilitate the celebration of this significant anniversary, it was clear from the beginning that the ‘heavy lifting’ would be readily done at the local level.
Since an official logo was selected and made available for general use, we have received a steady stream of requests for permission to print the logo on posters and program booklets, on banners and signage, on articles of clothing to be worn by summer camp participants and touring artistic groups.
National, regional and local events, celebrations and festivals are formally dedicated to the 120th Anniversary, and the official logo is proudly displayed in conjunction with those imprezy. And let’s not stop now – remember, the official 120th Anniversary Year is dedicated to last until next Summer!
As we move into the Fall of 2011, and our Ukrainian communities across Canada become their usual hives of high-level activity and new challenges of excellence, let’s carry the spirit of these past 120 years with us, and especially let’s instill in our children a pride and passion for who we are as a community.
I must admit to being old enough to remember 1967, when all Canadians came together under one banner and all its accompanying symbolism – the Centennial of this great country. Today, when I see that Centennial logo or an artifact from some celebration of that year, I instantly recall all the senses and sensations that such a significant year brought to children of all ages.
It should be the same with our celebrations, especially as we move towards the 125th Anniversary in just over 4 short years.
Wear and display the logo with pride, and by all means, please let the Commemorative Committee know if there is anything we can do to help make your special events even more special. We can provide you with historical text and context for your official print materials, with referrals and links, with experts on the various aspects of the life of Ukrainians in Canada, with ideas and feedback. Sviatkuimo veselo, viddano i smilyvo!
Roman Brytan
Chair, UCC 120th Anniversary Commemorative Committee
The Value and Importance of UCWLC – Part Two
As we speak, history is being rewritten by Ukraine’s enemies, namely Russia as it returns to its imperialist agenda. We must take every effort to inform ourselves and our communities of historic facts from our perspective.
To deal with these and other secularist agendas both home and abroad, we need to know our faith and to be knowledgeable about the Church’s position on current social issues. Also, we need to know our Ukrainian roots, our Ukrainian heritage. This challenge tells us the value and importance of UCWLC to us. The UCWLC is a medium through which our members can further advance our own understanding of our Catholic faith and learn about our Church’s social teachings in order to act on issues of social justice. In addition, the UCWLC is a medium through which our members can learn about our Eastern Christian heritage and Ukraine’s dynamic history and culture. It is for these and other reasons that today, more than ever, we need a vibrant UCWLC organization.
Let’s look at what is happening to our organization, to our membership.
From 1980 to 1995, a span of 15 years, the UCWLC membership remained at over 6,000. From 1995 to the present date of 2010, membership dropped to under 4,500, a drop of almost 2,000 members in the last 15 years.
Let’s review our organizational structure. Our organization can be compared to a great pyramid with three levels: the local parish branches form the base, the eparchial executives form the middle level, and the national executive forms the top level. Without any one of these levels, our pyramid would crumble. If the base, that is, our branch level, is weak, then our whole organizational structure is weak. According to the present status of our membership , the loss of membership at the Branch level has weakened the whole organization. This is a major concern to all levels of the organization.
Although we have built an impressive national organization, at the present time our organization is deteriorating. We need to ask ourselves two probing questions: (i) where are the members? (ii) how can we attract new members?
We need to urgently begin to revitalize our League. The challenge for members of the UCWLC is to refocus on Who we are and What our mission is. We need to explore our UCWLC Mission statement as this statement is designed to provide us with a starting point in helping us understand Who we are and What our purpose is.
Briefly, our Mission Statement states that we are committed to our Church. This means that our primary responsibility is to develop a deep understanding of our faith in order to truly understand what it means to be a Catholic and a Christian. Accordingly, the basic objective of the Mission Statement involves developing and instituting programs oriented towards development of the religious and spiritual lives of our League’s members as laity within the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Our Mission Statement also draws attention to the importance of our cultural heritage. The Mission Statement states that we are to live a true Christian life and to actively contribute to the Church and Society. This means that we are to participate in both specific missionary activities of the Church but also in broader acts of social justice and charity.
The Mission Statement was adopted in 1995. Gradually it is appearing in our handbooks, folders, and congress and convention books. The increased presence and visibility of our mission statement demonstrates that there is a growing awareness, understanding, and acceptance of our purpose and goals as outlined in the Statement. However, now we need to go beyond mere awareness and acceptance. We need to look deeper at our Mission in order to understand how our programs specifically speak to the mandate of our League, that is, to our mission.
We need to urgently begin to revitalize and strengthen our Branches, the core of our organization. Revitalization of the UCWLC should begin with a process which addresses two key components: Who we are, and What our mission is as addressed in our Mission Statement. This process should begin with a study program picking a theme spelt out in the UCWLC Mission Statement. There are several phrases in the Statement, each suitable for a theme on its own. For example: “What is the mission of the church?” “How does it involve us as members of UCWLC?” “What is the significance of our heritage?”
“What do we mean by discovering “our own true vocation?”
These all emerge from key phrases in our Mission Statement.
