The FutureChurch/CTA Women in Church Leadership (WICL) organizing drive to advance women’s leadership in the church is gaining both depth and breadth. Thirteen WICL “anchors” gathered Apr. 19 -21 at St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., to network and swap strategies. The group heard Sr. Mary Catherine Hilkert’s Madeleva lecture on St. Catherine of Siena, and shared perspectives from the pews. Together with 37 other anchors all over the U.S. and Canada, these local activists are creating new ways to advance women’s roles and visibility in their home parishes. They are starting parish women’s groups, taking leadership on parish commissions, and encouraging religious educators and diocesan women’s commissions to use the WICL project resources. The new Celebrating Women Witnesses (CWW) resource packet is injecting more energy into the movement. Thousands of CWW essay reprints about 12 historic women who countered the patriarchy of their day because of belief in Jesus will be included in parish bulletins from Michigan to Massachusetts. Over 800 CWW packets have been distributed. Most recipients are opting for monthly prayer services in their parish or community. One Michigan mother of two is creating 12 vignettes complete with costumes to present at diocesan youth gatherings. An excellent wire story by Cleveland religion writer David Briggs appeared in the religion section of newspapers all over the country.
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| Theologian Mary Catherine Hilkert, OP (seated , third from left) meets with regional anchors of the FutureChurch/CTA Women in Church Leadership project. The occasion was the 2001 Madeleva Lecture given by Hilkert at St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, Ind. |
CTA Baltimore and CTA Pittsburgh have chosen women in the Church for their focus in the coming year. Recent presentations in each place by Sr. Chris Schenk drew parish pastoral ministers and activists from over an hour away. CTA Pittsburgh conducted a pilot survey of women’s roles in the diocese.
Hundreds of St. Mary of Magdala celebrations are being planned for July 22nd. Please notify FutureChurch at info@futurechurch.org if you plan a celebration. Interested in anchoring the WICL effort in your area? E-mail chris@futurechurch.org. For CWW and WICL resources, see ad below.