by Judy Cates

CTA's Arts in Ministry referral program aims to bring artists of all sorts together with the audiences who desire their talents. Here's a profile of another artist registered with us. Don't miss Peri Aston's portrayal of Mary Ward at the CTA National Conference Oct. 30-Nov. 1 in Milwaukee.

A few years ago, I heard Anita Hill speak. She said the upcoming year had been declared "The Year of the Woman." She suggested that implied that we only get one year. Here at Call to Action, it's always the year of the woman. We have a history of championing the causes of women, and will continue to do so, but this year especially we will focus on women's issues at our national conference, the theme of which is "Created in God's Image: Women and Men Seeking Equality." And our arts presentations will be in keeping with the spirit of that theme.

We are pleased to have Peri Aston joining us from England and presenting her one-woman play on Mary Ward entitled, "Mary Who?" It came about when Ms. Aston was commissioned in 1995 by the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM) in England to create the dramatization of the life of their founder for the 350th anniversary of her birth. In the 17th century, Mary Ward had visions which revealed to her that her dream of being a contemplative enclosed within a convent was not to be. She left her cloister and, along with a group of other women, began educating girls. She opened schools all over Europe founded on the principles of the Jesuits, but received much criticism for her efforts. Eventually, the Vatican closed her schools and she was put in prison. Her story is one of great faith and fidelity to her Catholic background. She was a woman who found her own freedom within the Catholic Church.

She was a prolific writer who left behind many letters and prayers, giving a rich portrait of her active life. Some, however, were lost in the English Channel in the 18th century when the ship carrying them went down. Others have been kept in the Vatican and have just recently been released to the IBVM sisters. Her followers, as well, have contributed to what we know of her story in the remembrances written after her death, a tribute to her great influence and popularity. It wasn't until 1909 that she was acknowledged publicly as the founder of the IBVMs and not until 1973 officially by the Catholic Church.

Peri Aston's own spiritual journey has been expressed in the progressive development of her one-woman show repertoire. As a young adult, she attended drama school and taught. Once married with children, she had a desire to perform again and also a need to be able to structure her time. It was then that she created her one-woman show, beginning with "Pierrot," an Italian comedy based on myths about women. She then encountered a teacher of the Alexander technique, a method of teaching which helped her to approach any activity with freedom rather than tension. Whereas her writings had been secular, they now became consciously spiritual. Her own spiritual insights became more the focus of her writings and performances. She wrote "Quest"on the theme of the identity of women. Then came "Joan of Arc," a story of women as warriors, expressing women's energy and how it changes their status. Other works include "Triple Image," about maid, mother, crone and the negative patterns of behavior prompted and sustained by patriarchy; and "Bright Sea, Dark Shore," about paradoxes in women's lives. Her most recent, "Magdalen's Retort," treats Mary Magdalen with a light, humorous touch. "My husband suggested that wonderful title," she told us. "It's actually an alchemist's term," referring to a vessel in which substances are distilled or broken up by heat.

Since 1984, Peri has divided her time among performances in the United States and England. She will be in the U.S. this fall from Oct. 17 to Nov. 15 and will be performing in venues other than our Oct. 30-Nov. 1 conference. If you are interested in having her perform for your group or organization, you can contact us to check on her availability.