"Let us take care of the family in difficult situations, especially its most vulnerable members."

At the end of the great Assembly held in October 2018 in Senegal, we, the women of WUCWO, decided to "bring living water" to the different spheres of life.

Themes ADFCAC works on in Guinea Conakry:
• integral ecology
• "the family in its most vulnerable members."

This recently concluded General Assembly opened my eyes to a number of things, however, the most important of all was the initiative of women around the world gathering together as Catholic Women from different backgrounds. I was really impressed about the discussions and sharing the cross cutting issues women all over the world face in their day to day life, especially living as Catholics.

The "Mamans Eucharistiques du Monastère," a diocesan association of Cameroon, present at WUCWO Meetings since its affiliation to this worldwide Christian organisation in 2011, welcomed the priority adopted at the Dakar General Assembly on "the call to holiness."

After the one in Fatima in 2014, God gave us the grace to celebrate our GA, a sign of our commitment as women and mothers, through our various activities and actions that are reflected in the paths laid out by Pope Francis. In fact, Pope Francis' encyclicals are a guide for our lives.

Please find below a report by the Uganda Catholic Women's Organization on domestic violence.

Violence against women in Uganda is predominantly domestic. And in its reference as Domestic Violence, is at epidemic level worldwide. Recent statistics in Uganda shows that 30% of women or one of every three women is a victim of physical and or sexual domestic violence at least once in their lifetime. The majority of victims experience multiple assaults rather than just one. A 2006 study by the Uganda Law Reform Commission indicates that 66% of men and women respondents had experienced domestic violence (CEDOVIP 2007). However, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics report published in 2007 68% of ever-married women aged 15-49 years had experienced some form of violence inflicted on them by their spouse or intimate partner. Physically their bodies are bruised and emotionally they become unstable. To make matters worse, many of those in marriage get infected with diseases such as Sexual Transmitted Infections mainly HIV/AIDS. Most women are not to blame but their abusive relationships or unfaithful partners.

WUCWO GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THE FRAMEWORK OF POPE FRANCIS MAGISTERIUM

BY

DAME PATRICIA NWAUBANI, CWO NIGERIA

1.    Preamble:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (2032-2040) (2049-2051) states that “it is the duty of the Magisterium of the Church to preach the faith that is to be believed and put into practice in life. This duty extends even to specific precepts of the natural law because their observance is necessary for salvation”.

During the pan-African conference held in Nairobi last November, the problem of land grabbing, a real challenge for African countries, was discussed.

Marie-Madeleine Mwifi Bodibatu

Branche Feminine Bondeko Democratic Republic of Congo

Celebrating their 40th anniversary

“Pencils for All” is a very small charitable organisation working on educational projects all around the world.

At the time of the Dakar General Assembly we were already preparing for more work in South Sudan, country torn by civil and ethnic war and violence. The country welcomed the much-needed peace just at the beginning of this year on the 22 February 2020, unfortunately the wonderful news was overshadowed by the COVID -19 spread around the world.

South Sudan is one of the youngest countries in the world, gain its independence from Sudan in June 2011 and ending the longest civil war in Africa. Sadly, the peace did not last. In 2013 yet another civil war started and the first three years were extremely violent and brutal.

On 10 and 11 November 2021, the WUCWO European Regional Conference took place in Spain, as a hybrid event. Araceli Cavero, Vice President for Europe, invited women from WUCWO member organisations to discuss and learn about the theme of discrimination and violence against women.

These two days were enlightened by the prayer of the participants and marked by interesting activities: a conference on violence in the Bible, courageous and moving personal testimonies, a look beyond the borders of Europe with the work carried out for many years in Peru following the exactions of the Shining Path, and fruitful exchanges in workshops.

On the 17th-20th of last March the European Regional Conference was celebrated in Madrid. Around 40 women from France, United Kingdom, Italy and Spain got together.

The chosen topic was the revision of the 5th resolution approved at the Fatima Assembly: working against the corruption. The slogan: “WUCWO women for the honesty and justice”.

