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I noticed it, the first time I heard it.
I looked up, curious. Interested. Excited.
I had never heard those words in this place.
But as I listened to the Gospel read from the Inclusive Lectionary, something struck a chord in me. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t cringe at the use of exclusively male pronouns for God. I didn’t sigh because humanity was referenced as only one gender. I didn’t scowl at a reference to virgins, or handmaids, or meek women.
Instead, I smiled.
Because what I heard was a Scripture reading that empowered. One that made space for diversity, and for imaginative images of God. One that opened up the possibilities of the Gospel instead of confining them to a narrow hermeneutic.
No translation of Scripture is without its flaws. Anything, sans perhaps the original Greek (and even that was a translation of Jesus’ native language), will have misrepresentations and shortcomings. But to hear the Gospel read in a way that included me? That was a gift.
Every week, the FutureChurch website posts the Sunday readings from the Inclusive Lectionary, along with a commentary that unpacks the text with a framework inspired by Catholic Social Teaching. Scroll down to read this week’s Just Word commentary, written by Ben Stegbauer.
Throughout Lent, follow us on Instagram or Facebook to read provocative, justice-rooted, or liberative quotes from our Just Word Commentators. Join us for 40 days of JustWords.
Because the words we use matter. So may they be just.
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The Just Word
Today, Ben Stegbauer invites us to explore healing in the Bible and through decolonization with the help of Frantz Fanon; engage the Catholic Church’s use of abuse and colonization; and embody healing and decoloniality with the help of anticolonial folk artist Chuquimamani-Condori and Decolonize This Place.
"Healing in its fullest sense is a complete and total reorganization of society, first through the process of disorder. This means disordering entire social relations and economies through the decolonial pursuit. This could look like many things: reappropriating land (see Land Back movements), deconstructing private property, reparations, complete autonomy of self-governed nations, an end to the exploitation of the global south, supporting the Palestinian people, and more."
Ben Stegbauer currently resides in Southern Ohio and works in a low level health care job, and other than that loves to walk and run around. He is a recruiter for the Just Word and dreams of starting a free restaurant one day.
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Catholic Women Preach
Preaching for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Olivia Catherine Hastie offers a reflection on bringing our "messiness" to God:
"Our messes never go away. We all carry anxiety, trauma, discomfort, family issues, identity crises, pain, and sorrow...How will you ask God to bless your mess? How will allow the spirit to move you to love others in the midst of their messes?"
Olivia Catherine Hastie is a second year Master of Theological Studies student at Harvard Divinity School focusing on Religion, Ethics, and Politics. She earned her bachelor’s degree in religious studies and peace and conflict studies at the College of the Holy Cross in 2022 and plans to pursue doctoral study in Catholic Theology/Ethics. Olivia’s work centers the body as a critical component of Christian discourse working closely with liberationist, feminist, and queer theologians and authors. In addition to her studies, Olivia is the Program Associate for Education and Advocacy with FutureChurch and an avid volunteer in her church community at Saint Cecilia in Boston where she serves on the Parish Pastoral Council. In her free time, Olivia enjoys practicing her singing skills, spending time with her family, and exploring the many coffee shops in the Boston area.
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Catholic Women Preach
Preaching for Ash Wednesday, Clarissa V. Aljentera invites us to discern a Lenten journey that incorporates the universal elements of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, but is uniquely ours to walk:
"How do you believe God is inviting you into a Lenten journey that is uniquely beautiful and uniquely yours? What is God calling you back to? How will your heart make its way home?"
Clarissa V. Aljentera (she/her) is a second-generation Filipina American born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is currently the Director of Education for Justice with the Ignatian Solidarity Network. She is passionate about engaging Catholic Social Teaching in various aspects of her life. She is interested in the intersections of Anti-Asian Hate alongside systemic racism and, in particular, the role that solidarity plays among Black and Asian communities.
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| Join Us for Our 2024 Lenten Retreat! |
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| February 24; 1:00 pm-4:00 pm EST |
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| From Unfathomable Grief to Unsurpassed Joy – Women of Lent and Easter |
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Join FutureChurch on Saturday, February 24th from 1:00 pm- 4:00 pm EST as we welcome author, storyteller, and Episcopal priest, Rev. Lindsay Hardin Freeman, who will guide us on a beautiful journey with Mary and Martha of Bethany, Mary Magdalene, and Mary, Jesus’ mother. Accompany them as they each offer gifts: sheltering Jesus, standing with him at the Cross, and witnessing the greatest miracle of all — the Resurrection.
This afternoon of reflection at the beginning of Lent will offer presentations from Rev. Hardin Freeman, time for optional small group conversation, and prompts for personal reflection. All are welcome!
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| Upcoming FutureChurch Events |
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February 20 at 7pm ET
Co-Creating Beauty: Queer Bodies and Queer Loves Beyond the Anathemas with Craig Ford, Ph.D.
Dr. Ford's presentation, "Co-Creating Beauty: Queer Bodies and Queer Loves Beyond the Anathemas" explores how our roles as co-creators with God allows for new ways to understand the truth revealed by sexuality and gender identity beyond the boundaries of heteronormativity. Such redeployment of this theological status as co-creator, Ford argues, may provide a pathway beyond the impasse currently experienced at the level of official church teaching with respect to these topics.
