Apologies for lateness of the January Update:  Catherine returned from her trip to Lesotho and Swaziland in Africa on 11 January 2007.  The trip involved two different purposes.  A team of 9 women – 6 from Lesotho, 1 from Canada and 2 from the US – gave two retreats on the theme spirituality of justice: following the justice path together to the Sisters of the Holy Names in the Lesotho Province.  Both retreats combined presentations in Sesotho and English with rituals based on the themes of each day.  The five major themes for the retreat were – Where are we on the justice path and what are the virtues we need to go further?; Who do we journey with on this path – women of faith and justice; Justice and the Christmas season; Doing justice in the situation of HIV and AIDS; and Doing Justice as Women of Creation.

Prior to the retreat, the team visited several sites where the young SNJM Sisters are visiting those affected by HIV and AIDS. 

 In the week between Christmas and New Year’s, Catherine was able to visit St. Philip’s Mission in Swaziland.  This is the site of the Cabrini Sisters HIV and AIDS project.  On the site there is a health clinic which provides AIDS testing, Anti-retroviral Treatment, a feeding programme, a hostel for 127 AIDS orphans, and a health outreach programme which goes to the bush to visit patients and bring them to the clinic as needed.  When she was there, the children were on vacation so she had the change to visit twelve of the homesteads where at-risk children were staying.   One of the most impressive aspects of all of these programmes is the outstanding leadership being provided by the Swazi staff.   

CEDAW report on the situation of women in Nicaragua: Thanks to Anabel Torres, CSA, Colette Hartman, CSA, and Maria Zuniga, an Associate of CSA,  UNANIMA International will once again be able to present an alternative report at the 37^th session of CEDAW.   The team focused their informative report on the situation of family violence and the murders of women in Nicaragua. The full report (in Spanish)  is posted in the resources section of our web site. (or see  las mujeres en Nicaragua ) The English translation of the 5 minute statement read to the Committee on 15 January is also available there. 

The statement was read by Administrative Assistant Diana Ramos as Sister Anabel was not able to come from Nicaragua for the session. 

International Day of Migrants: This past 18 December was International Migrants Day at the United Nations. Speakers came from Argentina, Mexico and Indonesia to discuss the different situation of migrants around the world. A poignant presentation was made by a member of El Comité de Apoyo a Los Trabajadores Agricolas (Support Committee for Farm Workers). As a migrant from Mexico she gave a very personal presentation on what we need to do as the civil society. She discussed how migrants face a modern day slavery in many of our countries and that we should no longer be interested in why people migrate. Our societies should try to help those who have already migrated and listen more to their needs as actual migrants. Another presentation from the Mission of Indonesia focused on trafficking and migration. He expressed the need for civil society and NGO’s to assist governments in these matters. He conveyed that the challenge in Indonesia is trying to break down the stigmas of girls who have been trafficked and sex workers.  

For Members in the New York City area:  Please reserve the evening of 1 February to attend a panel presentation by 5 Holy Child Sisters, among them UNANIMA International Board President Jean M. O’Meara.  The panel will focus on how the SHCJ charism of Incarnation is lived in their ministries today. Jean will be talking about UNANIMA-International and our coalition of women religious working together in addressing Trafficking. The panel will take place at 7:00 pm at Connelly Theatre (next to Holy Child Middle School) on East 4th Street. Click here for invitation information.

Visit to Australia and New Zealand:  Catherine will again be out of the office from 1 February – 26 February.  She will be visiting members in Australia and New Zealand and also doing some sight-seeing in a part of the world she has never visited.  Diana Ramos will maintain contact with Catherine on this trip.