On the 10th March 2016 the Regional Vice President for Europe, Araceli Cavero, was received by the President of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, Cardinal Emmo. D. Ricardo Blaquez. The meeting was arranged to inform him of her election and to discuss WUCWO’s work and projects, and the celebration of the General Assembly and the resolutions adopted in Fatima. It was a very pleasant meeting. He was grateful for the information and shared some suggestions for how to improve the work. A considerable amount of time had passed since the election but due to various circumstances it had not been possible to arrange a meeting earlier.

Leeds, United Kingdom

September 5 -8, 2013

From the WUCWO Spain team, comprised of 4 organizations: Acción Católica General, Manos Unidas, Asociación de Propagandistas, and Adoración Nocturna Femenina, in line with Pope Francis' proposal to build a synodal path and promote the formation of the laity, a training day titled "​Resilient Stories from the Old Testament with Women's Names" was organized last month. We are sharing the material from this meeting to delve into the lives of some prominent women from the Old Testament and their characteristics.

Our Social Responsibility committee has ben working on updating our Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse booklet. It was finally launched at our October Board meeting to respond to the reporting of rising numbers of domestic violence during the corona virus lockdown. Information is posted on our website https://www.nbcw.co.uk where digital copies may be downloaded.

On October 26th of this year, we were invited by the Spanish Episcopal Conference and the Episcopal Commission of the Secular Apostolate to present WUCWO at the Days of the Delegates of the Secular Apostolate.

“Catholic Action assumes the entire mission of the church in generous belonging to the diocesan Church from the Parish. The mission is not one of many tasks in Catholic Action, but it is the one task (...)
It is necessary for Catholic Action to be present in the political, business and professional world, but not in order to believe that we are perfect and formed Christians, but in order to serve better. It is essential that Catholic Action be in the prisons, even with those condemned to life imprisonment, because every prisoner needs a horizon, not a fence, or a wall... CA can give horizons... of reinsertion... It is necessary that CA be in hospitals, in the street, in the villages, in the factories. If this is not the case, it will be an exclusive institution that does not say anything to anyone, not even to the Church itself.”
(Pope Francis at the II International Congress of Catholic Action, 27 April 2017)

Discovering a little piece of Africa and getting to know our Senegalese friends, who are particularly welcoming, was a great adventure for me:
a colourful Africa, with cheerful women singing and dancing, and festive Masses that surprise and astonish us Europeans.

Incorporated into the busy General Assembly timetable was a visit to Gorée Island. The island lies 3km off the coast of Dakar, Senegal, West Africa.
The ‘House of Slaves’ and its ‘Door of No Return’ is a museum and memorial to the Atlantic slave trade on Gorée Island and is said to memorialise the final exit point of the slaves from Africa.

The WUCWO General Assembly was a discovery for us, for it was our first attendance.
The exchange groups allowed us to get to know the realities of women from other continents, which are, in some cases, totally different from our own.

See
You may be wondering what WUCWO is: World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations. More than 100 organisations from 66 countries on 5 continents are represented in this global network. From Spain we were 11 people from ACG, ANFE and Manos Unidas. In addition, we traveled with Teresa Compte, who participated as speaker.

I have loved Africa since I was a little girl and have managed to visit the continent in my adulthood which has only increased my love for its peoples and cultures. When I found out that the 2018 World Union of Catholic
Women’s Organisation General Assembly (WUCWO) was going to be hosted in Dakar, I was thrilled. There was also another exciting development to attending this event which was the small charitable educational organisation I had both founded and run – “Pencils for All” was going to become a new associate member!

Four members of Femina Europa participated in the General Assembly. Alix Lejard, delegate of Femina Europa to the European Parliament, Virginie Rotheÿ, WUCWO representative to UNESCO, Marion Senellart, treasurer, and Myriam Fourchaud, lay missionary and writer.

In June, we learned that over one million EU citizens signed the "Mum, Dad and Kids" European Citizens Initiative - a legislative effort to protect marriage and family, by defining marriage as a permanent and faithful union of man and woman with the purpose of founding a family.

From 22nd to 26th July 2019, the Summer School "Building the Future on Peace", organised byItalian Catholic Action and other entities, will be held in Assisi, Italy.

