Last week, breakfasts celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) were held across the Diocese to recognise the gifts women bring to their families, parishes, schools and communities. The day provides an opportunity to honour the role of women in shaping communities, living out their faith and exercising leadership and service, while encouraging women’s voices to be heard and nurtured in Church life.
Celebrated annually on 8 March, International Women’s Day is a Secular Event which has its roots in the early 20th century, emerging from the global struggle for women’s rights. In 1909, the United States observed the first National Women’s Day to honour women garment workers, protesting unsafe conditions and low wages. The following year, German activist, Clara Zetkin proposed an annual International Women’s Day at the Second International Socialist Women’s Congress in Copenhagen, calling for women’s suffrage, labour rights and social equality.
In 1977, International Women’s Day was officially recognised by the United Nations, who continue to highlight both women’s achievements and the ongoing pursuit of justice and equality; a mission that resonates with Catholic teaching on human dignity.
The United Nations theme for International Women’s Day 2026 is ‘Rights. Justice. Action’. Highlighting their mission to work for justice for women, through advocacy, empowerment and activism, noting that globally today only 64 per cent of women and girls have the legal rights of men; “Without justice, rights are just words. Without justice, rights be come power."
A perspective shared by Bishop Michael Morrissey, the Australian Bishops Conference Delegate for Women who, in his Pastoral Letter for International Women’s Day, wrote:
“ … we know that many women experience injustice, violence, economic disadvantage and exclusion from decision making. The dignity of women calls for more than listening. It calls for action and the courage to examine how power is exercised in our homes, workplaces and Church communities.
In our synodal journey, we speak of walking together. Walking together means shared responsibility for the mission. It means that women participate not as an afterthought, but as co-workers in God’s vineyard in shaping our Church’s life now and into the future …”
On Friday 6 March, FCJ College, Benalla welcomed four FCJ Alumni to share their journeys at their IWD Breakfast. Liz Hayes, Physiotherapist; Sarah Osborne, Psychologist; Rachel Tharratt, Senior Media Manager at the Bunnings Group; and Tymicka Pierce, Policy Officer at the Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action.
Organisers of the day said it was a wonderful day, reminding us of the power of openness and courage, and the positive impact that honesty can have on the next generation.
At Catherine McAuley College, Bendigo, students past and present and special guests gathered at St Mary’s Hall for the College’s inaugural IWD Breakfast, part of the Sisters of
Mercy sesquicentenary celebrations. A panel discussion, moderated by Grace Aicken (class of 2015), highlighted different pathways in leadership and service. Bendigo Councillor Andrea Metcalf (Class of 1977), Justine Sharkey Minne (1993), Leila Gurruwiwi (2005), and Abbey Milligan (2018) each shared unique perspectives on the way their school experiences influenced their careers. The panellists also spoke of the impact of their teachers, many wonderful role-models, who had left an indelible mark on the panellists by instilling confidence and passion, or kindness.
At St Mary’s Parish, Echuca, almost one hundred women gathered for their annual ‘Ladies Breakfast’ on Saturday, 28 February .
This year, they focused on the dedication and work of the Brigidine Sisters, who had established St Joseph’s College, Echuca 140 years ago. Guest speaker, Pat Whyte spoke of her time as a student of the College, noting that her daughter was a student of St Joseph’s, as is her granddaughter. While Judy O’Farrell spoke of her time teaching at the school and the changes that have occurred during her time, including an increase in students from 200 to 700. The College now has 1100 students.
The breakfast was also an opportunity to publicly acknowledge and thank Brigidine Sister, Cecilia Merrigan for her remarkable contribution to the parish over many years, especially since Sr Cecilia will be leaving Echuca for Melbourne in April.
At St Joseph’s College, Echuca on Tuesday 10 March, students welcomed their mothers, carers, grandmothers, aunts and special friends to the Oak Centre for their International Breakfast where they were inspired by guest speakers Mareeka Bruns, Chief Nuclear Medicine Technologist at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, and proud SJC alumna, and Nooreen Dossa, Director of Strategic Engagements (Asia Pacific Region) at Educate Girls, with more than twenty years’ experience in philanthropy, social entrepreneurship and advancing educational opportunities for girls. Student Leaders stepped up to the challenge and facilitated a wonderful panel discussion, gaining further insight and wisdom from their inspiring guests.