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A Non-Traditional Blessing
May God bless you with discontent with easy answers, half-truths, superficial relationships, so that you will live from deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, abuse, and exploitation of people, so that you will work for justice, equality, and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you will reach out your hand to comfort them and to change their pain to joy.
May God bless you with the foolishness to think you can make a difference in this world, so that you will do the things which others tell you cannot be done.
If you have the courage to accept these blessings, then God will also bless you with:
happiness—because you will know that you have made life better for others
inner peace—because you will have worked to secure an outer peace for others
laughter—because your heart will be light
faithful friends—because they will recognize your worth as a person.
These blessings are yours—not for the asking, but for the giving—from One who wants to be your companion, our God, who lives and reigns, forever and ever.
Amen.
By: Sr. Ruth Fox, OSB
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November 10, 2024
Today Adam Barnes invites us to explore the God who comes through the poor and dispossessed, with the help of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Poor People’s Campaign; engage the truth of liberation theology in Catholic Social Teaching; and embody the theology of the poor with the movement song “Rich Man’s House.”
"In 1 Kings Elijah goes on to remind us that God’s loving action in our world is not limited. It extends in abundance to all, 'the jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day YHWH makes it rain on the land.' (1 Kings 17:16). Elijah also provides an answer to the critical question of 'How?' How, in this cruel, violent, and unjust world do we praise a God of love, mercy, and justice? How do we keep this God of truth, who cares for the widow and the brokenhearted at the center when the forces we are up against so often degrade, impoverish, and violate life?"
Adam Barnes is the Director of Religious Affairs at the Kairos Center and helps lead the Freedom Church of the Poor each week. Born in St. Louis, MO and raised most of his life in Colorado, Adam has lived in New York since 2006 and has worked at the Poverty Initiative/Kairos Center since 2007. In 2016 he completed a PhD in Comparative Theology at Union Theological Seminary. His dissertation investigates the liberative theology and spirituality emerging from anti-poverty struggles in the US and in a Sufi-Muslim community in West Africa. He is the father of three amazing children and married to the equally amazing Shailly Gupta Barnes.
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Catholic Women Preach
Preaching for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jen Frazer offers a reflection on the offerings and sacrifices of the two widows in today's readings:
"In the end what meaning should we take away from these readings? It is the very generosity of our two widows (in the first reading and in the Gospel) that highlights their social oppression. Even if the sacrifice is unjust, God who knows our hearts, honors that sacrifice as the act of love that it is. God is on the side of the oppressed because they are in need of God’s protection. Both are true. Sic et non."
Jen Frazer is an Erie Benedictine sister, currently living in Erie, Pennsylvania. There Jen shares time with some of the terrific people of L’Arche as her full-time gig, and for fun teaches a couple of classes at Mercyhurst, a local Catholic college. Jen has a couple of graduate theology degrees from Boston College, and a degree in studio art from Hampshire College.
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| Resources for the New Liturgical Year |
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Catholic Women Preach- Year C
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The final volume in the popular series featuring homilies on the Gospel readings for Sunday and holy days by Catholic women from around the world.
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The Inclusive Lectionary- Year C
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The Inclusive Lectionary is an excellent resource for worshipping communities of all kinds who are looking to include all of their members and exclude patriarchal language.
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| Pentecost Project |
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Following the Spirit on a WHIMM: The Story of the Washington Home Inclusive Monthly Mass
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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 be highlighting communities that have been emboldened to live the Gospel in new and creative ways. Today we introduce you to WHIMM-Washington Home Inclusive Monthly Mass.
Excerpt:
" 'Mary and I heard about a Mass organized with the Roman Catholic Women Priest Movement that was taking place in Maryland,' shared Jane. 'This was the first time there was one in the DC area that we had heard about. So we went to this Mass at somebody’s house, and it was so… electric.' After experiencing this type of liturgical celebration, Jane and Mary felt as though more people needed access to an inclusive and intimate Liturgy in a home setting led by a woman priest. So they decided to try their hand at some organizing."
READ MORE...
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| November 20, 2024 | 7:00pm ET |
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Cleveland In-person Catholic Women Preach Book Launch
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Join FutureChurch, series co-editor Russ Petrus, five Catholic Women Preach preachers, and Sr. Christine Schenk, CSJ as we celebrate the release of the third and final volume of the ground-breaking and award-winning book series, Catholic Women Preach: Raising Voices, Renewing the Church (Orbis Books).
The event will feature opening remarks by FutureChurch co-founder, Sr. Christine, and panel of Cleveland-area preachers who will reflect on their participation in Catholic Women Preach project and the importance of Catholic Women Preach in their lives of faith.
Time:
7:00 – 8:00 PM ET
Venue:
Community of St. Peter
7100 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44103
Copies of all three volumes (Years A, B, and C) will be available for purchase at the event.
