I attended the Congress wearing "two hats". I was representing the International Organization of Marianist Lay Communities. I was also the delegate for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mulieris Dignitatem, has produced varying degrees of acceptance since it was published twenty years ago. I wondered how this would affect the dialogue of the Congress.

Many women in attendance embraced the document unquestioningly. They defended and promoted the document in a well-versed and skilled, apologetic style.

At the other end of the spectrum are women who reject completely the document. I don't think any of these women were present at the Congress. (If they were they were very quiet!)

There are also women who stand with the Church in promoting the dignity of women but who question the document's promotion of women's active role in society while still preventing them from having a more full and active role within their Church. They are concerned that promoting a "feminine genius", focused on women's capacity to nurture and give life, will continue to perpetuate a form of biological determinism that has too often been used to keep women within the private sphere of the home. Some question how their local Church can represent their concerns without asking them to take part in the dialogue. Several of these women courageously asked questions at the Congress, and their questions enriched the discussions.

And then there was Josephine from Lebanon, Bassima from Jordan, Elaine from India, Eisabeth from Gabon, and many others who reminded us that beyond the theorizing is the reality of women around the world who live with poverty, violence, war, abuse, and no education - women who often have no rights at all. They begged that we share their stories, educate ourselves to their plights, and unite with them in prayer and action.

Although nervous at first, I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I "felt at home" in this international gathering of women. Reflecting on it now, I think this came from my own experience within the Marianist family. As Marianists, promoting women - and the "feminine" aspect of the church found in the Marian model - is second nature to us. We uphold the inherent truth and beauty in the teachings of the Church, but we are also comfortable with questions and uncertainties. We acknowledge that areas of disconnect might need further study but they need not force us to "leave the table". Our voice is important to the discussion. We try to avoid the dichotomous camps of liberal/conservative where dialogue is seldom fruitful. We try to accept the creative tension that comes from working together for a common good despite differences of interpretation and experience.

We were invited to the Congress because of our Canonical recognition as a Private Association of the Lay Faithful. It costs a lot of money, time and energy to attend national and international ecclesial gatherings. But, it is a good investment. It is an opportunity for us to grow and learn as an international organization. It is also an opportunity to share the gifts we have with the Church and with the world. I hope that we will always have the funds and support available to say "yes" to future invitations.

I thank you all for the opportunity to attend this Congress. Through your prayers, I felt your presence with me.  Thank you, also, to Sr. Marie Joelle Bec, Sr. Estella Ibarra, and all the Marianist Sisters in the Generalate in Rome for your gracious hospitality. It was good to "come home" every evening to a warm welcome and a listening ear to share the day's events.