O GOD, we cannot express what our minds barely comprehend

and our heart feel when we hear of men, women and children

deceived, transported to unknown places, forced into prostitution or other

forms of labour, for the financial gain of traffickers -their slaveholders.

Our hearts are saddened and our spirits angry that their dignity and rights

are transgressed through threats, deception and force. We cry out

against this degrading practice of trafficking and pray for it to end.

Protect all potential victims especially our young and vulnerable.

Let Your tender love and care surround all present victims of trafficking.

Deliver them, O God, from the perpetrators’ hands. Give us the courage

and the wisdom to stand in solidarity with them, that together we will

find ways to the freedom that is your gift to all of us. Amen

(adapted from a prayer by G. Cassini.)

WUCWO Asia Pacific Region Conference was held from 1-6 May, 2016 with the theme “In Hope and Mercy we meet in God’s Love”.  The setting for this Conference was the Novotel Hotel Lami Bay, in the capital city of Suva, in the idyllic Fijian Islands in the Pacific Ocean

Over 700 Catholic Women’s League members and guests met in Halifax, Nova Scotia, one of Canada’s older historic cities, August 14-17, 2016 for the 96^th Annual Convention, One Heart, One Voice, One Mission: Palliative and Hospice Care, a fitting title for a convention in the Jubilee Year of Mercy

The Board members, presidents and representatives of women’s organizations from 21 countries of the world’s Catholic women’s organizations of the Africa region (WUCWO- Africa),meeting in Lilongwe, Malawi from august 29th to September 5th, 2016 at the Africa regional conference on the theme “Women of Africa, proclaimers of God’s mercy”, reaffirm our role as evangelizers

Women, Workers of Peace Towards a Culture of Meeting and Dialogue set the theme of this important meeting between women from the Middle East and their sisters from throughout the world held in Bari, Italy from October 19-23, 2016.

In October 2016, in Bari, Italy, the advisers together with the Ecclesiastical Assistant Father Gerard Whelan, SJ, and some of the international representatives, evaluated the development of the Plan of Action, adapted it and took on a renewed commitment.

Lorenzo Lotto (Venice, c. 1480 – Loreto, 1556), Recanati Annunciation, 1527, oil on canvas, 166 cm x 114 cm, Recanati, Civic Museum

At the end of the year of Mercy we were blessed to experience  last year, Pope Francis offered his  apostolic letter “Misericordia et Misera” in which he encourages “to look to the future and to understand how best to continue, with joy, fidelity and enthusiasm, experiencing the richness of divine mercy.

Lord, you call us to share your table and also your cross of anguish with our sisters who are suffering. We pray for all who are being abused, violated, oppressed, and in situations that deprive them of their dignity.