Equality for women is progress for all

Each year International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. The first International Women's Day was held over 100 years ago. Thousands of events occur not just on this day but throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women.

On January 25 Srs Philippa, Lorraine and Mary Batchelor visited Blacktown, at the invitation of our OLSH sisters, Terry McNamara and Margaret Jennings who work there. We had lunch with the Sisters and attended the Sudanese Mass at 2pm in the Parish Church. This was a joyful occasion as all three of us had spent time in South Sudan living and working with the Dinka people. We had all experienced the tragedy of war and its aftermath, as well as the more recent tribal conflicts which are destroying the newly acquired independence in the country.

Catholics in Australia support Pope Francis' action against human trafficking

Australia's bishops and religious have joined the global call of Pope Francis to mark Feb. 8, the Feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, as the world day of prayer, reflection, and action against human trafficking. St. Josephine Bakhita was kidnapped and sold into slavery, and later became a Canossian nun and was the first person from Sudan to be canonized, by St. John Paul II in 2000.

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Resources

pdf  Human Trafficking

pdf  Prayer Service for an End to Human Trafficking

Human Trafficking is a crime against humanity.  We must unite our efforts to free victims and stop this crime that’s become even more aggressive, that threatens not just individuals, but the foundational values of society, international security and laws, the economy, families and communities.
—Pope Francis

(1946-1990)
Catechist, Martyr, Lay member of the Chevalier Family

In the morning of January 13, 2015, the Ordinary Congress (cardinals and bishops) of the Congregation cast a positive vote.  During the afternoon of January 22nd, Pope Francis recognized the martyrdom of Benedict Daswa and ordered the publication of a decree attesting to this.  Thus the Roman Pontiff has solemnly declared him “Blessed.”

Towards the end of last year Pope Francis called on all men and women of good will to fight for the abolishment of the death penalty in “all of its forms” .

We received this link from CLRI, (NSW)  with the following information

Andrew and Myuran, two young Australians, face execution in Indonesia. They have admitted trying to traffic drugs to Australia. They have exhausted their appeals. All that can save them is clemency from Indonesia’s President, Joko Widodo. We ask you to help in respectfully seeking clemency.

For more information : http://mercycampaign.org/petition

On January 1st each year the Church marks the World Day of Peace, a tradition begun by Pope Paul VI who held the first such observance in January 1968. This year Pope Francis has chosen to focus his second World Peace Day message on the theme of modern slavery and trafficking, with the title “Slaves no more, but Brothers and Sisters”. 

Children have been last in line to receive what literally is the difference between life and death. The courts had to force government to provide drugs that prevent the transmission of HIV to babies. Today, children still don’t have optimal treatment. While adults now have ARVs, those children whose parents were not so lucky continue their own battles as orphans or trying to survive in child-headed households.

Catholic nun Sister Sally Duigan served rural Limpopo’s people in the dark days as HIV/AIDS first ravaged its villages. Years later, Duigan and her Sisters – The Daughters of our Lady of the Sacred Heart – still do, now caring for more than 75 children in needs of a haven, still deeply affected by the disease.