As we enter the season of Lent – a time of renewal and transformation – we reflect on how the words and actions of Pope Francis find expression through the action, advocacy, and prayer of our Good Shepherd mission.

Pope Francis has tirelessly advocated for the dignity and rights of women and girls and condemned discrimination, exploitation, and lack of educational opportunities.

In Fratelli Tutti, the Pope calls for a world where every woman and girl can thrive with dignity and opportunity. His teachings remind us that rights, equality, and empowerment are essential expressions of our faith – a vision which is echoed throughout our global mission.

Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd takes a clear position on the girl child, in which we recognize that from birth, many girls face obstacles that limit their potential. They are subjected to early marriage, denial of education, trafficking, and various forms of gender-based violence.

These injustices, deeply rooted in patriarchal systems, demand our urgent attention and action.

A Call to Action

This Lent, let us commit to being instruments for rights, equality, and empowerment. Just as Jesus, the Good Shepherd, uplifted the marginalized, breaking social norms to affirm the worth of the vulnerable and those on the margins of society, we too are called to be instruments of change, working to empower the lives, uphold the rights, and restore the dignity of every woman and girl who finds themselves in need.

This week, as we celebrate International Women’s Day, let us remember that Lenten fasting is not simply about ‘giving things up’ but about rejecting gender injustice, confronting inequality, and taking tangible steps toward personal and communal renewal and transformation.

Whether through advocacy, education, or prayer, each of us has a role to play in this ongoing fight for gender justice to create a world where no one is left behind.