Team Work: A Unified Approach
Pursuing and developing this study program should be made into a top priority at all three levels. And, all three levels should focus on the same theme for a period of one or two years. During this time, each level should also share information and help each other level with this task. Each and every one of us needs to become ‘stakeholders’ in this process. The program would include Branch workshops, questionnaires, and seminars. This worthwhile effort cannot be achieved by any one level alone, but, again, needs to be coordinated on all three levels.
Summary of “Action Plan”
1. Develop and share a Study Program focused on the key phrases in our Mission Statement;
2. Recruit and train new members and then develop an ongoing formation program.
3. Value experienced members. Draw on the many talents and resources that exist in the organization. Draw on UCWLC Honorary Members and Eparchial Past Presidents to assist with the development of leadership programs and the above mentioned “Study Program for UCWLC Mission Statement.”
The challenge facing us is both difficult and different than it was in the past. And today, we are recruiting members from an ever-changing society. Women today have many demands on their time and no shortage of ways to fill their day. It is our challenge to adapt our programs in accord to our UCWLC Mission. If we show women the relevance of the League, then we will be able to recruit more women as they will see that in the UCWLC there is something vital to them socially, culturally, and, of course spiritually. In addition, rejuvenated program will help to sustain and revitalize the current existing members. Any revitalization, however, will only occur if we have a sense of urgency, and if we can show our members and prospective members that we have a vision, one which is relevant to today’s society.
The value and importance of our organization is comparable to a priceless Pearl, and the UCWLC has something precious to offer to each one of us, to all our members and to prospective members.
By Lena Sloboda
This is my speech delivered at 32nd UCWLC National Congress in Edmonton,July 7th, 2010. However, I have outlined my ideas in more depth.
By Lena Sloboda
This is my speech delivered at 32nd UCWLC National Congress in Edmonton,
July 7th, 2010. However, I have outlined my ideas in more depth.
The Value and Importance of UCWLC – Part One
This is my speech delivered at 32nd UCWLC National Congress in Edmonton, July 7th, 2010. However, I have outlined my ideas in more depth.
UCWLC National Congress 2010 – July 5th to July 8th
The theme and location has been announced for the 2010 UCWLC National Congress. With the theme “Women in the Church • Firm in our Faith” the Congress will take place at the Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre at 11834 Kingsway in Edmonton, Alberta from Monday, July 5 to Thursday July 8, 2010.UCWLC National Congress 2010 • July 5 – July 8
UCWLC National Executive Plenary Conference
The second National UCWLC Plenary Conference was held at the St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, Parish Hall, Edmonton Alberta, May 01-03, 2009.
The five Eparchies represented were as follows: Kvitka Kozak,( Constitution Chair) Eparchy of New Westminster, Barbara Hlus (President) and Lidia Wasylyn (Const. Chair), Eparchy of Edmonton, Geraldine Koban (President) and Gloria Leniuk, HLM (Const. Chair), Eparchy of Saskatoon, Stephanie Bilyj, HLM (Past Pres.) and Jean Sherman, HLM (Const. Chair), Archeparchy of Winnipeg, Olia Dallimore (Vice Pres.) and Marion Barszczyk (Const. Chair) Eparchy of Toronto.
Attending also were 18 members of the National Executive, (2 Honorary Life Members) with Honorary Life Member, Lena Sloboda as a noted presenter. President Luba Kowalchyk, chaired the sessions and Rev. Janko Herbut, Spiritual Advisor was present. Oksana Bashuk Hepburn Editor of the UCWLC National Magazine, Nasha Doroha was also invited and was present.
Sessions opened and closed with prayers and with meditations led by Spiritual Committee members, Andrea Sagansky and Barbara Olynyk.
Numerous important Agenda items were covered as follows.:
- Eparchial Presidents reports
- UCWLC Branch President Handbook
- Resolutions
- Membership fee review
- UCWLC Website
- Honorary Life membership
- Dissolution of Branches protocol
- Constitution
- National Congress 2010
Friday evening, all attendees were pleased to attend and very much enjoyed the Kyiv Chamber Choir Concert.
Sunday Morning everyone attended the Divine Liturgy and shared a delicious Brunch with Bishop David.
In his greetings, Bishop David thanked the UCWLC members for their continued dedication to our Ukrainian Catholic Church, “UCWLC continues to exercise Leadership throughout the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada and Australia, and we (the clergy) are grateful for the leadership you provide.”
Bishop also spoke of the “Baba Power” referencing the older generations to spend quality time with their grandchildren and young people and teach them about God and the Faith and use the privilege that comes with being around them to share their personal gifts of Faith that their parents bestowed on them.
President Luba Kowalchyk closed the Conference with many thanks to the Executive for their fine work in organizing the sessions, to Bishop David for his presence, to Fr. Janko for his guidance and to all visiting Eparchial Executive members for taking the time to attend and bring their input for the betterment of the organization.
Conference closed with “O Spomahay Nas”.
Reported by Helen Sirman,
UCWLC National Secretary
