Bishop Sean welcomes Diocesan Mothers’ Union

It is with great joy that Bishop Sean has announced the establishment of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf Mothers’ Union.

“The hope and practical support the Mothers’ Union bring to their communities through family, literacy, and community programmes is close to my heart. I have seen their inspiring and transformative work in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and I look forward to seeing how God will bless and use our own Mothers’ Union in this diocese.”

As patron of the new Diocesan Mothers’ Union, he also paid tribute to “the vision and determination of the Reverend Christine Mbona” to register the Union and recruit members.

The Mothers’ Union of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf is part of the Worldwide Mothers’ Union, established in 1876—one of the largest and oldest women-led organisations in the world. (Story continues below image.)

(Caption: Pauline Mitra; CEO of the Worldwide Mothers’ Union Canon Beverly Jullien; and Revd Christine Mbona, at Holy Trinity Dubai last month)

With a deep commitment to making a difference in communities across the globe, the Mothers’ Union welcomes all baptised Christians who share its dedication to living out the Gospel through service to others. The Mothers’ Union vision is of “a world where God’s love permeates every aspect of life. We see communities where families flourish, relationships are characterised by love, peace and respect, dignity, and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”

Recruitment to the Diocesan MU council is ongoing, with the goal of including at least two leaders from every branch (parish); the wives of parish priests and ordained female clergy are also entitled to membership of the MU council, should they wish to join.

An interim executive committee, drawn from the MU council, reports to the Bishop and council. The committee and council work to bring together individual branches, through conferences, workshops, special services, retreats and social outreach events aimed at strengthening the work of the Mothers’ Union.

The first parish-level Mothers’ Union in the Diocese was established in St George Baghdad. This was followed by St Paul Kuwait, where the Mother’s Union was launched in 2019 by then Archbishop of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East the Most Reverend Michael Lewis 2019; Bishop Sean recently enrolled a further 25 members of the local Pakistan Urdu congregation. A group was established at St Christopher’s Cathedral, Bahrain, in 2023, and at Holy Trinity Dubai, where there is a particularly large group (operating as Women’s Ministry).

There is also growing interest at St Andrew Abu Dhabi, with representation from Cyprus also set to increase.

Diocesan MU interim president Revd Christine Mbona is a member of the Worldwide Mothers’ Union Council. She has been a member of the Mothers’ Union for more than 35 years, having previously served as Union president in the Diocese of Manicaland and as a member of national and provincial Mothers’ Union presidential committees in the Church of the Province of Central Africa.

Interim co-president Pauline Mitra has wide experience as a member of church women’s and charity organisations and has worked as a counsellor for almost 25 years. “Being a member of the Mothers’ Union is not about the individual herself,” she says. “Rather, it is about someone out there, calling for a mother.”

The Diocesan Mothers’ Union is supported by the Worldwide Mothers’ Union. Christine and Pauline recently met with Worldwide Mothers’ Union chief executive officer Canon Beverly Jullien, to discuss priority areas of focus in the Diocese: tackling poverty, and working for peace and justice.

Objectives of the Mothers’ Union of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf

Helping those facing adversity: We extend a helping hand to those whose family lives are disrupted by hardship—as individuals or a community, including asylum-seekers—offering practical assistance and emotional support in difficult times.
Maintaining a worldwide Christian fellowship: We cultivate a vibrant, global network of Christians connected through prayer, worship and service to the needy—fellowship that provides support, encouragement and opportunities to learn from one another.
Promoting and supporting married life: We honour the sanctity of marriage, providing resources and support for couples navigating challenges. We believe strong, loving marriages form a vital foundation for healthy families.
Encouraging parental faith formation: We believe parents are their children’s first and most influential spiritual teachers. We equip parents to nurture the faith of their children, fostering a lifelong love for God and the values of Christian living, including Sunday school/and youth support.
Advocating for stable families and child protection/safeguarding: We emphasises the practical application of policies and initiatives that create safe, nurturing environments for families. We stand firmly for the well-being of children, believing every child deserves to be protected and given the opportunity to learn.
Encourage interfaith dialogue: We work with those of different faiths, for peace and reconciliation, sharing and celebrating our common life as human beings.