The Catholic Women’s League hosted Monica Santamarina, President-General of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations, in her first trip to Australia. Source: The Catholic Weekly.
Founded in 1910, WUCWO’s mission is the evangelisation and integral development of women and is the only public international association of the faithful that specifically represents Catholic women and holds consultative status at the United Nations, the Council of Europe and UNESCO.
Ms Santamarina spoke about the importance of a dedicated voice for Catholic women, saying WUCWO provides “a chain of solidarity and support” for the more than eight million women who are part of its member organisations, noting in particular the generosity of women in wealthier countries towards their sisters in poorer countries.
She praised Australia in particular, saying: “Australian women have so many gifts. They are so generous; with their time, with their lives and they give us a great example of women who have been working in these areas throughout most of their life.
“Each organisation enriches the other one,” she said.
Every four years, WUCWO chooses several areas of focus for its work and under Ms Santamarina’s leadership, these areas of focus include family love as a vocation and path to holiness, religious freedom, building a future for migrants and refugees, ecology and synodality.
“When things get out of hand, the people that suffer the most are always women and children, and you can see it in these latest conflicts we have. Women are bridge builders, so we need to give this example. We know how to work with each other and relate to one other,” she said.
Ms Santamarina’s visit was part of the WUCWO conference, which attracted hundreds of women from Australia and Oceania for three days of formation, fellowship and prayer at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney.
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“Chain of solidarity and support”: WUCWO President-General visits Australia (By Monica Doumit, The Catholic Weekly)
