Join FutureChurch as we conclude our Pride Month series with this moving panel!

To conclude our 2025 Pride Month Series, FutureChurch has invited a dynamic panel of guests to reflect and share on their experiences of faith, love, and joy.

Nick Fagnant, MEd, MATM (he/him) is a queer theologian, Ignatian educator, and public scholar committed to justice, relationality, and belonging in Catholic education. A PhD student in Theology and Education at Boston College’s Clough School of Theology and Ministry, his research integrates Ignatian spirituality, LGBTQ+ perspectives, and critical pedagogy to advance theological education rooted in solidarity and human flourishing. Nick will moderate the panel.

Ariell Watson Simon is a healthcare chaplain living in central Missouri. She entered the Catholic Church in 2011 as an undergraduate student at Loyola University Maryland, and later received a Master of Divinity from Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. Ariell has served as a healthcare chaplain in hospitals and nursing facilities in three states. She regularly contributes to New Ways Ministry's blog and coordinates FutureChurch's Sunday evening online liturgy and faith sharing. Ariell enjoys offering spiritual direction, writing, and fostering a theological imagination for an inclusive Church.

Rachelle Simon is the Executive Director of United Way of Pettis County in her hometown of Sedalia, Missouri. Rachelle returned home to take this role after a 20 year absence. During that time, she was formed by Catholic Higher education, receiving her Bachelor's degree from Rockhurst College, master’s in counseling from Villanova University, and Masters of Divinity from Boston College. She has a professional background in counseling, higher education, non-profit work, and Catholic campus ministry. Rachelle is a member of the board of Bethlehem Farm, a Catholic community in West Virginia. She believes in the power of people working together to support one another and improve the lives of all. In her personal time, Rachelle enjoys cooking, hiking, and spending time with family.

Maryn Hakes (they/them or ze/zir), is a queer, trans nonbinary person and practicing Catholic. In both their paid and volunteer work, they are active at the intersection of faith and queerness and engaged in justice and liberation work. They also enjoy knitting/crocheting, gardening, and getting outside to enjoy creation.

Andy Buechel-Rieger, PhD, is Associate Professor of Religious Studies in the Liberal Arts department at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati. His work focusing on the Catholic dogmatic tradition and how LGBTQ experience and thought can bring new insights. He and his husband, Stephen, live with their son, dog, and canary in Ohio.

Ed Buechel received his undergraduate degree from Xavier University and his law degree from the University of Kentucky. He has practiced law in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky since 1977 and is currently in the process of retiring. Ed and his wife, Kathy, live in Edgewood, KY, and love and are very proud of all of their children, grandchildren, and in-laws. Ed has served on the Board of Fortunate Families for over 10 years and is currently its President. He also facilitates Catholics Embracing ALL God’s Children, a support group for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies in Northern Kentucky. Ed and Kathy are active participants in many LGBTQ+ events, working to create a loving, supportive place for LGBTQ+ individuals within the Catholic Church. Ed also serves as Chairman of the Board of St. Charles Community, a nonprofit supporting seniors in Northern Kentucky.

With the fire of Pentecost and emboldened by the Holy Spirit, we at FutureChurch are engaging in a new project to recognize and celebrate communities that are embodying the mission of Pentecost. Over the next several months, we will continue highlighting communities that have been emboldened to live the Gospel in new and creative ways. Today we introduce you to the Far-Flung Flock.

"During the darkest days of the global pandemic many church-goers took to the Internet to meet their liturgical needs. As stay-at-home bans lifted and folks started returning to the pews, staff at St. Cecilia Parish in Boston noticed their number of online viewers wasn’t decreasing. In fact, even after church pews were filled to capacity, the parish was still receiving a few thousand live streamers every week. As the online participation remained strong, a remote attendee suggested starting an 'online coffee hour' for other remote Mass attendees to share fellowship and conversation. The staff responded by placing a notice in the weekly bulletin. Would anyone be interested in a monthly online coffee hour? If so, would anyone be willing to facilitate such a group? The response was overwhelmingly positive." ...

Read More about the Far-Flung Flock......

Join FutureChurch for this annual tradition of highlighting scholarship about Mary Magdalene!

Based on her expert analysis on the Gospel of John in the Wisdom Commentary series, Dr. Mary Coloe, PBVM will present on what we would gain if we were to proclaim all of John 20:1-18 on Easter Sunday morning.

Dr. Mary L. Coloe, a member of the Presentations Sisters of Victoria, is professor of New Testament at Yarra Theological Union, a college of the University of Divinity in Melbourne. Mary taught for over twenty years at Australian Catholic University and also at Boston College, the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, and in Jerusalem. Mary has written many academic publications on the Gospel of John, as well as books to help parents and teachers, such as A Friendly Guide to John, The Two Hands of God, and A Friendly Guide to the Birth of Jesus. Mary has also written an introduction to the Johannine literature for the new revised edition of the Jerome Biblical Commentary.

In 1997, FutureChurch launched an international campaign to restore St. Mary of Magdala to her rightful place as the apostle to the apostles, asking supporters to sponsor special celebrations on or around July 22 at which a biblical expert would trace Mary’s unparalleled fidelity in accompanying Jesus through crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection. This would be followed by a prayer service at which a woman would preside, preach and encourage attendees to reflect on their own encounters with, and witness to, the risen Christ.

Annual celebrations of St. Mary of Magdala exploded after that, going from 23 that first year, to 150 the following year to between 250 to 400 celebrations worldwide in each year since. Every summer, thousands of women and men help correct an egregious injustice done to a great woman leader in our church.

Join FutureChurch our annual celebration of the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene.

This year, we will prayerfully uplift the voices and celebrate the witness of women who, following in the footsteps of Mary Magdalene, are speaking truth to power. We'll hear the prophetic words of women who are speaking out to both society and the Church about a variety of justice and human rights issues. This year, we are honored to welcome Sr. Eilis McCulloh, HM, of NETWORK – the Catholic social justice lobby – who will be our guest preacher.

Sr. Eilis McCulloh is a member of the Sisters of the Humility of Mary (Villa Maria, PA) and currently serves on the Grassroots Mobilization Team at NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice. She is a frequent contributor to Global Sisters Report and is also a co-host of the Just Politics podcast. She currently serves on her religious community’s JPIC and Racial Justice Committees.

Prior to joining the staff at NETWORK, she spent more than 10 years ministering in refugee resettlement and immigration services in St. Cloud, MN, Akron, OH, and Cleveland, OH.

Sr. Eilis holds a BA from Westminster College (New Wilmington, PA), an MA in Theology from John Carroll University (University Heights, OH), and a JD from the University of Akron-School of Law.