Workshop on empowering Religious women
The above topics of empowering Religious women has been the need of the hour. A collaborative effort of the women’s commission of Patna, of which Dorothy is the chairperson, the Patna unit of CRI, Forum unit of Patna and Strevani – Pune organized a two day workshop for the religious women, men, heads of schools of the Christian run institutions on the 21st & 22nd September at Nav Jyoti Niketan.
The first day there were 85 religious women who participated and benefitted from the testimonies of the veterans of the archdiocese. The interactive sessions were also very enriching and inspiring. A gist of the international, national and local scenario was placed before the group. Our response to this situation was invited and the sharing of testimonies were inspiring as some of the women religious had broken new paths.
The second day there were 185 participants and two resource persons were invited – Professor Brinelle D’Souza of Tata Institute of Social Science Mumbai and Advocate Albertina Almeida of Goa. The inputs were based on the CBCI documents and there was great awareness and the need to move ahead. The resource persons appreciated Archbishop William’s presence and support. They said Patna has showed the way for the entire nation and suggested that he should talk to his fellow bishops as well.
A core group of intercongregational religious worked out the modalities and it was applauded by all. We have begun to put systems and structures in places and will follow this up by ensuring that cases are dealt with the utmost sensitivity and also justice.