My soul magnifies the Lord

And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;

Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid;

For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;

Because He who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is His name;

And His mercy is from generation to generation

on those who fear Him.

He has shown might with His arm,

He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He has put down the mighty from their thrones,

and has exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich He has sent away empty.

He has given help to Israel, his servant, mindful of His mercy

Even as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.”

– Magnificat.

The Association of Major Religious Superiors of Women in the Philippines (AMRSWP) sings a hymn of praise to Him, Creator of All, Almighty Father of Love and Mercy, of Justice and Peace.

We again raise our voices in support of the missionary work of Sr. Patricia Fox and all religious who continue to work in the peripheries and all women who stand up against misogyny, chauvinism and the degradation of women.

We are deeply concerned by the narrow definition of our missionary work. Service to the poor – lumads, urban poor, farmers, workers, women, children and all who are marginalized – are integral to our missionary work. They are inextricably linked to our work as religious and consecrated persons. We do not view them as political acts nor interference in the affairs of government. It is part of proclaiming the good news of salvation to those whose voices have been muted, to those whose lives are dehumanized.

We continue to be in solidarity with all who seek to serve the least of our brothers and sisters. Women are not inferior to men. We are all co-servants of the Lord our maker. We stand with women legislators speaking truth to power and yet dehumanized by men, we stand with women who oppose the creeping dictatorship in our midst, we stand with women who defend our democracy and the rule of law. We stand with all women who are fighting not only for women’s rights but the rights of the poor and marginalized.

We stand in solidarity with all – women, men, and our brethren with different orientations- who stand up for human rights and dignity. We are humbled by their example and will strive to emulate them in our work of mercy and justice.

We are against the attacks on women, the humiliation of women, the prejudice against women. We are Women. We are Weavers of History. We are Nurturers of the Earth. We are Givers of Life. Babae Kami!

We call on all religious women and men.

1. Pray the Magnificat.
   
   
2. Light a candle in support of all our missionaries both here and abroad.
   
   
3. Prepare ourselves for a gathering of religious in support of Sr. Patricia Fox and all women religious.
   
   
4. Demand the reinstatement of the missionary visa of Sr. Patricia Fox.
   
   
5. Assert women’s rights and peoples rights.

On May 31, 2018 we take our commitment to our convents, places of worship and in the peripheries. We declare:

Babae Kami! Kapantay! Kaakbay! Kasama sa paglikha ng

bagong langit at bagong lupa!