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Witnesses
St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church
Toledo, OH
March 26, 2024

At St. Martin de Porres in Toledo, OH, we celebrated St. Phoebe with a Mass on September 3, 2023 that featured information about St. Phoebe, an opening song that lifted up the role of women in the Church, women as liturgical ministers, and a reflection shared by parishioner Kelly Sankowski. We are excited about the conversation this started in our parish. Some parishioners expressed their deep hope that, although the uplifting of women in the Church has often been absent in their own lives, that this can be different for coming generations. As a community, we are committed to continuing this conversation, praying for the ongoing Synod and continuing to uplift the voices of women ministering in the Church in both seen and unseen ways! 

 

Witness
“I have been blessed with women who have shared their many gifts with me. They have broken open Scripture for the people of God with their own perspective and insight. They have shown ways of leading which empower and confirm the value of each individual person. They have offered perspectives and visions of the Spirit’s call to live God’s love for all.”
Don Highberger, SJ
University Campus Minister and Hospital Pastoral Minister, St. Louis, MO
Witness
“If I could be ordained a deacon, the people would hear the Good News preached with authority at the pulpit and in the world. For me personally, it would feel like the ability to serve in the manner in which God has put on my heart to serve. As a minister of the word, liturgy and charity, I would preach the word to inspire others to love God and their neighbor. I would continue to bring communion to the sick and imprisoned, but I would also free our priests by taking on some baptisms, weddings, and funeral services that are outside of the Mass. It would feel like the fullness of what I was meant to do.”
Theresa Shepherd-Lukasik
Director of Adult Faith Formation, St. Joseph Parish, Seattle, WA
Witness
“And when I get antsy waiting, as I often do, I remember the women I met who showed me that the ‘not yet’ is an “already.” Women deacons have existed and continue to exist. Someday, I may be one of them.“
Julia D’Agostino, MDiv
Theology Student, ThM Candidate

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