Blessing of the Week |
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Photo: (L to R) Krista Chinchilla-Patzke, Sr. Anita Baird, Russ Petrus, Betty Anne Donnelly, Kimberly Lymore, C. Vanessa White, and Barbara Reid pose for a photo following a book event at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
You likely know about the Oscars, the Grammys, the Emmys, the Tony Awards…But did you know that there are awards specifically for Catholic media? Well, it’s apparently Catholic award season and we’re proud and delighted that Catholic Women Preach: Raising Voices, Renewing the Church – Cycle A is among the honorees.
Last weekend, the Catholic Media Association honored Catholic Women with 2nd Place in the “Liturgy” category and honorable mention in the “Future Church” category of the Catholic Media Book Awards. Announcing the award, CMA wrote a succinct but valuable recommendation of the book:
“Catholic Women Preach” is one of the more inspiring collection of homilies available today. Based on the deep spirituality and insights of the various women authors, the homilies are solidly based on the scriptures and offer refreshing and engaging insights for homilists and listeners. The feminine perspective has long been absent in the preached word, and its inclusion in this work offers a long overdue and pastorally necessary resource for the liturgical life of the Church.
And on Tuesday, the Association of Catholic Publishers announced 50 winners across 16 different categories in their 2023 Excellence in Publishing Awards. We are honored that Catholic Women Preach shares third place with Ann Garrido’s Preaching with Children – Ann is a contributor to both the CWP website and books.
Now, we weren’t invited to dress up and walk a red carpet, attend after parties, or anything like that. These seem to be much more subdued affairs than the academy awards. But we celebrate, nonetheless!
I celebrate these awards not only as a recognition for this book but also as an embrace of a Spirit-led movement that we have all been a part of. As with so many FutureChurch projects – from reclaiming Mary Magdalene to restoring women deacons – because of you and your support, advocacy, and activism, Catholic Women Preach is concretely advancing the conversation with and about women at every level of the Church. What once may have seemed too bold a proposition is now seen as an obvious and essential reform for the future of the Church - “long overdue” and “pastorally necessary.”
And now – before the imaginary orchestra starts to play me off – I join Betty Anne Donnelly, with whom I had the joy of co-editing this series, in thanking:
- The members of the steering committee who first dreamed Catholic Women Preach into life. Along with us - Jocelyn Collen, Sr. Diana Culbertson, Rita Houlihan, and Deb Rose.
- The distinguished members of our Advisory Board whose tremendous support and wise counsel have helped us immensely every step along the way.
- Robert Ellsberg and the entire fabulous team at Orbis Books. It has been a pleasure to work with this visionary, dedicated, and professional team every step of the way in making this series a reality!
- Kelly Sankowski, one of the unsung heroes of the series. Once Betty Anne and I had made our final selections, Kelly took on the monumental task of communicating with each of the contributors, compiling the texts and edits to them, updating biographies, and finalizing titles.
- And last - but certainly not least - the contributors to this volume, including Sr. Barbara Reid, OP, who also penned a brilliant, compelling, and invigorating foreword. Together, these sixty-four extraordinary women represent a wide range of perspectives – religious and lay, scholars, activists, and pastoral leaders of every age and ethnicity. They, along with each of the 337 contributors to the website, bring our faith to life each and every week through their wisdom and witness.
If you haven’t already, I invite you to pick up a copy of the first volume for yourself or as a gift (also available as a Kindle Edition). The second volume is now in production and we anticipate an October release – in plenty of time for the new liturgical year beginning in Advent.
Playing such an intimate role in Catholic Women Preach and being among you in this growing movement remains one of the greatest, ongoing blessings of my life!
