FORT SASKATCHEWAN — The new head of the provincial Catholic Women’s League is a deeply spiritual woman that places God and the CWL at the centre of her life.

Morinville’s Sheila Houle, a professed member of the Discalced Carmelites secular order, was formally installed as president of the Alberta Mackenzie Provincial Council at the CWL’s June 3-5 provincial convention at the Dow Centennial Centre.

FORT SASKATCHEWAN — Mary-Anne Warren of St. Albert was all smiles during the CWL provincial convention—and with good reason.

The CWL awarded Warren the 2011 Elsie Yanik Award in recognition to her dedication and commitment to the League, the Church and the community.

OTTAWA — The newly-elected speaker of the House of Commons Andrew Scheer, 32, made history June 2 as the youngest MP to be elected to this coveted role that comes with huge responsibilities and accompanying perks.

But Scheer's victory has also sent a message to politicians everywhere that one does not have to separate a robust Catholic faith from public life.

FORT SASKATCHEWAN — Holiness and discipleship means sharing our gifts and resources with others, says Alberta's Ukrainian Catholic bishop.

"It's really what we do with the gifts that we are entrusted with that defines who we are as Christians," says Bishop David Motiuk.

FORT SASKATCHEWAN - The Catholic Women's League is supporting temporary foreign workers to become permanent residents of Canada.

At its June 3-5 provincial convention, the CWL passed a resolution urging governments to act on the matter.

TORONTO — New funding rules and the process of setting new directions for the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (D&P) are running into stiff opposition in Quebec and New Brunswick.

Members of D&P in francophone Canada used their regional assembly meeting to demand restoration of funding to Centro PRODH, the Mexican human rights organization that has drawn heat for apparently endorsing a campaign for legal access to first trimester abortions throughout Mexico.

EDMONTON — The Catholic Church faces “a huge challenge” in communicating its 2,000-year tradition in a media world that is “more and more focused on just the sound byte,” said Archbishop Richard Smith.

The Church’s teachings do not fit easily into sound bytes or into 140-character tweets, Smith said June 6 in his annual breakfast with local media.

MORINVILLE - Come September, parents of Morinville will have a non-faith based option for their children's education.

Earlier in the school year, a parent delegation from Morinville demanded secular education for their children, free of exposure to any aspect of the Catholic faith. They wanted their children in schools devoid of the slightest nuance, conversation or symbol relating to the Church.

TORONTO — Some 500 parish musicians from across Southern Ontario came together May 28 for a crash course to prepare them for the implementation of the third edition of the Roman Missal.

The new missal, which will be used in English-speaking churches around the globe beginning on the first Sunday of Advent, contains changes in almost all parts of the Mass — changes especially important to musicians, said event organizer Bill Targett.

DUBLIN — A leading international expert on child protection has appealed for bishops and religious superiors in Ireland to fully cooperate with the Church’s own watchdog.

“I don’t think the rest of the Catholic world is aware that there are still battle lines being drawn within the Church in Ireland,” said Monica Applewhite.