Latin America Visits for UNANIMA International. In June, UNANIMA International board member, Maureen Foltz, CCV met with the Vedrunas and the Daughters of Jesus in Colombia. In July, coalition coordinator Catherine Ferguson busy in Latin America with Sisters and associate members of the coalition.  July 7-14 she will be one of the co-facilitators of the 5-year assembly of the Mission Sector of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary in Lima, Peru.  During this session, she and board member Mary Ondreyco, SNJM, will also facilitate a focus group for the materials on UNANIMA International’s STOP THE DEMAND campaign.  Following this, she and Mary will also present a day-long workshop for members of the UI congregations in Lima.  Catherine will then go one to offer a half-day session in Santiago, Chile, a day-long session with the members in Buenos Aires, and, finally, a session on trafficking with the conference of religious in Buenos Aires.  During each of these sessions there will be focus groups who will help shape the material for the coming campaign. 

Appointment to human trafficking commission: UI Board member, Anne Marie Mack, CBS, reports: “The Commonwealth of Virginia passed a resolution on forming a Senate Commission focused on the Prevention of Human Trafficking. I have been appointed to serve a 2 year term beginning in July. Most of the members are legislators and law enforcement. There will be several "citizen" members of which I am one.”  Congratulations, Anne Marie!

Collaborative Workshop Accepted: UNANIMA International has had the workshop it put together accepted for the UN Department of Public Information (DPI) Conference for NGOs from 5-7 September on the theme: CLIMATE CHANGE: How It Affects Us All. It will feature Cecilia Nya, SHCJ, Provincial leader from Nigeria, speaking about the SHCJ community farming project in Nigeria. Other participants in the session feature an Indonesian member of the VIVAT International, an Australian member of the Sisters of Mercy, and a US member of the Sisters of Charity.

 New Volunteer at UNANIMA International: UNANIMA International welcomes Louise Cleary, CSB, the Brigidine Congregational leader who is just finishing her term.  Louise will spend several months working as an intern in New York this fall and we are excited to have her with us!

 Participation in Orientation to the UN  UI volunteer Ana Martinez de Luco spoke to the participants in the UN Orientation session organized by Dominican Sister Lucianne Siers on the topic of Poverty at the UN.  Ana follows the working group on poverty eradication and brings her personal experience from the Philippines and from the streets of New York to her presentation. 

Election to Congregational Leadership Team Patricia Mulhall, CSB, was elected to the Brigidine Sisters Congregational Leadership Team at the Chapter in June.  We assure you of our prayers, Patricia, and hope that you will continue on the board!

Speaking Engagements: With Susan Maloney, SNJM, Ph.D., Catherine gave a presentation on UNANIMA International as a UNANIMA International as a Collaborative Cross-Cultural Global Ministry at the triennial conference of the History of Women Religious.  Susan has been one of UI’s delegates to the Commission on the Status of Women for the last five years.  She also has written a paper for the STOP THE DEMAND campaign which provides a theological and ethical framework for the campaign.

 Upcoming trip to Europe   The Counter-Trafficking Office of the Italian Union of Major Superior (USMI), in collaboration with a government entity, is holding an international Working Seminar for Women Religious from different countries with the goal of enhancing counter-trafficking of women and children (primarily for sexual exploitation). It will take place in Rome from Monday, October 15 - Saturday, October 20, 2007. The invitation was sent to LCWR and, although no one from the Conference was available to go and because the timeline was short, Catherine will be attending from the United States.  UNANIMA International hopes to develop further international networking on this important issue. 

Also, if any of the UI members would like a visit from Catherine either before or after this session, please let her know at   fergcf@earthlink.net.