International women's gathering stresses justice, peace, cooperation

Published: 2006-06-06

ARLINGTON, Va. (CNS) -- Arlington was awash with the brightly colored native costumes of countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific and Europe as more than 700 women from 39 countries gathered for the international meeting of the World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations May 31-June 7. The conference, to discuss social justice and world peace, was hosted by the National Council of Catholic Women, which has its headquarters in Arlington. "Unless we are aware of what is going on, we can't do anything about it," said Mary Rickaby, a conference attendee from England. The conference featured speakers from around the world including Flaminia Giovanelli from the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace; Father John Jai-Don Lee, the first priest to run the Office of Environmental Ministry in Seoul, Korea; and a panel of women peacemakers.

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