Blessing of the Week |
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Image: FutureChurch's Deborah Rose and Women's Ordination Conference's Kate McElwee project "Votes for Catholic Women" graphic (designed by Sarah Holst for WOC) onto the doors of the then Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith during the 2019 Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon Region.
“Joy is an act of resistance.” These beautifully empowering words were first put to paper by the African American poet Toi Derricotte. And while Derricotte wrote out of her own context and experience as a Black woman, I find it a powerful call to action for all of us on the margins to reclaim and live our own joy.
As we look at our Church and society - and likely our own lives - we know there are many reasons to be tired, sad, disappointed, skeptical, angry, and even afraid. And it can sometimes be difficult to find reasons to rejoice. And so, living in joy necessarily becomes a practice, an intentional way of being that we must actively choose - not to ignore the bad, but to resist and see us through it.
And, of course, it’s always helpful when we’re presented with reasons to rejoice. This week, we got a big one! Pope Francis has opened the door for lay people – including women – to be full members of the Synod assembly with voting privileges. In a years-long effort led by FutureChurch, Women’s Ordination Conference, and other reform organizations, Catholics pushed for, and women will finally have a deliberative voice. Let us rejoice!
Surely there is still plenty of work to do to make sure that the lay people and women selected faithfully represent and reflect the cares, concerns, hopes, and dreams of Catholics the world over who have so clearly called for reform throughout the synod process. And, yes, we will need to continually raise the issues that are important to us. I don’t doubt that we will be presented with reasons to be disappointed, frustrated, or tired in the months ahead but that’s even more reason to choose and practice joy in this moment and to continuing to choose joy each and every step of the synodal way.
May joy be your resistance and your blessing this week!
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Co-Director |
Russ Petrus |
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FutureChurch Synod Gathering |
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Thursday, May 4th at 12n ET
Overview and Group Discussion of the Final North American Synod Document
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) issued the North American Final Document for the Continental Stage on April 12th. Along with the contributions of the six other Continental Assemblies, this document, will form the basis of theInstrumentum Laboris - to be released by the General Secretariat of the Synod in June - which will guide the Synod Assembly in Rome in October 2023/2024.
Join FutureChurch for this midday gathering for an opportunity to learn more about the document, how it compares to what we discerned in our FutureChurch Synod Sessions and Continental Discernment Sessions, and guided discussion with like-minded Catholics.
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The Just Word
Writing for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Suntina Spehar invites us to explore the Acts of the Apostles, and Peter’s reflection on the separation between God’s creation and humanity, with the help of liberation theologian Gustavo Gutiérrez; engage the centrality of dignity in Catholic Social Teaching; and embody these ideas through the work of East Timorese José Ramos-Horta and the Trans Housing Coalition.
We are called to discern that the Pharisees have displaced, hurt, and robbed marginalized people of their dignity. Gustavo Gutiérrez writes, those only concerned with themselves and with protecting their knowledge, are incapable of solidarity, thus perpetuating hierarchical ideologies that create separations between communities. By entering through Christ’s gate, we are asked to live in a way that dignifies all people and enables solidarity; only then can communal flourishing occur, where the people will come in and go out and find pasture, where one might live in the abundance of life.
Suntina Spehar obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (neuroscience) and Theology from College of Saint Benedict and a Master of Arts in Social Ethics from Union Theological Seminary, where most of her work centered around feminist and ecological theology. She currently works in the non-profit sector with youth programming and development.
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Catholic Women Preach
Preaching for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Sonia Caus Gleason offers a fresh take on the familiar sheep and shepherd imagery:
"The sheep metaphor can sound all soft and fluffy, strictly comforting, but we have to do our part. Sheep hear, recognize, and respond, with a little help. It can be more complicated for us humans. Sometimes we hear technically, but don’t listen. In our moments of bravura, we may forget that we’re vulnerable. We can get diverted by our own wrong assumptions and quick judgments, or tempted by the familiar message rather than what we really need to hear. The din of politics that polarize us, the echo of family fights can linger for an age. We need judgment without being judgmental, compassion while holding a steady course. We need cultural competence to heed Christ’s magnificent voice in those who are different from us: our own race, gender, identity, class, physical ability - you name it. We need the discipline of leaning in, listening for truth with alertness and curiosity. And while vulnerable, we need to be made of tough stuff. That’s a lot."
