United for the common Good: Meeting of the Catholic Sisters Initiative
- observatorioumofc
- Nov 6
- 3 min read
Montserrat Valdivia
Assistant for Latin America
On October 29, 30 and 31, Mónica Santamarina, President of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO), and Montserrat Valdivia, Project Assistant for Latin America and the Caribbean at the World Women’s Observatory (WWO), attended the Meeting of the Catholic Sisters Initiative with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, held in Mexico City.
Under the theme “Embracing a Shared Vision: Strengthening Communities of Hope to Promote the Common Good”, the event brought together representatives from 33 organisations across more than ten countries. Participants gathered to address the following objectives:
Promote opportunities for partners to engage, discuss, and exchange ideas in order to learn from one another and increase strategic impact.
Unite in synodality to strengthen partnerships and collaborative networks aimed at upholding human dignity and working for the common good.
Identify the emerging needs of Catholic sisters in Latin America and share best practices, opportunities, challenges, and strategies for program implementation.
Collaborate with leaders from the private sector and non-profit organisations to explore new opportunities for cooperation.
During the meeting, there was an opportunity for meaningful exchange with Sr. Hortencia del Villar, SAC, M.S., Senior Program Officer, Catholic Sisters Initiative (U.S. and Latin America), and Sr. Jane Wakahiu, LSOSF, Ph.D., Associate Vice President of Program Operations and Director of the Catholic Sisters Initiative, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation—two important allies who have supported the WUCWO World Women’s Observatory in implementing its projects in Latin America, with a special focus on Mexico and 22 countries in Africa.
From left to right: Mónica Santamarina with Srs. Hortencia del Villar, SAC, M.S., and Jane Wakahiu, LSOSF, Ph.D.
This event was of great significance, as it included representatives from various Dicasteries, among them Sr. Alessandra Smerilli, FMA, from the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, and Bishop Luis Manuel Ali Herrera, from the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Both expressed a growing closeness with Congregations and affiliated Organisations—such as WUCWO and its Observatory—with the purpose of understanding their real needs, valuing their work, recognising their contributions, and acknowledging the impact they generate in the communities they serve. This exchange also aimed to identify potential areas of collaboration that could strengthen the activities of both Congregations and organisations. This approach reflects the Dicasteries’ commitment to closer and more networked collaboration in the spirit of synodality.
Through six panel sessions featuring representatives from Dicasteries, Congregations, and partner Organisations—as well as discussion tables and collective exchanges—the participants shared their working contexts, challenges, lessons learned, and best practices. They also identified shared interests and ongoing activities, emphasising the importance of strengthening the established network and continuing to work together to achieve greater impact in the lives of the people and communities they accompany.
For WUCWO and the WWO, this was a space for encounter, learning, and recognition of the Sisters’ invaluable work carried out through their various charisms. We reaffirm our conviction that network collaboration is essential, and that the Dicasteries and Congregations are key allies in the implementation of our mission. We must continue strengthening and nurturing the networks we have, because together, we are stronger.
This text has been translated with the help of Artificial Intelligence
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