For International Women’s Day (8 March), Emilia Nicholas and I were invited by the Justice and Peace Office of the Sydney Archdiocese to present as keynote speakers on the theme of Reimagining Power.
When we were first asked this question, we both found ourselves sitting in silence. Power is often viewed as a big, scary idea, yet as we began reflecting in preparation for the evening, and after hearing the experiences shared by the other panellists, we realised that power is often experienced in much quieter, everyday ways.
For all of us, our starting points were returning to our roots: how we grew up and the environments that shaped our understanding of power. What emerged from these reflections were two clear themes: relationships and responsibility.
Ultimately, power is not simply about authority or position – it carries a responsibility to lead relationally to practice authority with gentleness, to show strength through collaboration and to make decisions through active listening.
Through our work with the Josephite Justice Network, we are inspired by Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of Saint Joseph – women who, in the 19th century, were challenged by Church and state authority to educate children.
With this, we are committed to help to create spaces where women are empowered, where leadership is normalised, and where confidence is cultivated. We mentor, we listen and we amplify voices that might otherwise go unheard. In doing so, we work to build communities where power is shared, relational and purposeful.
That’s the power we believe in.
That’s the power we want to practice, actively, intentionally, and every day.
Read more shared by the Justice and Peace Office of the Archdiocese of Sydney here.
Violet Cabral
Community Engagement Officer, Josephite Justice Network
*Cristina Lledo Gomez (Senior Lecturer at the Australian Institute of Theological Education), Violet, Emilia Nicholas (Community Engagement Officer for the Josephite Justice Network) and Sharon Cooke (Senior Manager for Aboriginal Education at Catholic Schools NSW).