Social Ministries
Development Works
Globally, and in Australia, Loreto actively engages in justice and development issues. Through individual initiatives and partnerships the network is involved in education, community development, social justice, advocacy and refugee rights.
Loreto at the United Nations
Loreto has been at the United Nations (UN) as a non-government organisation since 2002. The primary goal of Loreto at the UN is to work for systemic change to redress the major inequities in our world by promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working for the eradication of poverty and promoting gender equity for women and girls.
Mary Ward International Australia
Mary Ward International Australia (MWIA) is part of the Mary Ward International network established in 2002 to support the development works of the Loreto Sisters throughout the world.
MWIA is committed to working towards a more just world where there is respect for the dignity of each person and equal opportunity for all. In particular, MWIA strives to create just and sustainable change with women, children and communities. It also provides opportunities for volunteers to collaborate in these works.
Timor-Leste
Loreto Sisters have been living and working with communities in the Baucau region of Timor-Leste for many years. At the request of the Gari-uai community, Loreto built a community centre and pre-primary school in the village engaging families in this project. Other community development work continues to evolve.
Social Services
Today Loreto Sisters and their colleagues are actively involved in planning, providing, advocating for and funding welfare and social services.
Loreto Sisters work as chaplains or in educational support with young offenders and other groups in prison. The compassionate presence of volunteers who choose to stand with these people, who are often “out of sight and out of mind”, continues the commitment of Jesus to be with those living on the margins.
IBVM Corporate Stance on Human Trafficking
The following statement was adopted at the General Congregation held in September 2014 at Loyola, Spain.
As members of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an international and multicultural congregation of women religious, we pledge to work for the eradication of all forms of human trafficking and its causes, particularly among women and children, wherever we live and minister.
Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH)
The Loreto Sisters and their colleagues, in Australia and across the globe, work to give a voice to those who are trafficked into sexual, social or labour slavery.
In Australia the Loreto Sisters join other religious congregations in supporting ACRATH’s efforts for the victims of slavery and to raise awareness and share information about human trafficking.
Associated links to view:
- ACRATH
- RENATE – European anti-trafficking group led by Sr Imelda Poole ibvm
- Aotearoa New Zealand Religious Against Trafficking In Humans (ANZRATH)
- Anti-Slavery Australia
- Global Sisters Report – Collaboration boosts sisters’ anti-trafficking efforts
- Talitha Kum – Trafficking group auspiced by UISG
- Global Sisters Report on human trafficking
- Christine Carolan on curbing human slavery
- Pope Francis on human trafficking
Feature Image: Students at Loreto Rumbek, South Sudan