蜜桃交友

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp - Bangkok

Four laywomen attending the General Conference of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conference (FABC) in Bangkok shared their thoughts with Pope about why their presence and contribution at this meeting are important.

Our work should be acknowledged

Ashita Jimmy, General Secretary of International Youth Catholic Students of India, began by saying that throughout the world, women are considered to be homemakers.

鈥淪ince this is true鈥�, she continued, 鈥渢hen women should also be included in the making of the Church鈥�. Since people are considered according to their gender, Ashita acknowledged that even in the Church, what laymen do is acknowledged 鈥渟ooner鈥� and 鈥渇aster鈥� than what women do. 鈥淭o change that, and to be heard for our work and commitment, it is important for us to be here. Each person, each gender should have the right to speak about their concerns鈥�, Ashita stated.

She feels that with the presence of laywomen at the FABC General Conference 鈥渨e are being heard and our problems are being taken seriously鈥�. She concluded quoting Pope Francis, 鈥淭o hurt a woman is to insult God, who from a woman took on our humanity鈥�not through an angel鈥�not directly鈥�but through a woman鈥�.

We provide wholistic image

鈥淭o give another perspective and to give a wholistic image of the Church鈥� is why it is important for women to be present at this FABC Conference 鈥渁nd any Conference in the future鈥�, Josephine Magdalyn Tan, a Youth Pastoral Worker from Malaysia said.

She says that the young women she works with and for serve 鈥渢he Church with their lives鈥� while also managing studies, parenting, and so forth.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not easy鈥�, she explained. 鈥淯nfortunately, in this modern world, there is still discrimination鈥� toward lay women. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of comments, sexism鈥�patriarchy still exists. I just wished there were more space for young women to be part of it鈥�giving them more significant roles in the Church鈥�.

We are part of the journey

Cheryl Dugan, with the Laudati Si鈥� Movement in the Philippines, says she has witnessed many women and religious 鈥渃ommitted to protecting our common home鈥�.

It鈥檚 important, she continued, that 鈥渢heir voices and experiences be represented in this conversation especially as the Asian Church is charting its way toward the next 50 years鈥�.

Cheryl is happy to be participating in this Conference. 鈥淚n addition to having the voices of women heard, this conference is also very important because it allows us to link up, and build bridges and relationships since we will be journeying together in the coming years toward a better future and a better home.鈥�

We add to the richness of Christ in the Church

Wendy Louis, Former Executive Secretary, Office of Laity and Family FABC, from Singapore, provided some context regarding the presence of laywomen in FABC meetings.

鈥淭he FABC鈥�, she stated, 鈥渉as always had laywomen leaders in the different offices.鈥� Wendy too feels that 鈥渢he woman鈥檚 perspective and experience of life, our way of relating to people, all adds to the richness and the dimension of Christ in the Church.鈥�

She concluded saying, 鈥淚t is important that this perspective is heard, lived in any reality of the Church. No doubt the FABC is about bishops, but women need to be present in order to provide the perspectives of women from all the different aspects of being a woman, whether single or married or widowed. This is very important for women to be part of every discussion and every decision that is being made in the Church.鈥