Dear Brothers and Sisters:

It was 15 years ago, in 1994, when 3 couples, still hang over from the euphoria of their ME weekend experience, formed the nucleus of what is now BLD St. Catharines District-in-Process (DIP).  To celebrate this very significant milestone in the life of our beloved DIP, St. Catharines' DCS has moved to commemorate it with a fund-raising dinner dance to be held on April 18, 2009 at Niagara Falls.  Preparations are well underway, with the engagement of a caterer, a deejay, and the layout of a souvenir program, among other things.  

The DCS has earmarked the occasion as a springboard for raising absolutely needed funds to be able to continue to support our programs as we grow our Community.  Aside from the standard and ancillary expenses associated with such programs, there arose exceptional circumstances at our last ME and our first Singles Encounter (SE), for example, when we subsidized prospective candidates who expressed the desire to participate but lacked the means to do so.   This year will be a packed - and expensive! - year for our DIP when, aside from sponsoring ME # 8, SE #2 and LSS #11, we will also send candidates to Toronto's Youth Life in the Spirit Seminar #10 on March 11-15, Solo Parents Encounter #8 on April 25-26, Youth Encounter #11on July 24-26 and Family Encounter #8 on July 31-August 2.  Clearly, the love offerings and tithes collected at our Friday corporate worship and mass/healing service cannot, on their own, sustain our programs. 

The DCS has therefore decided to initiate and bring our solicitation campaign far and wide, to include our general membership and other BLD Districts and DIPs as well.  We have already spoken to some of you and are very encouraged by your most positive and generous response. 

We invite you to assist us in our efforts by placing an ad or a message in our souvenir program. For further details, please click here.

We look forward to your continuing support in helping our Community do its work in spreading the seed which was planted in our hearts at the LSS and ME weekend we were privileged to have been a part of at some point in the last 15 years. 

On behalf of St. Catharines' DCS, please accept our thanks and gratitude for your support and may God bless you for your generosity of spirit.

Olie and Menchu Ealdama
District Shepherds