I’d like to tell you about a lady who as a nurse/midwife/manager has worked in Kenya for 27 years, she is known to her patients and staff as simply: ‘Sister Vincent’.

The Catholic Bishops of Europe publish today a Statement in view of the upcoming European elections. In this text, they reaffirm their support for the European project. They encourage all citizens of the European Union to go to the polling booths on the 22nd and 25th May, and to start engaging, during the run-up to the election, in constructive dialogue with their MEP’s and those who are candidates for seats. At the same time, COMECE invites the Bishops’ conferences in the EU, to adopt this text, either by using it as an Election Statement as such or as an inspiration for their own election statements.

Italian Consolata Sister Eugenia Bonetti, a driving force in the fight against trafficking and prostitution, was among the recipients of the European Citizen’s Prize 2013. The annual award was launched by the European Parliament in 2008 to recognise exceptional achievements by individual citizens or groups who facilitate cross-border cooperation within the EU or promote better mutual understanding between citizens and member states. It can also be awarded for day-to-day activities reflecting the values enshrined in the EU's charter of fundamental rights.

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STRASBOURG, August 2 (C-FAM) European ministers disappointed abortion groups last month when they failed to say that abortion is a human right. They cited lack of consensus in Europe.

Members of Leeds Branch of the Catholic Women’s League and visitors gathered at St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church, Ripon for Mass celebrated by Canon Paul Moxon before visiting the Wayside Shrine, 2 miles away at Studley Roger for their annual pilgrimage

Called to Justice and Freedom a celebration of the Life and Legacy

The service is organised by Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA), the successor organisation to the Anti Apartheid Movement and
the Trevor Huddleston CR Memorial Centre, South Africa and hosted by St Martin-in-the-Fields.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Asia Pacific Regional Conference has been postponed until a later date.

As WUCWO Vice-President Asia Pacific I am happy to report that I have received reports from Organisations  - Australia, Japan, Lebanon, Aotearoa New Zealand and South Korea but not from Fiji, India or Tonga.  We know that there are many women’s organisations that do not belong to WUCWO but we will endeavour to encourage them to join this wonderful International Organisation.

Suva, Fiji

 2 au 6 mai, 2016

Click here to read an article about it 

News broadcast about the conference on Fijian national TV (the broadcast about WUCWO is from 11.59 onwards)

Manila, Philippines

March 3 - 8 2012

​Last October 31, 2021, instead of celebrating Halloween, the Junior Members of the Catholic Women's League Philippines organised a "Parade of Saints".

The whole event was held virtually, through Zoom, because of COVID-19 pandemic protocols in the Philippines which prevented CWL from having face to face or mass gatherings.

Viviane Nader Sebrini

 CPF-Jounieh Lebanon

The Lord has indicated to me to follow new missionary paths, which will become clearer step by step...

As if they were signs of the times, the development of events and their sequence, nothing is by chance, because the Lord uses our experiences and our abilities, however small they may be. What is essential is our attitude in the face of trials; we have to listen to his voice amidst the noise of daily challenges and dare to respond to his call; “let it be done to us according to your word.”

Although highly vulnerable because of age and comorbidities, CWL officers and members throughout the Philippines have painstakingly tried to bring God closer to the people in these challenging times through selfless service to the most affected families. Thus, amidst the pandemic, various projects and activities through its thrust – HOPE (Holiness, Outreach, Pastoral Involvement and Empowerment), were put into action by the CWL throughout the country, responding with empathy and compassion to help. CWL Philippines National President, R. Rita Mariano, M.D. tells us a little about the activities they have carried out.

On a dark Cambodian morning in December 2019, I lined up with around 10,000 runners and walkers nervously awaiting the starter’s gun for the Angkor Wat Charity Half Marathon. There was a buzz of excitement and anticipation. The morning was very dark and cool. The early start time designed to miss the expected heat later in the day and the crush of runners made for precarious footing for the first few hundred metres. The course would take us around the main tourist temple circuit at the Angkor Wat temple complex near Seim Reap in Cambodia.

