The graduation of the inaugural leadership program took place on Wednesday, May 4, 2019, complete with the celebration of Mass and presentation of certificates.
Congratulations to the participants, leading learners, coaches, guest speakers upon completion of this successful and transformative program.
“I will give you thanks in the great assembly, among the throngs I will praise you” - Psalm 34:18
As we just completed our first year-long Leadership Program I express gratitude:
To the Sisters of Service and the Catholic Women’s League of Canada for having the foresight and wisdom to set the seeds and provide initial funding for a leadership program for Catholic women;
To the Steering Committee (Claire Heron, Velma Harasen, Kim Scammell) who did not give up, although met by many obstacles, to having the Foundation incorporated and receive charitable status and continue to support us;
To members of the First Board (January 2015) and those who have joined the Board along the way, providing a Vision and Mission, for ensuring we had the finances to offer a Leadership Program, approving format and guiding principles for such a Program, and accept every task that comes their way; To the Campaign Committee, chaired by Claire Heron, and the many CWL women in each province of Canada, who gave so generously of their time, talent and perseverance to solicit the financial support we so needed for the Program and who continue to support us by making their members and friends aware of the Foundation; To all donors, for believing in us, and for your generosity;
To Betty Anne Brown Davidson who so generously volunteered her time to be ‘bookkeeper’, provide receipts and ensure every donor was thanked for their generosity; To all the applicants who applied for the first program. If not selected the first time, I hope you will reapply;
To the 1st Cohort who so willingly began the journey with 14 other Catholic women in a Program that integrated faith and life. It was so obvious in our final days and reflections together experienced “ a change of mind, a change of heart, a change of consciousness’;
To Chantal Beauvais, Rector, Saint Paul University(SPU), who connected with me December 2017 and suggested SPU and the Providence School of Transformative Leadership and Spirituality could provide the Leadership Program we had in mind. It did. My lucky day! The Foundation’s lucky day!
To Miriam Martin, psvm, who became my contact at the Providence School of Transformative Leadership and Spirituality, who so easily understood what we wanted to do, and translated it into a program that integrated faith and life, personal and professional leadership development.
To Miriam Martin, Director, Lorraine Ste. Marie, Carol Kuzmochka, and all the leading learners, guest speakers, and online facilitators for allowing us to be part of such an exceptional program whose underlying philosophy is that leaders are whole persons and an effective leadership program must take into account the whole leader.
To Gabrielle Dupuis, administrative assistant for the Program at Saint Paul, who looked after us so well, arranging for good accommodations, nutritious meals and, of course, our technological needs.
God’s blessings on you all.