Our name "Ecclesia of Women in Asia" expresses the desire of women to enter the mainstream Church as fully responsible ecclesial participants and partners in the life of the Church. EWA seeks to raise the consciousness that women are Church and always have been Church. Our logo for the first conference (picture at left) shows women holding hands around the globe.

Vision:

We are  a forum  of Catholic women doing theology in Asia. Our vision is the development of theologizing from Asian women’s perspectives and the recognition of Asian Catholic women theologians as colleagues in theological discussions within the Church and the Academe^.

Mission

Our Mission is to encourage and assist Catholic women in or from Asia to engage in research, reflection and writing towards theologizing that is:

 - inculturated and contextualized in Asian realities;

 - built on the religious experience and praxis of the socially excluded;

 - promotes gender mutuality and the integrity of creation;

 - fosters dialogue with other disciplines, faiths or religions.

Ewa's Herstory   

The dream to hold the first EWA conference was born twelve months earlier in India, at an Asian theological conference to reflect on the Asian post Synodal document “Ecclesia in Asia.” At this conference, the 4 women present began to ask some soul-searching questions: Are there women theologians in Asia? Why are they not at our Catholic universities? If they do enter they are often considered as western because they deal with feminist issues. They are also expected to talk only about women, and when they talk about women they are not considered real theologians. Are they influential in curricula development? Many Asian women theologians do contextual theology: What would they say about the Asian reality? (more)

Programs and Activities

In furtherance of its Mission and Visiion, EWA:

  - organizes conferences that encourage the writing of original and creative  theological papers for publication;

  -  fosters communication and discussion among Catholic women theologians through a cyberspace group and a website;

  - dialogues with feminist, grassroots, or theological movements and  women from other faiths; 

  -  conducts such other programs and activities as shall help in the attainment of our vision.

Who are We?

EWA III Conference: Reimagining Women, Marriage, and Family Life in Asia, A 21st Century Theological Challenge. Jan. 21-24, 2006, Colombo, Sri-Lanka Participants: Bangladesh: Dora Dorothy D' Rozario, Sr.Purobi P.Chiran.  India: Sr. Ranu Biswas, RNDM, Evelyn Monteiro, Virginia Saldanha, Metti, Kochurani Abraham, Pushpa Joseph, Astrid Lobo Gajiwala. Korea: Gratia Song.  Malaysia: Sharon A. Bong, Myanmar: Sr.Elizabeth, Ms Josephine Aung, Jeya Mary (a) Ma San Kyi, Van Lizar Aung. Pakistan: Almas Emmanuel, Ann Mary Clement. Philippines: Agnes Brazal, Andrea Lizares  Si, Jeane Peracullo, Kristine Meneses, Sr. Claudia S. Stecker, RNDM, Eva Guanzon. Singapore: Julia Ong. Sri Lanka: Bernadeen Silva, Canice Fernando, Marini de Livera. Taiwan: Nonie Gutzler. Vietnam: Bui Thi Nhu Kha (Mai Thanh), Tranh Y-lan, Teresa Le Thi Kim Thu. Others: Lieve Troch (Netherlands, Plenary Speaker), Angela Wong (HongKong, Plenary Speaker), Annette Meuthrath (Germany, EWA Adviser), Kamalam Joel (Methodist guest)

Coordinating Team 2006-2008: Coordinator: Sharon A. Bong (Malaysia). Executive Secretary: Andrea Lizares Si (Philippines). Finance: Astrid Lobo Gajiwala (India). Website: Jeane Peracullo (Philippines). East Asian Coordinator: Antoniette "Nonie" Gutzler (Taiwan). Consultants: Evelyn Monteiro (India), Agnes Brazal (Philippines), Virginia Saldanha (India), Annette Meuthrath (Germany). Sri-Lankan Organizing Committee for EWA 3: Bernadeen Silva, Canice Fernando, Marini de Livera (more)

Contact Information

You may contact EWA through the EWA Coordinator or through the Executive Secretary.  Letters to EWA members may also be sent through the group mailing address.

EWA Coordinator: Sharon A. Bong: sadelbong@yahoo.com

Executive Secretary: Andrea Lizares Si, lizaresandrea@yahoo.com