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Co-Director |
Russ Petrus |
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The Just Word
Writing for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Allison Connelly-Vetter invites us explore disability, healing, and cure in the Jesus narratives with the help of scholar Kathy Black; engage Catholic Social Teaching, Dignity of the Human Person, disability theology, and “the Christian cure agenda;” and embody disability liberation with the help of “Meditation on the Body of God” by Bekah Anderson, MDiv., activist Imani Barbarin, and The Disability Theology Discussion Group:
For countless Christians, Jesus’s cure miracles are foundational to his ministry, and foundational to their understanding of who Jesus is and what he came to do. While many find comfort in these stories of Jesus’s curing ministry, disabled people frequently find these stories uncomfortable at best and painful at worst. Interpretations of these cure passages frequently associate disability with sin or lack of faith, and associate the curing or eradication of disability with God’s will, perfection, and faithfulness. For disabled people who can’t or don’t want to be cured, who are and will remain disabled, it can be hard to find a home in Jesus’s ministry and in our Christian narratives without becoming an object for cure, a metaphor for the nondisabled, or a reminder of sin and faithlessness.
Allison Connelly-Vetter (she/her) holds a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary with an interdisciplinary concentration in disability theology. She is currently working in church communications, faith-based racial justice organizing, and children, youth, & families ministry. She also preaches and teaches on disability theology for religious congregations and institutions around the country. Denominationally, Allison is both Catholic and United Church of Christ. She lives in Minneapolis, MN with her wife, Brooklyn.
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Catholic Women Preach
Preaching for the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sr. Cathy Murray, OP, reflects on exercising Christ-like authority and credibility through compassion:
"Jesus grants the apostles authority and credibility to engage in his mission - authority that does not come from domination, from command and control, but from compassion. Compassion is the power driving Jesus into action; Compassion shapes his plan. Compassion is the ability to see others in their giftedness and to share that ability to see others in their giftedness.Jesus has that incredible gift of looking at one another with hope. Seeing giftedness and seeing potential can waken spirits, can be huge news to the other – to the one seen, but also to the one seeing."
Sr. Cathy Murray, M.Div./LCSW has had two ministries throughout her religious life weaving together social action and preaching. She ministered for fifteen years in parishes in Northern California as a pastoral associate where she preached regularly and led adult education programs as well as retreats. She has also ministered as a social work supervisor for Sonoma County Adult Protective Services. Today, she serves on the leadership team for her community, the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael. Sr. Cathy has been a faithful member of a Twelve Step Program since she was a young adult.
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Dwayne Fernandez, Director of Spirituality for New Ways Ministry, offers this prayer:
OUR PRIDE, OUR PRAYER
God of Many Colors, you once set the rainbow, high up in the clouds, to be the sign of the life- giving covenant between you and the earth. Let this symbol of faithfulness resonate with us as we renew our relationships with each other, and you, during this season of PRIDE.
Creator God, we thank you for our LGBTQ/ally diversity because these colorful expressions let us see your many faces. Although many, we come together as ONE in you, and joyfully proclaim, “You are our God and we are your people.”
Loving Jesus, as you left the ninety-nine to go in search of the one lost sheep, set your sights on those who are excluded in our world and church. Bring them home, so ALL may return – with pride – to the music of triumphal rejoicing and feel embraced by extravagant welcome.
Emboldening Holy Spirit, continue to animate us with your fire and flamboyance, and dare us to embody your inclusive love in our Church and world. Let YOUR will be done in us, so that at day’s end, we, too, may hear the voice from heaven say, “This is my beloved child, with whom I am well pleased.”
May these affirming words always echo in our ears and hearts as testament to that life-giving- rainbow-covenant between you, our God, and us, your LGBTQ/ally people.
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Teresa Calpino, Ph.D. joins FutureChurch for this “Women Erased” series presentation, discussing the women who led and ministered in The Acts of the Apostles, with a particular focus on Tabitha (Acts 9:36–42) and Lydia (Acts 16:11–15). The women in Acts of the Apostles have routinely been ignored by scholars or mentioned only in praising the male apostle associated with their story. As a result, these important characters have been obscured.
