St Mary Euphrasia Pelletier's role in establishing the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd as an International Congregation in 1835 is celebrated in a special way on 24 April each year by sisters and lay Mission Partners in 73 countries around the world.

Learn more

Click here - http://www.goodshepherd-asiapacific.org.au/project/57

In 2014 Good Shepherd in Singapore-Malaysia produced The Story of St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier presented as booklet and youtube video. 

Click here to see the booklet - The Story of St Mary Euphrasia Pelletier

Click here to see the youtube clip - Youtubeclip

Click here to see the youtube clip - children's' version - The Story of St Mary Euphrasia Pelletier - children's version

And now there is Euphrasia, the Musical! 

'Euphrasia – the Musical tells the true life story of Mother Mary Euphrasia from a mischievous girl growing up in the aftermath of the French Revolution to a woman with audacious ideas for improving the lives of countless women and children back in a time when society was much more orthodox.

The aspirations of Mother Mary Euphrasia live on today empowering lives, restoring rights  and upholding the dignity of women and children in 73 countries in the world.'

Produced by sisters and lay Mission Partners in Singapore-Malaysia,

this production will presented in Kota Kinabalu, East Malaysia

on 10 May 2019.

The 63rd annual session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the UN's principal commission 'dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women' concluded on 25 March.  

These meetings follow the March 8 commemoration of International Women's Day, and always relate to a theme. Theme for 2019 is the interconnection of 'social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.'

CSW63 came to an Agreed Conclusion.  While not without controversy, this outcome delivers a roadmap on ensuring women’s social protection, mobility, safety and access to economic opportunities.  

Click here for outcomes of CSW63

http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2019/3/press-release-csw-63-delivers-roadmap-on-ensuring-womens-social-protection

Read an interesting summary of the session and its outcomes, including references to Sr Winifred Doherty, UN Good Shepherd representative at CSW63, in the article published in Global Sisters Report (GSR), A project of National Catholic Reporter, by Chris Herlinger dated 25 March 2019.

Click here for the GSR article

https://www.globalsistersreport.org/news/equality/sisters-un-meeting-women-emphasize-human-rights-local-action-56001?utm_source=MARCH+26+digest&utm_campaign=cc&utm_medium=email

The Parliament of the World's Religions

The Parliament of the World’s Religions is a Chicago-based international interfaith organization that exists to cultivate harmony among the world’s religious and spiritual traditions and to engage the world’s guiding institutions in order to achieve a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world.

The 2019 Interfaith Rainforest Initiative is an international, multi-faith alliance that aims to bring moral urgency and faith-based leadership to global efforts to end tropical deforestation.  It is a platform for religious leaders to work hand-in-hand with Indigenous peoples, governments, civil society and business on actions that protect rainforests and safeguard those that serve as their guardians.

Rainforests represent the very best of the planet’s beauty, supporting life and providing billions of people with food, shelter, livelihoods, medicine and clean water. They are also among the best climate solutions we have.

Tragically, tropical deforestation is rampant. This destruction is unnecessary and it is deeply undermining efforts by the international community to address climate change, sustainable development and human rights. We see the deforestation crisis as a moral and ethical concern of the highest order.

Over the last decade, a broad coalition of governments, indigenous peoples, scientists, NGOs, businesses and civil society partners have been working together on this agenda. But the leadership, moral authority and unparalleled influence of the world’s religions may be the missing piece that will help end tropical deforestation. This partnership is based on an informed belief that there is a commitment across faiths to achieve this goal.

Join us!

For more information

Click here - www.interfaithrainforest.org

Today we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This milestone document proclaims the inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being -- regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. It is the most translated document in the world, available in more than 500 languages.

While its promise is yet to be fully realized, the very fact that it has stood the test of time is testament to the enduring universality of its perennial values of equality, justice and human dignity.

The principles enshrined in the Declaration are as relevant today as they were in 1948. We need to stand up for our own rights and those of others. We can take action in our own daily lives, to uphold the rights that protect us all and thereby promote the kinship of all human beings.  

#StandUp4HumanRights

• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights empowers us all.

• Human rights are relevant to all of us, every day.

• Our shared humanity is rooted in these universal values.

• Equality, justice and freedom prevent violence and sustain peace.

• Whenever and wherever humanity's values are abandoned, we all are at greater risk.

• We need to stand up for our rights and those of others.

Some other key dates to save in your calendars

February 20 - World Day of Social Justice

March 8 - International Women's Day (IWD)

March 22 - World Water Day

April 22 - International Mother Earth Day

April 24 - Feastday of St Mary Euphrasia Pelletier

May 26 - June 24 - Ramadan (varies)

June 5 - World Environment Day

June 14 - 20 - Refugee Week

June 20 - World Refugee Day

June 24 - Good Shepherd Day (Australia)

July 22 - Good Shepherd Day (Aotearoa/New Zealand) 

July 30 - World Day against Trafficking in Persons

August 9 - International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples

August 19 - Feastday of St John Eudes

September 1 - World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation

September 21 - International Day of Peace

October 6 - World Habitat Day

October 11 - International Day of the Girl Child

October 16 - World Food Day

October 17 - International Day for the Elimination of Poverty

November 2 - All Souls Day

November 11 - Diwali festival

November 18 - World Day of the Poor

November 25 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

November 25 - 10 Dec - 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence

December 2 - International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

December 5 - International Volunteer Day

December 10 - Human Rights Day