On March 11, 2026, during the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), we hosted a powerful parallel event at the Church Centre, in collaboration with VIVAT International, Medical Mission Sisters, Maryknoll Sisters, the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, the Society of the Sacred Heart, and the Justice Coalition of Religious (JCoR).
This gathering spotlighted the lived experiences, historic legacy, and transformative leadership of Catholic Women Religious. The speakers explored how Women Religious have long navigated patriarchal systems with resilience and innovation, leveraging their ministries to drive justice and systemic change.
Two of our own Sisters—Brenda Eagan IBVM from the US Region and Leonida Kwamboak Oriki IBVM from East Africa Province—offered personal testimonies of their ministry and ongoing work to promote gender equality at the grassroots level.
Brenda shared the powerful story of Venerable Mary Ward, a visionary centuries ahead of her time, who dreamed of a congregation dedicated to the education and empowerment of women and girls—an act of defiance against the dominant patriarchal norms of her era. Brenda’s passionate reflection reminded the audience of the urgency of Mary Ward’s values—justice, integrity, freedom, and joy—in today’s world. She emphasized how these values remain at the heart of our mission as we continue to create spaces for women’s voices to be heard and honored.
Leonida drew from her work in Kibera, one of Nairobi’s most underserved communities, where her organization empowers women and girls through education, skills training, health services, and nutrition. Her testimony illuminated the transformative power of knowledge and support, as women in her programs evolve from surviving poverty to becoming leaders and agents of change within their communities.
Our co-hosts also brought rich perspectives rooted in global lived experiences:
Babita Kumari MMS (Medical Mission Sisters, India) shared the bold legacy of Dr. Anna Dengel, who in the early 1900s challenged Vatican law to allow religious women to practice medicine, enabling them to care for Muslim women during childbirth. Today, the Medical Mission Sisters advance Anna’s mission by advocating for preventive healthcare and environmental justice, reinforcing the truth that healing is inseparable from justice.
Margaret Lynch RGS, Coordinator of the Good Shepherd International Justice and Peace (GSIJP) Office, highlighted the mission of St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, whose vision expanded beyond spiritual support to champion the rights of women exploited by poverty and trafficking. Margaret spoke of her Congregation’s commitment to restoring dignity and hope for the most marginalized.
Edita Vera SSpS (Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit, Argentina) honored their co-foundresses Blessed Maria Helena Stollenwerk and Josepha Hendrina Stenmanns, whose ministry emphasized education, leadership, justice, and care for the environment. Today, their legacy thrives in programs that uplift and empower women around the world.
The event culminated in a vibrant and heartfelt discussion, with audience members sharing their own journeys as changemakers. The conversation was intergenerational, interfaith, and ecumenical, embodying the shared hope for a world rooted in equality, compassion, and transformation.
Together, we affirmed that women of faith are not only witnesses to change—they are leading it.
We invite you to watch the full recording of our event above.
