Sr ALICIA VACAS MORO, cms Provincial Superior of the Comboni Missionary Sisters for the Middle East "It seems to me that courage is simply love in motion, love in action." Women committed to the defense of human rights and the fight against inequality, from Belarus to the Democratic Republic of Congo to Sri Lanka...to the Holy Land. Where the "International Women of Courage Award", assigned by the Secretary of State of the United States of America, Antony Blinken, in the presence of the first lady, Jill Biden, in 2021, on the recommendation of the American Embassy to the Holy See, also reached the Spanish Comboni religious Sister Alicia Vacas Moro. JILL BIDEN First Lady USA "For 15 years we have wanted to recognize the work of 15 women around the world who have chosen to fight for something that is far greater than themselves. And today we recommit ourselves to this pledge, to recognize their courage, knowing that our lives are joined to yours in a very close way." Shortly after receiving - on the occasion of International Women's Day - the prestigious award, Sister Alicia, a 48-year-old nurse who has been serving in the Middle East for 20 years, immediately turned the spotlight on the wide world of religious women committed to working alongside the poorest and most vulnerable. Sr ALICIA VACAS MORO, cms Provincial Superior of the Comboni Missionary Sisters for the Middle East "I am very aware that my life is very similar to that of my sisters, certainly, but also to that of many other sisters, especially here in the Middle East, where many of us work in difficult, precarious and uncertain situations. I think that the only sense for me in receiving this award is to be able to welcome it and share it with all the sisters who work in this context, and who perhaps many times are not known or recognized in their service and dedication." Dubai, Egypt, Gaza, then Bethany, a stone's throw from Jerusalem. A long work with Palestinians on both sides of the wall, with desert Bedouins, with kindergarten children, with the poor, with refugees, with women. And then again paradoxically in Italy invaded by the Covid, a developed part of the world where in March 2020 it was not possible to help everyone. Then she brought her help to the elderly Comboni sisters: 10 out of 55 died in just two weeks. Sr ALICIA VACAS MORO, cms Provincial Superior of the Comboni Missionary Sisters for the Middle East "We are confronted with very very sensitive situations, especially among the refugee population in the different countries where we work, but also here, with our Palestinian workers, with the people we work with, with the families of school children. The Coronavirus has a very strong impact on everyone and everyone, but especially on the poorest and most vulnerable populations and groups." The projects continue, even though the children in Bethany still cannot go to school because of the pandemic and Sister Alicia cannot reach Amman, Jordan, the headquarters of the office from which she coordinates all the activities of the Comboni missionaries in the Middle East. Sr ALICIA VACAS MORO, cms Provincial Superior of the Comboni Missionary Sisters for the Middle East "These days several people have asked me "but then what is courage?". Thinking about it a bit, it seems to me that courage is simply love in motion, love in action. That doesn't stop in the face of obstacles, challenges, fear, impediments. I think that something very specific to religious women in this context and in all contexts is the creativity of love. That is, being capable of putting love in motion - with a great deal of creativity and in many different ways, with many expressions, including ministerial and service expressions: I think that in this perhaps we religious are a bit of a specialist, and it is nice that this is recognized and highlighted." Read More