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July 11, 2023 | 7pm ET |
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Gender and the Role of Women in Our Liturgical Life |
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Where are the women when it comes to the liturgical life of the Catholic Church? What role does gender play? How did our liturgical traditions develop? Our liturgical history has been shaped substantially by the invisibility and exclusion of women. How credible can this historical narrative be with so much of the Body of Christ missing?
Yale Divinity School Professor Teresa Berger has spent a lifetime examining both past and present liturgical developments from the perspective of women’s lives. In this presentation she will offer insights into the roles women played in Early Christianity, the history of women’s liturgical ministries, and the development of the calendar of saints and the uneven ways we have come to formally venerate women within the tradition.
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July 18, 2023 | 7pm ET
Portraying Mary Magdalene Today: The Movie Version(s)
Mary Magdalene has been a figure of religious and artistic inspiration for Christians for over 2000 years. In the Bible, she is a disciple of Jesus and a key witness at his crucifixion and resurrection. In the Western Church her role and character changed and she became known as a penitent prostitute. In medieval art, she is often portrayed naked, covered only with her long hair. In more modern versions, she has been portrayed as the romantic partner and wife of Jesus. What is the truth?
Professor Joan Taylor of King's College is an expert in the field and shares her insights into some of the images of Mary Magdalene that we receive today.
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Women of the Church Leadership Conference
July 19-21, 2023
Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary | Collegeville, MN
You’re invited to attend a transformative Catholic women’s conference, featuring Gloria Purvis, host of The Gloria Purvis Podcast, Dr. Carolyn Woo, former CEO of Catholic Relief Services, and Dr. Kristin Colberg, renowned theologian. Come envision a future where women's voices are amplified, their roles elevated, and their presence cherished within the Church.
All are welcome.
Register at https://womenofthechurch.org/i...
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Faith of our Fathers: How Non-ordination of Women Impacts Men and Boys
June 20, 2023 at 7:30pm ET | Online
Join Washington Home Inclusive Monthly Mass (WHIMM) as they welcome Bill Garate, Ray Suarez, and Father Anne for this conversation.
For link, RSVP to whimmdc@gmail.com
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Transgender Inclusion: What It Means, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do
June 27, 2023 at 8pm ET | Online
Join DignityUSA and noted transgender educator and activist Ben Greene to learn about what transgender and nonbinary people hope for from supportive allies. Known for his engaging style and use of humor, Ben has worked with communities, workplaces, government agencies, and more to support them in becoming more inclusive and welcoming. This is a special Pride Month event!
Registration is required.
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Transgender Inclusion: What It Means, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do
June 27, 2023 at 8pm ET | Online
Join DignityUSA and noted transgender educator and activist Ben Greene to learn about what transgender and nonbinary people hope for from supportive allies. Known for his engaging style and use of humor, Ben has worked with communities, workplaces, government agencies, and more to support them in becoming more inclusive and welcoming. This is a special Pride Month event!
Registration is required.
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Women of the Church: 2023 National Conference
July 19-21 | Collegeville, MA
Sponsored by Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary. The conference will do as St. Paul urged the early Roman Church: to Welcome Her and all her extraordinary gifts. Everyday, through diverse vocations, women share their leadership skills, liturgical and ministerial talents, theological insight, and prophetic imagination. Come celebrate these gifts and, in community with others, imagine a Church even more welcoming of women.
Details/Registration
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Boston College 14th Annual Mary Magdalene Celebration: Rereading Biblical Women
July 20, 12n-3pm | Hybrid In-person/Online
Inspired by diverse traditions and misinterpretations of Mary of Magdala, this presentation embarks on a rereading of select women in the Bible. Several biblical women, such as Hagar, Jezebel, and the Samaritan woman at the well, have been interpreted unfavorably and have been associated with negative attributes. In her presentation, Dr. Jaime L. Waters, associate professor of Old Testament, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, rereads women to offer avenues of interpretation that honor women of the past and inspire readers today.
Details/Registration
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We seek changes that will provide all Roman Catholics the opportunity to participate fully in Church life and leadership. |
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FutureChurch is a national 501(c)(3) organization and your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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