"Women empowerment is not against men" Sr. Philomena in WRCC meeting. Report by Ancy Paladka, Vasai/Mumbai
"Working for women empowerment is continuing Jesus' Mission of bringing the Good News to the oppressed" said Sr. Philomena D'Souza. She was delivering an orientation speech on 'Empowerment of women in church and society', a workshop held for the Western Region Catholic Council (WRCC) comprising fifteen dioceses of Gujrat, Maharashtra and Goa at Bishops house, Vasai here on Saturday December 8 and Sunday December 9. Quoting a Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister who said "Feminism is not a heresy, it is the spirit of Jesus written anew", Sr. Philomena said "We are not looking at the theme "Empowerment of Women in the Church and society" from a mere sociological perspective, although this too is important. Neither from a developmental perspective, although we know that no nation can progress if a half of its citizens are left behind. She concluded that as Christians, we are looking at this theme as part of our faith imperative." "The way Jesus treated women was definitely counter-cultural" She continued. "He went against the cultures of his time – the Jewish as well as the more well-known Greek, Roman, Egyptian or Babylonian cultures all of which were highly patriarchal. Jesus always upheld the dignity of women." She argued that "Women empowerment is not against men, but it is needed particularly for the wholeness of earth and humanity. Women's empowerment is not just a women's concern, it is a celebration of equality, dignity and respect between women and men, girls and boys. It is creating circular structures of relationships, rather than up and down pyramids; creating structures where everyone is included, accepted and respected. For far too many centuries we, both men and women, have seen world only through one perspective – man's perspective. The world has been ruled by man's values, and unfortunately, often some of these values like power, strength, fame, prestige, money, hierarchy, control, competition, greed, hoarding and consumerism, have been a blue print for disaster. They have bred wars, violence, oppression, exploitation, nuclear weapons and ecological degradation." About 80 members of WRCC participated in the said workshop. Various topic such as all India Catholics education policy implementation lead by bishop Percival Fernandes, women in Gods plan in scripture lead by Sr Ananda, women in Church's social teachings lead by Dr Astrid Lobo Gajiwala, reality chick with testimony from women lead by Sr Philomena D'Souza, state of women in church and society lead by Virginia Saldanha and gender mainstreaming and possibilities for empowerment lead by Sr Helen were discussed. Sr Marcia D'Cunha presented the reports on workshops. Film on empowerment "Teesra Rastha" too was screened during the occasion. Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao, president, WRCC, bishop Edwin Colaco of Aurangabad, secretary, WRCC, bishop Thomas Dabre of Vasai, bishop Percival Fernandes, bishop Bosco Penha, bishop Valerian D'Souza, bishop Agnelo Rufino Gracias, bishop Ferdinand Joseph Fonseca, bishop Gregory Karotemprel, archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes, bishop Thomas Elavanal, bishop Godfrey De Rozario, bishop Vijay Anand Nedumpuram, bishop Thomas Ignas Macwan and cardinal Oswald Gracias were the bihops present on the occasion. The fifteen dioceses of Western Region are Ahmedabad diocese, Amravati diocese, Aurangabad diocese, Baroda diocese, Bombay archdiocese, Chanda diocese, Gandhinagar archdiocese, Goa and Daman archdiocese, Kalyan diocese, Nagpur archdiocese, Nashik diocese, Pune diocese, Rajkot diocese, Sindhudurg diocese and Vasai diocese. Bishop Thomas Dabre of Vasai diocese welcomed the gathering. Fr Albert D'Silva, local incharge of the programme spoke on the occasion. Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa and president of WRCC inaugurated the programme. Bishop Edwin Colaco of Aurangabad was present on the dais. Fr Titus D'Costa compered the programme. For photographs please click www.DaijiWorld.com report at http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=41236&n_tit=Workshop+on+Empowerment+of+Women+in+Church%2C+Society+Held -- Ancy Salvadore D'Souza, Paladka E2-139 Diwan Apt III Vasai Road East Thane Dist - 401 210 Tel: 0250-2390225 Cell: 9320733213, 9323299570 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