Sonia Caus Gleason is a strategy and learning consultant to philanthropies and non-profits that are deepening their social and racial justice commitments. A long-time member of Boston’s Paulist Center, Sonia organized a network of small communities of faith, co-chaired the development of socially responsible investment screens, and co-led a partnership to address youth violence in the city. In a variety of settings, she has planned and presided at a range of Catholic and interfaith educational sessions, retreats, and prayer services. And amidst covid, she co-founded a lay-led, virtual prayer group that has brought forth unexpected gifts of youth empowerment and intergenerational community.
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Thanks to a generous donor, you can now double your support for Catholic women!
All donations made to FutureChurch between now and May 5th will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to a total of $10,000 (for a grand total of $20,000) and will go directly toward our programming for women's equality in the Church.
Thank you to everyone who has participated so far, we have raised nearly 75% of our goal! None of our work would be possible without you.
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May 2, 2023 | 7pm ET |
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Just Church: Catholic Social Teaching, Synodality, and Women |
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Join FutureChurch as Dr. Phyllis Zagano talks about synodality and women based on her latest book, Just Church: Catholic Social Teaching, Synodality, and Women, published by Paulist Press.
Excerpt: "Even though synodality is the buzzword of the day, the fact remains that members of the hierarchy are, or at least consider themselves, insulated from the opinions about Church from those members on the periphery—and the people most cut out of the conversation at the highest level are women. Perhaps not the women newly named to positions in the Roman Curia, nor the women chancellors, canon lawyers, or other professionals in diocesan chanceries, nor even the women theologians, journalists, and activists. However, these all are liable to be excluded."
Join us as we learn more about the impact of synodality on the lives of women in the Catholic Church!
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May 9, 2023 | 7pm ET
The Rise of Black Women in 19th Century New Orleans
Professor Emily Clark will discuss the lives of Black Catholic women in the context of late 18th century and 19th century life in New Orleans, offering background on the many unique features of life in New Orleans. The region’s development under French and Spanish rule brought the enslavement and transport of African people, Code Noir, color labels such as quadroon, the creolization of culture and religion.
Clark will also explore how free women of color such as Henriette Delille, Juliette Gaudin, and Josephine Charles were able to found the second successful religious community of Black Catholic women, the Sisters of the Holy Family, in the United States.
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WOC-ing the walk for equality with Women's Ordination Conference
Sunday, April 30th - Vocations Sunday Witness
Inspired by “Pink Shoes into the Vatican” witnesses in New Zealand, Women's Ordination Conference will be WOC-ing the walk for equality by using the symbol of empty shoes to offer a visual representation of vocations unanswered, those who have walked away, and those walk the prophetic edge of the church, longing for full equality for all of its members.
Join the Effort
Sunday, April 30, 2023, 3:00pm-4:00pm CT - in person Prayer Service in the Chicago Suburbs
On April 30, Vocations Sunday, the institutional church prays for an increase in vocations to the priesthood. But it ignores the women standing on the edge of the Roman Catholic Church, who have walked the extra mile only to find the door to leadership, decision-making, and ordination closed. So we are drawing attention to these women who are called by God: called to renewed priesthood; called to equality; called to full participation in the leadership of the church.
More details
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Online presentation with Sarah Augustine, author & Indigenous rights activist
Tuesday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. CT.
Call To Action will host Indigenous writer and activist Sarah Augustine, author of The Land is Not Empty: Following Jesus in Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery. Augustine will present on topics related to her critically acclaimed book and Indigenous organizing. A facilitated Q&A session will follow, in which participants may ask questions and engage in further discussion. $5 registration
Details/Register
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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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