A Night to Remember: St. Charles Borromeo Feast Celebration at St. Charles Parish

On Saturday, November 4, the vibrant community of St. Charles gathered in full force to celebrate the feast of St Charles Borromeo, the patron saint of our parish. Held in St. Charles Hall, the event was a resounding success, with a sold-out crowd.

We were privileged to welcome Barbara Nepinak, an esteemed Ojibwe elder, knowledge keeper, and captivating storyteller, to commence the evening with a land acknowledgment and prayer. Adding to her distinguished achievements, Barbara has just returned from Dubai, where she was honored with an award from UNESCO for her significant contribution to education.

The night was not only a spiritual celebration but also a lively social event, filled with activities that brought the community closer. One of the highlights of the evening was the announcement of the raffle winners. The lucky recipients included Aida B, who won the 50-50 draw, Colleen Z, the proud owner of a Jets jersey, Wendy S, who secured Jets tickets, and Rick T, the winner of the Tree of Treasures Draw.

Entertainment took center stage with 'St. Charles Got Talent,' a video presentation showcasing singing and dancing prowess of parishioners. A heartfelt thank you was extended to all the participants, whose enthusiasm and talent added a special touch to the evening.

Melodies echoed through the atmosphere as the spotlight turned to the karaoke machine. Attendees, especially those from St. Edwards Parish, showcased their vocal talents. Laughter, applause, and cheers resonated through the hall as the community came together to enjoy each other's company.

The success of the event didn't happen overnight. The weeks leading up to the celebration were marked by meticulous planning and hard work. From advertising and selling tickets to cleaning the kitchen and hall, setting up decorations, and shopping for, preparing, and serving delicious food—the dedication of the community members was truly commendable.

The menu for the evening featured a mouthwatering roast beef dinner, followed by delectable cheesecake and pie for dessert. The culinary delights were a testament to the effort and care put into ensuring that everyone had a memorable dining experience.

The night continued with lively dancing, bringing the celebration to a fitting conclusion. As the last notes of music played and the laughter echoed through the hall, it was clear that the feast of Saint Charles Borromeo had not only been a religious observance but a joyful and communal celebration, reinforcing the strong bonds within the St. Charles Parish.

St. Charles Annual Christmas Craft & Bake Sale

Join us at the St. Charles Christmas Craft and Bake Sale on Saturday, December 2nd, and Sunday, December 3rd, following all masses.

Get ready to embrace the festive season with the delightful St. Charles Christmas Craft and Bake Sale, where you can find an array of homemade treats and exquisite handmade crafts. This event is an opportunity to support our parish community while enjoying delicious goodies and shopping for unique holiday gifts.

If you'd like to contribute to this event, we will accept donations on Saturday, December 2nd, between 1:00 PM and 3:45 PM. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

For your safety, please be aware that some of our baked items may contain nuts. We will also have baking which is gluten-free. We'll have clear labeling to help you choose the treats that are just right for you.

The St. Charles Ladies' Association is proud to announce that all profits from this event will go towards helping with parish expenses. Your participation and contributions will make a meaningful impact on our parish community.

For information about baked goods, please call Alice at 204-832-6167.

If you have questions about the crafts, please get in touch with Annette at 204-889-1391.

Peace Begins At Home

St. Charles Ladies’ Association President Kim Zapotochny welcomes Pam Hadder, presenter from Willow House.

On October 18, at the St. Charles Ladies’ Association general meeting we had guest speaker Pam Hadder.  Pam is from Willow Place  and spoke on the Violence Prevention Shelter Program.

In Canada, every six days, a tragic statistic unfolds: a woman falls victim to violence at the hands of her intimate partner. This alarming reality forces over 6,000 women and children to seek refuge in shelters on any given night, as their homes are no longer safe havens. Domestic violence casts a long shadow over the country, with over 40,000 arrests annually stemming from this deeply concerning issue, constituting approximately 12% of all violent crime in Canada.

To combat this pervasive problem, the Family Violence Prevention Program is actively engaged in planning and cultivating community initiatives aimed at eradicating family violence. This program allocates funding to community-based organizations dedicated to providing specialized support for women and their children facing abuse, as well as for men grappling with family violence.

Within Manitoba, 33 agencies stand as pillars of support for those affected by family violence, collectively forming a network of assistance. These agencies encompass a range of services, including ten women's shelters, a provincial toll-free crisis line designed to promptly connect individuals with the nearest shelter for immediate safety, and nine women's resource centers.

Willow House offers a comprehensive range of services to those in need, including

  • Protective Housing: Providing a secure and confidential location, ensuring the safety and privacy of residents.

  • 24-Hour Staff Support: Ensuring round-the-clock assistance and care for residents.

  • Nutritional Support: Supplying all meals and snacks to meet dietary needs.

  • Linen and Hygiene Supplies: Providing clean linens, towels, and essential hygiene supplies for personal well-being.

  • On-Site Laundry and Shower Facilities: Equipped with facilities for residents' convenience.

  • Family Violence Information and Education: Offering resources and knowledge to address and combat family violence.

  • Protection Order Preparation Support: Assisting individuals in preparing protection orders when needed.

  • Community Support: Facilitating connections with relevant community resources for holistic support.

  • Assistance with Legal Aid and E.I.A.: Supporting residents with legal matters and Employment and Income Assistance (E.I.A.) as required.

  • Housing Support Services: Providing assistance with housing-related matters to ensure stability and independence.

  • Counseling Services: Offering both individual and group counseling for emotional and psychological well-being.

  • Children's Counseling Services: Tailored support for children, recognizing their unique needs.

  • Activities and Cultural Support: Fostering a sense of community and identity through various activities and cultural resources.