Craig A. Ford, Jr., is Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Saint Norbert College, where he teaches courses in Christian Ethics, Ecclesiology, and on Race, Gender and Sexuality while also serving as Co-Director for the Peace and Justice Interdisciplinary Minor. He is also on the faculty at the Institute for Black Catholic Studies—hosted at Xavier University of Louisiana, the nation’s only Catholic HBCU— where he teaches courses on Black Theology as well as on Topics in Moral Theology from a Black Perspective. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Yale Divinity School, and Boston College, Dr. Ford writes on topics at the intersection of queer theory, blac studies, and the Catholic moral tradition. His most recent book project, All of Us: The Future of Catholic Theology From the Perspectives of Queer Theologians of Color is a co-edited volume with Bryan Massingale and Miguel Diaz, drawing scholars and activists from North and South America, the Pacific Islands, Australia, and Europe who seek to chart new directions for Catholic theology when the oppressive realities of racism, heteronormativity, and sexism within church and world are engaged equally and fiercely. This volume is currently under contract with Fortress Press.
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February 29 at 7pm ET
Lenten Fasting and Body Hatred: A Feminist Critique with Jessica Coblentz, Ph.D.
Join us as Jessica Coblentz presents on her article “Catholic Fasting Literature in a Context of Body Hatred: A Feminist Critique” in which she argues that the social conditions of misogynistic body hatred and the culture of fasting during Lent perpetuates disordered eating.
Jessica Coblentz, Ph.D. is an assistant professor in the Department of Religious Studies and Theology at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, where her research and teaching focuses on Catholic systematic theology, feminist theologies, and mental health in theological perspective. She is a graduate of Santa Clara University and Harvard Divinity School, and received her PhD from Boston College. She was previously a resident scholar at the Collegeville Institute in Collegeville, Minnesota, and has taught at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, California.
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April 2 at 7pm ET
Mary Magdalene, Her Easter Proclamation, and Why it Matters
On Easter Tuesday this year, FutureChurch Program Associate, Olivia Hastie, will moderate an intergenerational panel of women in scholarship and ministry to explore how Mary Magdalene continues to inspire today, why it is important that we reclaim and tell her true story, and what difference it would make in the lives of people of faith to hear the full story on Easter Sunday.
About our Panelists:
Carolyn Osiek, RSCJ was professor of New Testament at Catholic Theological Union at Chicago for 26 years, and is professor emerita from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University. She is the author or editor of many books and articles on topics of New Testament and Early Church.
Laura Boysen-Aragón is the Development Director at the Loyola Institute for Spirituality (LIS) in Orange, CA where she brings to her work a deep commitment to Ignatian spirituality and a faith that seeks justice. Laura has felt a strong call to the priesthood for many years. She continues discerning how to live out that call.
Molly Cahill is an assistant editor at America Media, where she previously completed a one-year media fellowship after her graduation from Boston College. She is passionate about theology, activism, journalism, and the arts.
Martha Ligas is a spiritual director, lay minister, preacher, and educator. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Ministry at Fordham University, serves as pastoral minister at the Community of St. Peter in Cleveland, OH, and is communications coordinator for FutureChurch.
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| Tuesday, March 19, 8 PM ET |
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The ongoing Synod on Synodality calls for the global church to continue deepening its understanding and practice of synodality, and to “listen more to those on the periphery.” As a response to that call, Catholic Organizations for Renewal (COR) is hosting “Sharing Our Wisdom: Speaking to the Synod as a Community of Love,” on Tuesday, March 19 at 8 p.m. ET. In a dynamic event inspired by the model of “conversation in the Spirit,” COR will feature testimonies and wisdom from theologians and advocates who are most excluded from the synodal process and documents and community discernment through sharing in a “town hall” format. We are inviting Synod Delegates and members of the USCCB Synod team to attend and listen to the testimonies and comments presented. The event will be facilitated by Dr. Annie Selak, director of Georgetown University’s Women’s Center.
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| Program Director, Mercy Center Burlingame |
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This role is responsible for the creation, development, and oversight of all program functions, and ensuring quality programming in the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy charism and Mercy Ministry Corporation values. The Program Director will further the mission of Mercy Center Burlingame through program design, implementation, and evaluation while collaborating with current staff to promote retreats and programs.
Learn More/Apply Here.
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| Executive Director, Centre for Biblical Formation in Jerusalem |
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CBF, affiliated with Notre Dame de Sion (NDS, Rome), promotes understanding of scripture and interfaith peace. It's focus is: the Bible, the People, and the Land. Responsibilities of the job include: Lead CBF, uphold its values, strategize, manage operations, ensure fundraising, and support staff/volunteers.
Learn more here.
To apply, email Sister Margaret Zdunich at director@biblical-program.com.
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| Toward a Constitutively Synodal Church |
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March 2-14, 2024
This March, Boston College is excited to offer its third Intercontinental Massive Online Course (MOOC). This time the MOOC will address the theme Toward a Constitutively Synodal Church. All videos will be facilitated virtually during the month of March 2024 and will be offered at no cost to participants worldwide. Boston College uses a fully online asynchronous format. Lectures which are pre-recorded and available in Spanish, English, Portuguese, French, Italian, Polish and German can be watched at any time throughout the month of March
Learn More and Access Recordings Here.
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| Becoming a Synodal Church: A Conversation with Massimo Faggioli and Maureen Sullivan, OP at The Center at Mariandale |
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Saturday, March 23 | 2:00-3:30PM, In-Person or via Zoom
The Roman Catholic Church is engaged in a three-year process of listening and dialogue, “The Synod on the Synodality,” which will conclude in October 2024.
This historic time for Catholicism raises important questions about the future direction of the church. Synodality implies a commitment to dialogue and an openness to voices that have been marginalized. Where is the Church now in the Synod process? What is the impact so far? Where does the Church seem to be moving in preparing for October 2024? What may be the implications for the future of the church if a model of synodality takes root in the leadership and day to day life of the church?
Please join The Center at Mariandale for a discussion with a leading church historian, Massimo Faggioli, and an expert on Vatican II, Maureen Sullivan, OP. This 90-minute session will provide opportunity to learn from key scholars, dialogue with people of the faith, and to ask questions important to you.
Fee: $20 Donation
Register Here.
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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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