KAIROS’ new Advent 2012 resource, 'Seeking Shelter: An ecumenical Advent justice journey', is now available! Inspired by Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter, the resource is based on Las Posadas, a Central American and Mexican tradition in which actors playing Mary and Joseph walk through town searching for shelter, accompanied by local church members singing and carrying bright lanterns. Turned away again and again, they finally find householders who welcome them in. Today, that search for shelter is a reality for many in our world, whether the shelter people seek is fair wages, land rights, or clean water. What is our response?

1. Advent 2: Women of Courage
Our Advent journey
through Hope, Peace,
Joy and Love can also
carry us along on a
search for justice and
right relations.
KAIROS invites you
to an Advent search
for that shelter in the
spirit of Mary and
Joseph’s journey.

2. Advent 2: Joy- honouring all who defend
human rights
Mary and Joseph relied on the welcome of strangers
when they arrived in Bethlehem after a long journey.
In today’s world, who is seeking shelter?
Who is seeking freedom from fear?
Who is seeking freedom from want?
Who is offering shelter to our battered Earth, God’s
creation and our only home?
What is our response to the knock on our doors?

3. “Without women, human rights are not human.”
Colombia

4. All humans are God’s beloved children- yet too many
live with violence.
In memory of women murdered near
Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

5. KAIROS’ Women of Courage
programme:
 IS FOCUSED ON THE IMPORTANT ROLE WOMEN
SHOULD HAVE IN ENDING ARMED CONFLICT AND
SYSTEMIC VIOLENCE
 ASKS WHY WOMEN ARE SO OFTEN THE FOCUS OF
VIOLENCE, AND WHY THEY ARE OFTEN CUT OUT OF
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
 CONNECTS WITH SOUTHERN, INDIGENOUS AND
MIGRANT WOMEN TO SHARE ANALYSIS, STRATEGIES,
AND STRENGTHS

6. KAIROS’ Women of Courage programme
Focuses on peoples and partners
facing violence in:
 CANADA, ESPECIALLY INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND MIGRANT
WORKERS
 COLOMBIA
 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
 THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
 THE PHILIPPINES
 SOUTH SUDAN

7. “Because ideas are stronger than guns.” Women’s meeting,
Colombia

8. THESE ROCKS REPRESENT MISSING AND MURDERED PEOPLE
IN COLOMBIA. AN AVERAGE OF OVER 2000 PEOPLE ARE
KILLED IN THE CONFLICT EACH YEAR IN COLOMBIA,
ACCORDING TO THE UN.

9. Jill Harris, Penelakut First Nation and Anglican activist, in Colombia
with photos of victims of violence. R: Vigil with rocks bearing names of
victims of violence.

10. The Democratic Republic of Congo has seen millions die and
millions of women brutalised in decades of armed conflict.
Near Bukavu, DR Congo Women walk by posters for
the DRC’s first national
election in decades.

11. Congolese women showing their inked fingers after voting for the first
time in national elections. Women must be part of political processes if
change is to happen at all.

12. Chantal Bilulu of Congolese partner Héritiers de la justice
accepts an award from Vancouver-area MLA Mabel Elmore.

13. Chantal and Vernie Yocogan-Diano of the Philippines were two Women of
Courage partners who visited Canadian churches, First Nations, community
groups and government officials to talk about human rights.
In Ottawa, with local activist and with
Dr Cindy Blackstock of the First
Nations Child and Family Caring
Society. R: Preparing to meet the
Government!

14. Palestinian women with photos of dead or imprisoned family
members meet with the KAIROS church leaders’ delegation, 2004.

15. Everyone is needed in the struggle to end violence against
women. All of us need healing from violence.
Claudia Castellanos of Colombia with Father and daughter at an event
Mi’kmaq elder Billy Lewis at the against violence, Colombia.
Halifax Native Friendship Centre.

16. Signs at the October 4 Sisters in Spirit vigil, Saskatoon SK,
where churches marched alongside community groups.
At minimum, 600 Indigenous Faith communities need to bring
women have gone missing or been respectful voices and offers of action
murdered in Canada in the past 3 to Indigenous communities living
decades. with violence and racism.

17. Every Woman Drum leads a national church and Indigenous
action on Parliament Hill.

18. Lutheran National Bishop Susan Johnson and Colin with friend
Max, Montreal Lake First Nation, SK. May reconciliation lead to
a better future.

19. St. Paul’s United Church, Moncton NB: Indigenous
rights workshop. Reconciliation must start at home.

20. KAIROS Saskatoon offers an Expression of Reconciliation and
commitment to action at the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission, Saskatoon. www.trc.ca

21. Cadboro Bay United Church, Victoria BC: Expressing public commitment to the
work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The TRC’s work continues
through 2014 and is one crucial way of naming the truth about the violent legacy
of the schools.

22. Montreal Lake First Nation, SK
Yolanda Bird and Theresa Halkett,
The first full generation to grow up
two Women of Courage working for a
without residential schools.
healthy, whole community.

23. Giniigaaniimenaaning/
Looking Ahead
stained glass window
THIS WINDOW BY CHRISTI
BELCOURT REMEMBERS
CANADA’S APOLOGY TO
SURVIVORS OF THE “INDIAN
RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL
SYSTEM”, TELLS SOME OF THE
STORY, AND REMINDS US OF
THEIR STRENGTH AND OUR
COMMON HISTORY. IT’S
LOCATED IN THE HOUSE OF
COMMONS.

24. The Canadian
delegation at a
vigil against
violence,
Colombia.
Through our
global partners
and the global
church, we
reach far beyond
borders and
commit to a
future free of People of courage need the shelter
violence. of our support, our ideas, our
action and our voices.

25. KAIROS’ Women of Courage programme
Believes women can make a huge difference in
the struggle to end violence and conflict.
Believes men can and must be an important
part of this work, both individually and
together.
Believes the Canadian government can offer a
great deal, but must step up.
Believes that the Canadian public and church
members can make a difference if we get
involved locally and nationally. Please join the
journey!

26. A faithful movement for justice
KAIROS is: YOU! KAIROS is:
A network of over 20
global partners
Supportive local
churches (KAIROS
Communities)
Ecumenical and
interfaith Communities
Individual
Companions
Local and regional

27. KAIROS members:
 The Anglican Church of Canada
 The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace
 The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
 The Canadian Religious Conference
 The Christian Reformed Church in North America (Canada
Corporation)
 The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
 The Mennonite Central Committee Canada
 The Presbyterian Church in Canada
 The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF)
 The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
 The United Church of Canada

28. www.kairoscanada.org
Check the KAIROS website, Facebook group and
Twitter feed for resources and perspectives that add
to your work for social justice.
Bring your faith community’s perspective and energy
to the KAIROS ecumenical justice journey.
Join us locally and regionally for events, workshops
and worship related to Women of Courage and more.
Contact us at info@kairoscanada.org