By Matters India Reporter
New Delhi, Nov 24, 2019: The Conference of Catholic Bishops’ of India (CCBI) – Women’s Commission held a conference in New Delhi to revitalize the role of mothers in the Church.
“The purpose of the conference was to build a strong and united Church through faith-filled families by mothers in each diocese in India,” Sister Lidwin Fernandes, executive secretaries of CCBI Women’s Commission, told Matters India.
The other aim of the event was to revisit the Mission, Vision and Objectives for the commission.
The 18-21 November programme was held at Navinta Retreat House, New Delhi. As many as 70 participants from 50 Latin dioceses of India attended it.
Participants resolved to draft the bye-laws and guidelines for Women’s Commissions at national, regional and diocesan levels, said Ursuline Franciscan Sister Fernandes.
The theme of the conference was “Chosen to be a missionary.”
Inaugurating the event, Bishop Francis Kalist of Meerut, chairman of Women’s Commission, said that women can contribute to the common good of society as representatives of God.
In his address, Archbishop Anil Cutto of Delhi, said, “We are baptized and sent. This conference reminds us that we are chosen to be missionaries and to spread the spirit of mission in our regions and dioceses.”
In the beginning, the CCBI had no commission for women. It was only in 2009 it felt the need for a separate CCBI Commission for Women and Youth besides the one in Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India.
So responding to the demands that emerge from the economic, pastoral and social injustices and harassment of women, the CCBI Commission for Women was formed.
Encouraging the participants, Bishop Binay Kandulna of Khunti, a prelate of women commission, said, “A woman is an ambassador of peace and justice.”
Various sessions were held to enlighten the percipients.
On November 19, the first two sessions were on the Indian Constitution and the rights of women.
Presentation Sister Anastaasia Gill, Supreme Court lawyer and member of Delhi Minority Commission, spoke in detail on the constitutional rights in favour of women and woman being a victim of domestic violence (physical, mental, sexual and economic violence).
In the afternoon, Sister Lilly Francis, the regional secretary of the Western Region, introduced the books that speak in support of woman empowerment like women for peace, wife battering, gender policy of the Catholic Church in India and sexual harassment in workplaces.
Sister Fernandes spoke on the empowerment of women within the church and the power that they need to execute as secretaries and presidents in their respective dioceses and regions.
Another speaker Father Reginald Pinto, women’s commission in-charge in Udupi diocese, dealt with topics such as the present reality of Indian women, Church Social Teachings about women, and where Indian women have to be in the future.
Some of the concrete plans were drawn include on strong and sustainable women cells that by 2025 all the existing women cells will be revitalized and in every Region, Diocese, Deanery, Parish and substation.
The Women’s Commission would work for the promotion of a society where equal rights and equal status valuing the difference are fostered.
Women rooted in Christ and formed in spiritual values would envisage themselves to be missionary disciples who would work for women who need to be socially, economically, culturally and politically empowered.
Women would take efforts to know Government schemes and avail them. They are to nurture positive customs and cultures. They will find ways to promote and preserve good customs and cultures that enhance human life.
On the last day, Sister Fernandes shared a summary of post Synodal Exhortation (Amoris Letitia and Christus Vivit) of Pope Francis. She urged the participants to study these documents in every unit of the parishes.
These two documents might help Catholic women to remain attuned to the call of everyday transformation and build a missionary church by being a committed disciple, she said.
“The current workshop was like the machine is oiled and greased to run faster. Maybe, I would be an owner of this machine as I am equipped with goal, mission and activity,” said Mrs. Riverlincy, president of Jowai Diocese of the North-eastern region.
Mrs. M. Amali Amaladas, a women’s secretary of Palayamkottai, Tamilnadu region said, “I have a lot of struggles to become a committed missionary. But after attending this conference I take it as a challenge to make women as missionary mothers and work for his kingdom.”
“I extremely felt happy to be part of this session for women. When I began this mission in my diocese, I did not have a clear vision. This time together has helped me to have a clear idea from where to begin and towards where I need to journey,” said Sister Rani Poulous, Nagapur Diocese, Western Region.
“I feel my work of framing the goals and objectives need to be reformed as per the vision and mission and move like a wheel from the level of nation to region to diocese and parish. I alone cannot fulfill the mission but women together can build up the women in India and our world,” she added.