Reception of the encyclical Fratres Omnes

Dear friends,

This October 2020 will start, for the Church and the world, with a new encyclical entitled Fratres Omnes. It will be like a ray of sunshine in the midst of the fog of uncertainty that surrounds our planet. Contrary to what happens during lockdown, when everything comes to a standstill or decreases, the Holy Spirit is bringing about his powerful activity through the Pope's magisterium.

Identified in December, 2019, a local outbreak of respiratory infections in Wuhan, China had culminated into a global pandemic(Covid-19) as declared by World Health Organization (WHO) affecting the whole world. Ever since, the world has experienced a rapid growth of new cases, deaths and recoveries each day. Countries all over the world have activated emergency plans, guidelines and measures as to how best they could handle the disease, restricting its further spread and transmission. For instance, awareness interventions on wearing masks, social distancing, travel restrictions, home confinement among others.

September 23rd, 2020, marks the International Day Against Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking of Women and Children.

It was established by the World Conference of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Persons in coordination with the Women's Conference that took place in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in January 1999 and was organised by the International Coalition against Trafficking in Women.

In Nigeria, the extended family system impacts so much on communal life. With the advent of COVID-19 a lot of hardship is being experienced by families. People most affected by the lockdowns are the poor and the needy together with workers who live on daily wages.

In most places in Nigeria, only markets and shops selling food items were allowed to open initially thereby leaving the generality of the people working/doing business in other sectors of the economy vulnerable.

The deadly coronavirus pandemic that took everyone by surprise is no respecter of persons and appears to be testing the faith of many. In these testing times, we must neither falter nor take our eyes of faith off the “almightiness” of our God. The painful reality of Covid-19 proved to the world that there is a creator, God almighty. For sure our God is mightier than the virus that has changed our lives in several ways. Like the two women who visited the tomb of Jesus after his resurrection, women have learned to leave their comfort zones and take the lead in reshaping and redirecting through positive action.

SYNODALITY IS A WUCWO MISSION

Dear friends,

“What the Lord is asking of us is already in some sense present in the very word “synod”. Journeying together — laity, pastors, the Bishop of Rome — is an easy concept to put into words, but not so easy to put into practice” (50th Anniversary of the Institution of the Synod of Bishops), Pope Francis told us five years ago.

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.

This week we present you a Life Story of a WUCWO woman from Mexico.

COMMUNICATION FOR COMMUNION

The Pope, last March 27 in the extraordinary prayer from St. Peter's Square, pointed out to us what we left behind: “The storm exposes our vulnerability” he told us, making us see that we have lost the security of our agendas, projects and routines. “The façade of those stereotypes with which we camouflaged our egos has fallen away" as our western pride of feeling omnipotent masters of science and progress has fallen.

On the occasion of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, 30th of July 2020, our President General María Lía Zervino recorded a message to remember us that all forms of modern slavery are crimes against humanity.

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.

This week we present you a Life Story of a young WUCWO woman from Mali.