Written by Dear Sisters and Brothers in Hope,
Whole regions are remilitarising instead of feeding the hungry and healing our common home. The Sustainable Development Goals, once a small light in the tunnel pointing toward safety and well-being for all, now often seem dim, and it can feel as if we will never reach that safe, warm place in the midst of this long winter.
At the same time, a global race in artificial intelligence risks becoming a race to the bottom. Instead of using these powerful tools to support the poor, protect creation, and strengthen democracy, they are too often used to manipulate, to polarise, or simply to distract us.
But it is not only geopolitics that grows colder. Our human relationships are increasingly disrupted by technology and the wealth we own or do not have access to. The more we scroll, the more distance we create – until we no longer truly see one another, no longer hear, notice, or care about people whom we pass daily.
Into exactly such a world, Christmas comes again. Every year, Christmas tells us the truth about the transforming love of God. God chooses to come to us as the most vulnerable one: a newborn Child, in poverty, in uncertainty, in an uncomfortable and “disgraceful” setting, far from home and security. There, in the dark and in the cold, God says to us:
“Here, in your misery, among those left behind, those who never fit, those who are marginalised – here is
where I desire to be with you.”
And then God simply stays – in the silence of that holy night, in the darkness of our souls and temptations, in all that we cannot fix. From this tiny flame of love in Bethlehem the whole world has been transformed – to the point that today more than a billion people dare to call themselves followers of Christ. This miracle began with the humble, trusting, and courageous fiat of a woman. God entrusted the story of salvation to Mary, to her body and her “yes”, to her faith in a demanding and almost unbelievable promise.
For us, as women and as andante, this is not just a beautiful story. It is our vocation.
We believe that God continues to entrust the work of peace, justice, and human dignity to women who dare to listen, to question, to trust, and to act – often quietly, locally, without recognition, at an andante tempo: not too fast, not too slow, but at the pace of discernment, relationship, and faithful endurance.
So this Christmas, wherever you are – whether exhausted or hopeful, fearful or grateful – we invite you to walk with Mary in her own andante speed. Ask her help to carry andante’s message of love into your community, your organisation, your parish, your continent. Let us dare to believe that even our small “yes” can shelter Christ for our world today. andante unites us.
actuELLE in Europe
We were pleased how well our No 1 actuELLE in Europe was received. We got encouraging feedbacks and would like to encourage you to share your news. Your information is important and can make a difference. actuELLE in Europe aims to increase the visibility and impact of women’s initiatives in Europe. May the networking and exchange be a benefit for all! Deadline for contributions for the No 2 actuELLE in Europe will be January 28, 2026.
Looking ahead to our 20-year jubilee
In 2026 andante will celebrate its 20th anniversary. We want this to be a moment of gratitude for all the women who saw the need to bring their faith into public life and trusted God for the betterment of all in Europe.
A jubilee is always a milestone: where do we come from and where do we go? Not only andante as a network, but we – andante, member organisations, Catholic women in Europe. It is not only about a celebration and warm encounters, but also about discerning together: Where do we go from here? What kind of future do we want to build – and for whom?
We warmly invite you to join us from 24–27 September 2026 in Walsingham (UK), one of Europe’s most inspiring Marian places of pilgrimage, where for almost a thousand years Christians have come to honour Our Lady and seek renewal in their discipleship.
Our jubilee gathering will be:
- a pilgrimage of thanksgiving for twenty years of andante,
- a space to pray, learn and discern together, with inspiring lecturers and spiritual guides
- and, above all, a time to build relationships and networks and to reflect together on the future of andante – so that member organisations feel supported and strengthened in their own work and so that the added value of andante is deeply rooted in the life and mission of each member organisation.
Of course, such a milestone is also a good opportunity for a modest celebration and joyful encounter! On the way to our jubilee, we would also like to collect voices from across Europe – from long-standing members and from new ones. We are preparing an “andante Conversations Archive”: a shared space to hold our memories, learnings, questions, and hopes. You will receive more information in the coming months on how to contribute short texts, audio or video reflections, prayers, or stories from your organisations.
In all these plans and uncertainties, we lean on the gentle wisdom of Julian of Norwich, who reminds us:
“The greatest honour we can give Almighty God is to live gladly because of the knowledge of his love.”
May this Christmas renew in us that knowledge of God’s love, so that we can live – and act – gladly,
courageously, and together.
May the Child of Bethlehem bless you, your families, and your communities.
May Mary, Our Lady of Walsingham, walk with andante into its next twenty years.
With gratitude and hope,
On behalf of the andante CoCoA
Sophie Rudge and Weronika Felcis, Chairs
Marleen Peters-Van der Heyden, Beatrice Ledergerber, Irmtraud Widmayer, Agnieszka Zarzyńska