The World Union of Catholic Women, as a gesture of solidarity at this anxious time, decided to hold three webinars on the subject of Solidarity and Synodality, one in English, one in Spanish and one in French. They invited every group of Catholic Women, who are affiliated with them, to join the webinar, so on 28^th April I had the privilege of joining 34 other ladies from around the world through the marvels of the internet.

Below you can find the report of Kunie Fukahori, President of the National Catholic Women’s Organization of Japan, on the visit of the Pope to Japan.

«Pope Francis visited Japan in November 2019. Japanese Roman Catholics number some 441,000 and represent only 0.34% of Japan’s population. We Catholics were very excited about the Pope’s visit, of course, but the general public also expressed great interest in this first visit by a Pope in 38 years.

On May 25th, 2019, the Catholic Women’s League of the Philippines celebrated its centennial anniversary. The 1500 attendees prayed the WUCWO prayer for Peace in union with the WUCWO organisations of the whole world.

The Dakar General Assembly in Senegal seemed so remote to me, despite the fact that WUCWO had been a familiar organisation which CWO Korea has participated with since 1983. It could possibly have been from the burden of the election I faced as a board member candidate. Also, the 20-hour flight to Dakar (including one transfer) was not easy to take either.

The Annual Meeting of the General Body and the Meeting of the Governing Board of the Council of Catholic Women of India (CCWI) will be held in Chennai, India, with the participation of 60 members from all over India, from Kerala to Nagaland.

Please find below the translation of an interview with WUCWO Board Member Helen Kwon Kyung Soo, which was presented in Catholic Peace Press.

was declared a Servant of God on 27th March 2013. The Catholic Womens League  Australia

has publishe this special suplement

Jewell Start
General President
Catholic Women’s League of Victoria and Wagga Wagga, Australia

The establishment of Bahay Pangarap Women’s Center in the Diocese of Malolos was conceptualized by Most Reverend Bishop Jose F. Oliveros, D.D, Rev. Fr. Domingo Salonga and the Catholic Women’s League under the leadership of Mrs. Fortunata “Nellie” B. O’Santos. Funds were raised for the building construction through the support of the then Governor of Bulacan, Josie M. dela Cruz, CWL membership and various benefactors and friends.

The VI Regional Conference of Latin America and the Caribbean was held from 26 to 29 October 2017 in Antigua, Guatemala. The theme of the Conference was: "Family, seed of a humanised society."

The VII WUCWO Regional Conference of Latin America and the Caribbean was held virtually from 11 to 13 May 2021. The theme of the Conference was: “Catholic Women Leaders in Action for a Culture of Peace and Fraternity.”

Please find below some useful resources from the Conference.

Mexico, D.F.

April 8 -12 , 2013

Mónica Santamarina de Robles
WUCWO General Vice-president

Sara Vázquez Matar
WUCWO Board Member
Cuba

“Participating in the 2019 WUCWO Board Meeting contributed to my growth and preparation in organisational work, and that means understanding Christ’s call to serve beyond the borders of the country and to work as the Universal Church.”

“In the service, let's reach out to Rural Families”

This is the motto animating the programme of Misiones Rurales Argentina, whose objective is to take the Word of God to the 1068 families of the 22 places that belong to the Parish  of  Nuestra  Señora  de Andacollo, north zone of the province of Neuquén.

The Women's Forum of the EuroLat Parliamentary Assembly in Rome had our President, Maria Giovanna Ruggieri, as a speaker at the Italo-Latin American Institute, with the theme Women together to grow in co-responsibility and solidarity on May 18.

Read her intervention below (in Spanish).

NOSOTRAS Magazine from Cuba

Shari Guinta

Catholic Women’s League of Canada

After attending the WUCWO General Assembly for the first time in 2023, I developed an appreciation for the work of WUCWO and its global sisterhood. I learned more about and was impressed with the World Women’s Observatory. What an amazing initiative! The Catholic Women’s League of Canada is aware of global issues, and often the same issues exist in Canada.

On 25 August 2021, 107 women, 2 husbands, and Spiritual Advisors gathered in Arlington, Virginia (USA), for the 2021 WUCWO North America Region Conference with the theme, Make Me A Channel of Your Peace.

