“Women are a gift to us,” Kenyan Archbishop to Thousands of Catholic Women Pilgrims

He added in reference to the Catholic Women Association (CWA) members, “It is they who have been given the role of taking care of making sure that our families are places which are homes, harmonious, loving, welcoming. That is the gift of femininity we celebrate today, on the eve of the International Women’s Day.”

The 56-year-old Kenyan Prelate termed women, by virtue of their stewardship role, “the main soldiers” in the anti-corruption war reminding them “not to let Christ’s wealth and assets be taken away by peddlers of evil, peddlers of corruption.” 

Instead, women should regain the space where Christ reigns, where we read the commandments and through that, the country will recover from the monster (corruption), the Kenyan Prelate said.

In a Tweet on IWD, Sunday, March 8 the Archbishop referencing the CWA members said, “These are giants in faith and love! No doubt they can help God change our hearts from evil to good!”

The celebration was guided by the theme, “Women have been called to holiness to sanctify the world for holistic development.”

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Meanwhile in South Africa, women under the auspices of the Catholic Women Council (CWC) gathered at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Johannesburg on Sunday, March 8 to mark IWD under the theme, “Dignity and Equality for Women in the Catholic Church” and the sub theme “Migration and Femicide.”

During the celebration, the keynote speaker, Sr.Nkhensani Shibambu reflected on gender inequality in the society and in the Church saying, “biblically women are exalted, the Bible puts women on a very different level.”

The Superior General of Companions of St Angela added, “Jesus treated women with dignity, with equality. However, when it comes to our Church, unfortunately it is different.” 

The nun applauded Pope Francis’ recent move to appoint women to senior positions in the Roman Curia, and challenged the local Church to follow the example.

The Sunday event also marked the launch of CWC ‘Global Pilgrimage’ which will end in Rome in November 2021 with an inaugural global CWC event where women will gather to pool their experiences and insights and find ways to heal their broken church and make it a more sustainable inclusive one. 

CWC representative Sheila Pires encouraged participants to join the pilgrimage and to reflect about dignity and equality Catholic women in the Church.

Organised by Voices of Faith together with Radio Veritas South Africa and the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) Migrants and Refugees office, the event brought together religious women, members of the Focolare Movement, representatives from various sodalities as well as members of Girl Power – an ecumenical group of young girls.