Argentina: Prayer against violence

Church in Paraná takes part in 16-day campaign against violence against women.

On 27 November 2025, the Methodist Church in Paraná (Entre Ríos, Argentina) held an ecumenical commemoration entitled "We must not look away" as part of the 16-day "Orange the World" campaign against violence against women. It also included digital demonstrations, which took place this year under the global slogan "#NoExcuse for online abuse". Women and men from the Evangelical Church of the Río de la Plata (IERP), Methodists, Waldensians and other denominations took part. The IERP has been a partner church of the Ev.-luth. Mission in Lower Saxony (ELM) since this year.

The biblical reflection focussed on Luke 10:38-42 (Mary and Martha), read from a gender and justice perspective. In small groups, the participants imagined the story in the context of today's social networks and discussed roles, invisible burdens and power relations. They lit a candle and wrote the words "hope, justice and remembrance" on drawn hands as a visible sign of their commitment, care and solidarity.

"We work ecumenically, in joint projects with different Christian faiths, always prioritising encounters. That is why we are strengthening our relationships today to celebrate and exchange ideas. Together we share readings and conversations centred on the gender perspective that help us to look at our reality in a more just and communal way," said Mariela Weiss, a committed laywoman, participant and one of the promoters of these spaces, who is part of the IERP community in the city.

The church, which hosted the community with prayers, songs and reflection, was accompanied by symbols of memory and life: empty chairs in memory of women victims of femicide, living plants, a bowl of water, candles, black garments from the Black Thursday campaign, drawn hands, an open Bible and a cross, among other signs. The celebration ended with a final prayer, the distribution of orange ribbons and information material to help sisters and brothers in situations of violence.

The Paraná community of the IERP, together with other Christian communities in the city, thus reaffirmed its commitment to living its faith with social responsibility, not tolerating any form of violence and accompanying those who suffer the most with love and justice: "In the name of God: no more violence, no more death!".

By Eugenio Albrecht, IERP journalist