Maribeth Stewart Blogoslawski, Vice President for North America, welcomed the attendees. Afterward, there was a ceremony of remembrance when representatives of each of the member organizations of the North America Region placed a lighted votive candle before the statue of Mary after which we prayed for the deceased members of our organizations.

This report is concentrated on the response of our organizations to the four resolutions we adopted at our General Assembly in Dakar.

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada 

August 14-15, 2016

Fort Lauderdale, Fl, USA

September 29 - 30, 2013

On the 7th anniversary of the promulgation of the encyclical Laudato Si’ by the Holy Father Pope Francis, the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon has launched a Laudato Si’ Reflection Series through its Human and Environmental Development Program.

What a blessing to be able to meet with Catholic women of faith from throughout the world and to be privy to the expertise of the women who provided so many points of reflection on the state of the world from the perspective of faith, environment, and geo-politics. The various speakers, while being realistic, left all with a sense of optimism. If, as Father Whelan stated in his homily, we spend time discerning who we are as women of faith, dream, and allow “hope to flourish”, we have no reason to fear. God is good, all the time. His Holiness is probably one of the most visible living examples of this optimism, while we recognize the myriad number doing their parts daily to secure a better world.

Most Esteemed Micaela Le Blanc, newly elected 14th Supreme Lady of the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary and I recently attended the WUCWO General Assembly 2018 in Dakar, Senegal. Upon arriving at the
Palm Beach Hotel, we were welcomed with song and dance from our host country. After a beautiful Opening Mass and Opening Ceremony, we quickly set out to complete the work of the General Assembly.

Attendees of the 2015 National Council of Catholic Women’s annual convention in Orlando, Florida, were surprised by the guest appearance of Mickey Mouse and a special presentation on the 95 years of NCCW history at the 95th birthday luncheon celebration. The NCCW convention is the annual gathering of women leaders from Catholic women’s organizations in parishes and dioceses throughout the United States.  The theme of this year’s Convention was “Be the Voice of Catholic Women: Sowers of Hope.”

Luba Kowalchyk

Luba was born on March 6, 1954 and is married to Fr. Michael Kowalchyk. Their family consists of two children Walter (Danielle), Andrew (Wanda), and grandchildren, Kristine, Larissa, Maxim, Zoryanna and Victoria. In 1987, Luba graduated from NAIT, Business Department , majoring in Administrative Management and Accounting. Her employment included 1988 - 1993 Executive Director of Ukrainian Canadian Social Services. During her time with Ukrainian Canadian Social Service, Luba was responsible for initiating resettlement of Ukrainian refugees from former Yugoslavia. More then 150 families fourth generation of Ukrainian descent fled the prosecution in their homeland and settled in Edmonton. From 1993 to the present date Luba has been the Manager of Meest for Western Canada.
Inclusive of her dedicated work provincially and nationally with UCWLC, Luba is the founder and Manger of “Bridge of Hope” a charitable arm of the Edmonton Eparchy, sponsorship of needy and orphaned children in Ukraine though the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate (SSMI) in Ukraine.

Click here to see the page of Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Alberta Provincial Council (UCC-APC)

I write of a WUCWO-inspired collaboration between a woman in Cameroon (Africa) and myself. We became acquainted at the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations (WUCWO) 2006 General Assembly in Arlington, Virginia which was an effort for both of us to attend.

As International Concerns Chair for my Diocesan CCW it is a privilege to choose and present a particular global need to our membership for their support. I prayed that the Assembly would provide opportunity as I prepared to travel to Virginia. Our hotel was filled with 800 of the most beautifully diverse women I’d ever seen, the joy present was tangible.

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Read the message from President Betty Ann Brown Davidson

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The National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) 2013 Convention was held September 25 – 28, 2013 at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with nearly 500 participants from across the USA. 

The theme, “Be the Voice of Catholic Women:  Confidence, Hope & Joy,” was based on the purpose of the proposed women’s council which was created by the United States Bishops in 1920:  “To give the Catholic women of the country a common voice and an instrument of common action in all matters affecting Catholic or national welfare.”

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