Alejandra Segura gives a speech at the Universitá Antonianum
During the International Mariological Conference and during the Jubilee Year, the President of the International Network of Catholic Women Leaders and member of the International Board of Trustees of the International Academy of Catholic Leaders, expressed a heartfelt tribute to our Mother, the Virgin Mary, and dedicated herself to the work of the organizations that promote Catholic Leadership worldwide.
Message from Alejandra Segura
As president of the International Network of Catholic Women Leaders, I am deeply grateful to the Pontifical Marian Academy and Father Stefano Cecchi for this space, and to the Palomo family for their generous support.
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Our reflection begins with the Virgin Mary, a spiritual model of leadership and synodality. Her "yes" at the Annunciation was free, intelligent, and obedient, and it opened the way to salvation. Mary is a leader because she listens, welcomes, and proposes with humility, without imposing. Her motherhood, both biological and spiritual, teaches us that true leadership is lived in service and communion. She is the Mother of the Church and of all humanity, a bridge of peace between cultures and generations.
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Inspired by this example, the International Network of Catholic Women Leaders brings together women from different countries, cultures, and professions: politicians, teachers, theologians, journalists, doctors, religious leaders, philosophers, among many others. Our mission is to train, articulate, and accompany women leaders to impact the transformation of society in light of the Gospel and the social doctrine of the Church.
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The Network was born in the midst of the pandemic like a shining light in the darkness, responding to Saint John Paul II's call to promote a new feminism. A Marian feminism that does not imitate masculinity or engage in confrontation, but rather values the dignity and uniqueness of women: their capacity for resilience, care, tenderness, and hope.
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We believe that this feminine leadership must be collaborative with masculine leadership, walking together in synodality to build the Kingdom of God with justice, peace, and reconciliation.
Mary also shows us the centrality of motherhood, understood not only as a biological gift, but also as a spiritual and social gift.
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The Virgin Mary is a MOTHER. Mary welcomed the salvation of the world into her womb. From this universal motherhood, the Network journeys with all women: those who suffer persecution, violence, poverty, discrimination, or abandonment, and also with those seeking to balance work and family life.
The advent of postmodernism and post-humanism has posed serious challenges to motherhood.
We are facing a crisis of the DESIRE for motherhood.
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Many women feel great anxiety at the idea of having children and are overcome by fear of losing their identity; fear of the future; fear of maternal loneliness.
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Who better then than the Virgin Mary, Virgin Mother of Guadalupe who said to Juan Diego: “I am not here, I who am your mother… do not let your face disturb you… do not be afraid…”
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The Virgin Mary is the MOTHER of all humanity, that is why Mary is the path of peace between cultures and between all continents.
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Maria thus becomes a bridge for dialogue.
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That's why, following their example, our Network is open to joining us.
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For this reason, the Network of Catholic Women Leaders finds in Mary not only a model for personal life, but also a community and ecclesial reference for living Synodality as a form of shared listening and prayer.
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In a world wounded by ideologies and polarization, our proposal is a Marian and synodal leadership that listens, accompanies, and opens paths of hope. A Marian hope: dynamic, active, and strong.
Only in this way is it possible to live the joy of the Gospel even in the darkest storms of life, because Mary will always ensure that we never lack wine, as at the wedding at Cana.
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Because hope has the face of a woman. And hope has the face of Mary.
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Thank you very much.