Aid To Asian And Pacific Women Urged At Conference

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29950, 11 October 1962, Page 2

Aid To Asian And Pacific Women Urged At Conference

The obligations of New Zealand Roman Catholic women to their counterparts in South-east Asia were emphasised to delegates and observers at the New Zealand Catholic Women’s League Dominion conference yesterday morning by Miss Kathleen O’Connor, representative of the league to the local branch of the Pan Pacific and South-east Asia Women’s Association, and Dominion programme organiser of the association.

This should be considered because iit was the time of women’s emergence in Asia and the Pacific, said Miss O’Connor during the presentation of the league’s international reports. “Surely we have a serious obligation to these women to support them at this time. These women have a tremendous spiritual outlook,” she said.

Particularly with the growing reticence of Pacific Island women it was important that their New Zealand neighbours took some interest in developments. Inviting suggestions from league members, Miss O'Connor said very little Roman Catholic women’s news had been in the association’s journal recently. Mission Work

Reports presented on the league's recent mission work stated that during the year £7469 in cash donations and clothing to the value of £33,486 had been recei- .d from branches throughout New Zealand, Speaking on behalf of the Romain Catholic Bishop of Christchurch (the Most Rev. E. M. Joyce) the Rev. Father J Cunneen reminded members that prayer and self sacrifice in the mission field was as "applicable today as ever.”

He urged New Zealand’s 10,000 Roman Catholic women to consider further the great projects being done by members of the faith in the newly emergent countries, not only of Asia and Africa, but of Oceania.

The Rev. Father G. Kane congratulated the league on its work done in this field. The advisability of sending material gifts or money to the various areas at present receiving the Church’s mission was then discussed.

A report on the work of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations reminded of the task of the union to keep suitably sifted information ready and to continue to spread the ideas of Roman Catholic women everywhere throughout the world.

The union said a great deal had been accomplished recently against the rising threat of communism in Latin America. Two teams of Roman Catholic workers had been sent to make Latin American women aware of their responsibilities and potential influence.

Mrs C. P. Kerr urged members to adopt some form of concerted prayer for the welfare of women in various nations of these areas. The suggestion was referred to individual branches for action.

The annual report presented by the president said overall membership of the league had increased slightly but was still down in some areas of the Dominion. At the close of the morning’s conference members took part in a special requiem mass for deceased

league members at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The Celebrant was the Rev. G. Kane. During the afternoon delegates and observers joined in a scenic drive to Mount Magdala Home where the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given in the house chapel.