By: Flora, Jerimeri
Mumbai, Mar 16: The Archdiocesan Women’s Commission celebrated 'International women's day' on March 8 at St Stanislaus school grounds, Bandra. This event was to men, women and children.
The highlight of the evening was a “SHE & HE” – the musical, attempts to trace the journey towards gender equality across time and space. The cultural programme was full of songs, dances and skits all knit together by the story-tellers - She (Sheena) and He (Hiru). As they explored yesterday, today and tomorrow they stumble upon the myth, the reality and the possibility of how She & He can together make this world a more caring and humane society.
The logo created by the Catholic Communication Centre was RED – Colour of Love & GREEN – Colour of life. It includes an artistic variation of the male female symbols. Yet they symbolize so much more. Could Red also be the colour of violence and Green
perhaps the colour of jealousy, two motifs that plague man-woman relationships. These colours also mean that not a male-centric or female-obsessed world - but a human society, one that is more caring, sharing, humane.
His eminence Oswald Cardinal Gracias was the Chief Guest. In his speech had a special greeting for “all the women throughout the world who are seeking, every day, to build a more human and welcoming society”. He also said that we should have more
and more men to join hands on the line of thought of SHE & HE to see it materialise in our family life.
"Gender equality has to create better families and hence the women’s cell and the family cell should come together to achieve this objective."
Cardinal honoured Sr. Philomena (Sister of Ancy Paladka) for her selfless dedicated service in women empowerment. Sr Philomena thanked her mother who came from Mangalore saying “DEV BAREM KARUM MAI” for maintained equality among the children and also encouraging her on her every step. Cardinal also blessed Sr. Philomena’s Mai.
Cardinal also honoured Fr. Allwyn D’Silva, Parish Priest of St. John the Baptist
Church, Thane as well as Chairperson of the Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) of the Archdiocese was the Chief Guest. While congratulating all women & men, Fr. Allwyn shared his 32 years of experience of how and why he started motivating and empowering women.
The stage united all people more than 2500 men, women and children, from all across Mumbai, who have just one thing in common with a dream of a world where women and men can stand shoulder to shoulder, empowered and liberated.
General Secretary Marcia D’cunha thanked all the guests, supporters, participants and the large crowd who helped to make this celebration a grand success.Snacks boxes were distributed to all.