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Witnesses
St. Leo's Church
Tacoma, WA
August 7, 2024

Here at St. Leo’s Church in Tacoma, WA we celebrated St. Phoebe on September 2nd and 3rd 2023 with a simple yet deeply meaningful celebration together. Sr. Christine Still, OSF of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia preached for our community at our celebration. She reflected on the ministry and witness of St. Phoebe and related St. Phoebe’s story to the Sunday Mass readings during our celebration.

During our time together, we also recognized the many women who serve in a variety of ministries in our parish by having them stand and come forward for a blessing and acknowledgement following Communion. We gave all the women who were acknowledged St. Phoebe prayer cards from Discerning Deacons, and after Mass several girls from our community distributed St. Phoebe prayer cards to everyone else, as well. Together, here at St. Leo, we were blessed to uplift St. Phoebe in a way that not only celebrated St. Phoebe, but also celebrated the many wonderful gifts and ministries of women in our local parish community.

Witness
“I felt seen in my call to pastoral care, to teaching, to preaching—just as clearly as my ordained colleagues are seen in theirs. I felt valued. Not invisible. Not dismissed. I don’t know what the future holds—for me, or for the role of women in the Church. But I know this: I have hope.”
Jolaine M.J. Liupakka, PMin
Coordinator of Middle School & Confirmation, St. Thomas Becket, Eagan, MN
Witness
“If I were a deacon, I would have the support of other deacons and a community where I could draw strength through prayer and discernment. Women would have the privilege of speaking about Catholic social teaching from the ambo. I do believe women as deacons would renew the face of the Church.”
Beth Brinkmann Cianci
Volunteer with the Ignatian Spirituality Project, Boston, MA
Organization
“We are happy to be able to share about women in the Church who lead and are heard, especially for the youngest amongst us who need to hear this message.”
South Seattle Parish Family
Seattle, WA

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