  • On-Site School (SunRise Tutoring): Ensuring educational continuity with an on-site school for grades K-8, offering a supportive learning environment for children.

If you wish to help, here is a list of needed items:

HOUSEHOLD ESSENTIALS

Bath towels and cozy blankets

Durable stainless steel flatware

Unscented laundry pods and fabric softener sheets

Kleenex tissue boxes, paper towels, and single-ply toilet tissue

FOOD ITEMS

Breakfast cereal, coffee, tea, and spreads like jam and jelly

Peanut butter, fruit cups, and granola bars for children's lunches and snacks

INFANT CARE NECESSITIES

Infant wipes and essential diaper supplies

Urgently needed: New infant bottles, soothers, and toddler sipper cups

Sizes 5 and 6 diapers

PERSONAL CARE ITEMS

Toothbrushes for adults and children (Urgent!)

Women's underwear in sizes S, M, L, XL, and XXL

Travel-sized and full-sized toiletries, deodorant (Urgent!), and body lotion

PROGRAM AND ACTIVITY SUPPLIES

Stocking stuffers for Christmas activities, suitable for women, teens, and children

Craft kits and art supplies for women, teens, and children

Sporting equipment such as sports balls, hula hoops, and bowling sets

Children's non-toxic washable paint, markers, small canvases, paintbrushes, and acrylic craft paint (available at Dollar Store)

Adult and child coloring books, crayons, pencil crayons, and sharpeners

GIFT CARDS

Winnipeg Transit tickets for women, teens, and children

Gift cards for groceries, outings, and general supplies (e.g., Walmart, Shoppers, Safeway, Sobey's, PC, etc.)

To donate, please call Renee at 204-615-0313, ext. 231 or

Pam at 204-615-0313, ext. 237

““The heart of our work is healthy relationships”.”
— Pam Hadder, Willow Place

Be a Food Rescuer 

The Canadian food system is one of the most wasteful in the world. We throw out a quarter of our fresh food and release about 21 million tonnes of greenhouse gases every year, just in food waste.

On May 17, Julia Kraemer, Winnipeg City Coordinator for the Leftovers Foundation, was the guest speaker at the St. Charles Ladies’ Association general meeting and potluck.

The Leftovers Foundation is a registered charity founded in Calgary in 2012 and is Western Canada’s largest charitable food redirection organization. The Leftovers program reduces food waste by picking up food from stores and restaurants and delivering it to service agencies such as food banks, community housing initiatives, and shelters. These service agencies receiving donated food can redirect funding from their grocery bills into education and rehabilitation programs. 

“In 2022, Leftovers in Winnipeg diverted 539,123 pounds of food from the landfill and provided 460,262 meals. It had 34 food donators and 53 active volunteers.”
— The Leftovers Foundation

Leftovers is a non-profit and does not charge donors or recipients for food rescue and services. Donors have the satisfaction of knowing they are making a valuable contribution to those in need in the community. Every province in Canada has a law that protects a business or organization from liability when donating good food.

Leftovers is currently operating a Home Harvest Program in Winnipeg. This program connects community members who have excess produce from backyard gardens to service agencies in need. 

Volunteers can 

  • connect with donors 

  • rescue food before it ends up in the landfill

  • redirect rescued food to service agencies

For more information check out the website rescuefood.ca.

If you would like to help in any way, please contact Julia Kraemer, Winnipeg City Coordinator  juliakraemer@rescuefood.ca or call Julia at 204-770-3303.

Julia is thanked by St. Charles Ladies’ Association President Elect Kim Zapotchny.

Filling the Bassinet Again

Thank you St. Charles folks for your generous outpouring of love towards new babies and their moms. St. Charles Ladies' Association chose two worthwhile organizations to support this year.

Villa Rosa provides lodging before and after childbirth. Its mission is to support single mothers, babies, and their families. It offers a wide variety of programs in a safe and nurturing environment. Unmarried, pregnant women, or new parents in need may access their services. Villa Rosa was grateful for the bulging carload of beautiful, new baby clothes, blankets, handmade items, diapers, personal hygiene products, and more.

The second recipient was the Family Support Center on Broadway West. The Family Support Centre is a Christian organization providing non-judgmental, compassionate care and companionship to women, men, and children facing difficult situations. It offers a wide range of supportive services that are free of charge and completely confidential. The Centre has been around since 1985 and has helped thousands of women, men, and families. They were delighted to receive several cases of formula to fill their nearly bare cupboards.

St.Charles Ladies’ Association Hosts Winter Retreat

Sixty-six women and men attended the retreat.

This year’s retreat theme, Finding God in Our Everyday, attracted 66 women and men from a number of parishes.  This included participants from as far away St.Theresa’s Point - a distant 1,038 kilometers!

The day opened with a welcome, a prayer, and a smudging offered by Beatrice Chartrand of St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish. Beatrice explained the significance of the smudge in clearing our senses and our bodies so that we can notice the good and do it throughout our day. The chant, Open Our Eyes Lord, was sung during the smudge.

Our presenter was Sister Cathy Laviolette from the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.   Sister Cathy led meditations inspired by scripture, shared words of wisdom, audiovisuals, and practical examples of God's awareness. “God”, she emphasized, “is present in the NOW. God’s name is I AM: not I WAS: not I WILL BE.  It is essential, therefore, that we are in the present and aware of God with us.”

The retreat included times of animated sharing and individual meditation on The Beatitudes.

Following a lunch prepared by the hosts, St. Charles Ladies’ Association, Sister Cathy challenged all attendees.  She said, “You are the Church. God is in you - the Church, and God wants to get out not just to family and your circle, but also to the larger community in order to bring about Justice”.