What a gift! Pope Francis knows: good things take time. It’s delicate work. This is a truth that Jennifer and Sophie, 3rd year Mdiv Students at Notre Dame, know quite well. They were longing to find a way to contribute as part of discerning deacons. After nearly a year of dreaming & conversing, they were able to invite Dr. Phyllis Zagano and Anna Nussbaum Keating to come to campus and help foster the dialogue. AND THEY PACKED THE ROOM! You can read their full report here – and check out this news coverage from the Irish Rover, the Campus Catholic newspaper.
On my morning walk today in the mountains of Italy, just south of Florence, I noticed hundreds of spider webs. Fragile. Dripping in dew. Intricate, messy, Tangled and symmetrical. While sometimes our work seems more like a buzzing bee hive, these webs remind me of the careful work: connecting and linking, transforming.
Stepping back, I can see beautiful patterns emerging – some more clearly than others – often marked by strength and fragility. Here’s a bit of a glimpse into the web these days:
We officially kicked off the first School of Synodality this week with 60+ people signing up to help weave stronger webs of discerning deacons, walking together. All continue to be welcome to drop in on future sessions!
The National Catholic Reporter published an interview I was privileged to do with Chris White. Grateful for Catholic journalism, which gives us a way to share about our mission!
Anna and Maureen are getting ready to head to the Ignatian Family Teach-In next week to lead a workshop & share the good news about women, discernment, and a synodal Church with participants from around the country.
Ellie heads to Boston to see Arumi and the wonderful folks at Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry where she’s partnering up with Dr. Serena Noceti as they host a discussion over coffee & donuts. Ellie then joins with Phyllis Zagano and the ever deepening webs of discerning deacons, gathering for Voice of the Faithful’s annual convening.
Finally we share the bittersweet news that our beloved Carmen Villafañe will be stepping back from our staff team in order to be the leader and minister her family needs in this season – a time to be caring for elders and for grandchildren. We’re tremendously grateful for her spirit and leadership as she served as a synod coordinator for the listening phase, and helped organize our intercontinental pilgrimage for this year’s feast of St. Phoebe in Mexico City.
We await with hope and gratitude for the Synod office to put forth a discerning document for the next continental phase of the synod.
In the meantime - all praise to the great web - as the poet Denise Levertov wrote.
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