*While this event is being planned as an in-person event, a YouTube livestream will be available to all through the Community of Saint Peter YouTube Page.
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| January 8, 2025 | 6:00pm ET |
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“The Mystics Would Like a Word” with Shannon Evans
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Is there a Christian spirituality that embraces the entire reality of womanhood? In her new book, The Mystics Would Like a Word, Shannon K. Evans suggests the answer is an emphatic 'yes.'
There is a spirituality that meets us in every part of our lives, developed by the women who came before us. Six mystics—Teresa of Ávila, Margery Kempe, Hildegard of Bingen, Julian of Norwich, Catherine of Siena, and Thérèse of Lisieux—revealed a faith big enough to hold the female experiences of sex and desire, the yearning for bodily autonomy, the challenges of motherhood and identity, as well as life with male authority and—sometimes—violence. These women, self-determining, stubborn, and unapologetically themselves, asked questions in their time that are startlingly prescient today, and fought for women’s experiences to be heard, understood, respected, and recognized as holy.
This event will be followed by a month-long weekly book club where participants can register to participate in discussion and reflection in community with one another. More information coming soon!
Shannon K. Evans is the spirituality and culture editor at the National Catholic Reporter and the author of the books Feminist Prayers for My Daughter: Powerful Petitions for Every Stage of Her Life and Rewilding Motherhood: Your Path to an Empowered Feminine Spirituality.
With interest in ecofeminism, social change and contemplative practice, Shannon leads workshops and retreats across the country that spark curiosity and compassion. She has partnered with the Jesuits of Canada and the U.S. and is a frequent contributor to Franciscan Media.
Having previously lived in Indonesia for two years, Shannon loves to travel, but is happiest at home on the Iowa prairie with her family and beloved chickens.
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| Other Opportunities and Resources |
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| Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology | Nov. 15th | 5:30 - 6:30pm GMT | In-person and Zoom |
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| Mary Ward Lecture - The Synod, the Diaconate, and Women |
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The Mary Ward Lecture is a distinguished event organized every year by The Margaret Beaufort Institute, which seeks to illuminate the complexities and richness of our faith and its expression in contemporary society. All are welcome to join as we delve into a topic of The Synod, the Diaconate, and Women. The Second Session of the Synod on Synodality has concluded, and the Church awaits final word on several issues. How will women be affected by the Synod’s progress, and how will they react? How can the Church embrace ministry by women? Will it? Our esteemed speaker, Dr Phyllis Zagano, brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to this discussion.
More information and registration.
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| Benedictine Sisters of Erie | Erie, PA | June 2025-June 2026 |
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| Benedictine Peacemakers Monastic Immersion- Applications Open! |
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The Benedictine Sisters of Erie invite applicants to the 2025 – 2026 cohort of the Benedictine Peacemakers Monastic Immersion. As an evolution of monastic life, the Benedictine Peacemaker program is a model for approaching personal formation, spiritual community, and good work in the Benedictine spiritual and monastic tradition, with a particular focus on the practice of peacemaking. The monastic immersion year will be filled with spiritual exploration, growth in community, experiential learning, classes, and action within the Erie community. The program is open to women in their early 20s through early 30s. Housing, food, and a stipend are provided, as well as transportation and health insurance if needed. More information can be found at eriebenedictines.org/benedictine-peacemakers. contact Michelle Scully (mscully@eriebenedictines.org) with any questions.
Apply Here.
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| A New Publication from Pax Christi USA |
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| Seeking Wisdom's Light: Reflections for Advent and Christmas 2024 |
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"Seeking Wisdom's Light," this year's Pax Christi USA Advent reflection booklet, is written by Leslye Colvin, a writer, spiritual companion, and contemplative activist. Leslye's poetic and thought-provoking reflections will be a welcome part of your daily prayer life during the Advent season, and can lead to rich and meaningful sharing within your prayer community.
Order Here.
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| A New Publication from New Ways Ministry |
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| CORNERSTONES Sacred Stories of LGBTQ+ Employees in Catholic Institutions |
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Cornerstones: Sacred Stories of LGBTQ+ Employees in Catholic Institutions is a new anthology of 12 stories of faith, sacrifice, joy, and pain by LGBTQ+ people who have been employed by Catholic parishes and schools.
The collection was edited by Ish Ruiz and Mark Guevarra, two gay Catholic men who themselves have been church employees, and is published by New Ways Ministry, a Catholic outreach that educates and advocates for equity, inclusion, and justice for LGBTQ+ persons.
The anthology’s stories are grouped in three categories: LGBTQ+ people fired from Catholic schools, LGBTQ+ people fired from Catholic parishes, and LGBTQ+ people who continue their employment in Catholic institutions with support from their employers.
Order 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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