Theresian Litany of Solidarity

Litany of Solidaity

In the dawn of a new day, we praise your glory in new sisters we greet
In your powerful presence, in the gift of friendship,
in living Thérèse’s simple way.
Guide us, O God, to trust in your presence with us each day.
May we follow your way in the company of your saints,
especially St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Prayer by Margaret Wheeler - Duende Community

Today and every day, Theresian women stand in solidarity through prayer and action with women throughout the world.

With women living in poverty and with women whose long suffering is tested every day in every land, we stand in solidarity. 2011
With women caught in the web of domestic violence and with mothers nurturing children in strained situations, we stand in solidarity. 2012
With women around the world whose family members are deployed in military service, with active duty women and women in the reserves, and with women veterans who are rebuilding their lives, we stand in solidarity. 2013
With women caught in the web of human trafficking, such as prostitution, forced labor, forced marriage, and torture, we stand in solidarity. 2014
With women suffering female genital mutilation, we stand in solidarity. 2015
With girls who are forced into marriage as children, we stand in solidarity. This practice leads to serious issues in child bearing, resulting in ruptures, child mortality and fistulas leading to being ostracized from their communities. 2016
With women whose children are sold into slavery as servants and sexual slaves, we stand in solidarity. 2017
With women in mourning, we stand in solidarity. 2018
With women who watch their children waste away from malnutrition, we stand in solidarity. 2019
With women in war torn places who become tools of war, victims of gender violence, and instruments of brutal sexual torture, we stand in solidarity. 2020
With women and girls denied education and opportunities to discover their gifts and with women denied professional recognition because of the misogynistic and patriarchal attitudes in churches, businesses, and governments, we stand in solidarity. (The DVD, A Girl Rising is an excellent resource on this topic.) 2021
With women who seek to restore right relationships in their families, with spouses, children, and extended family, we stand in solidarity. 2022
With women who speak, write, sing, and create art that addresses the dignity inherent in all women, we stand in solidarity. 2023
With women emerging in leadership in church and society, we stand in solidarity. 2024
With our Theresian sisters everywhere and with Theresians who say “Yes!” to serve on the local, district, regional, national, and international levels of leadership, we stand in solidarity. 2025
With women who contribute sustainably to nurture, preserve and honor Mother Earth, we stand in solidarity. 2026
With women of indomitable spirit who sustain the roots of human development and who risk death to protect their children in homes, in hospitals, schools, and the villages and cities of this world, we stand in solidarity. 2027

We, as members of Theresians International, stand in solidarity with women who suffer in all parts of the world for all reasons. May the gentle hand of our loving God embrace the world and help all people to see the full value of half the human race.
(Revised 5/12/2021vss)

HISTORY OF THE THERESIANS LITANY OF SOLIDARITY
The first draft of the A Theresian Litany of Solidarity with Women Around the World was inspired by Vicki Schmidt with Anne Murphy, AZ in 2011. They were driving from Springfield, IL to Dubuque, IA to attend the Annual Meeting of the USA NLT at Shalom Retreat Center and had been talking about preparing such a document to present to the USA NLT and so they started brainstorming ideas to include in the Litany. By the time they arrived in Dubuque, a solid list of 15 serious issues facing women around the world was penned. During the meeting it was fully written and presented to the USA NLT who encouraged its use among Theresian communities. It was then presented to the TI Board in the fall of 2011 and approved.

Each year, Theresians around the world are called to pray for these women’s issues and to create educational programs to learn more about these issues.

​A Theresian Litany of Solidarity​With Women Around the World

A Theresian Litany of Solidarity
With Women Around the World