Reciprocity grows the Church’s credibility for mission
On the Feast of St. Phoebe people gathered from around the world to celebrate the courage of a first century diakonos of the church in Cenchrae, and to witness to the vision of an emerging co-responsible, credible Catholic Church centered on mission.
Many thanks to all who are celebrating St. Phoebe during the month of September in your local parishes, schools and institutions. A special thanks to those who joined us for our two virtual celebrations on September 3rd during which hundreds joined Discerning Deacons and 58 participating organizations from around the world in prayer and celebration.
Across our two celebrations, we welcomed participants and leaders from 25 countries and territories on every continent: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, France, Ghana, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Italy, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, the United States, and Vietnam.
During our international prayer service, Sr. Laura Vicuña of Brazil noted that like St. Phoebe, our starting point is the vision of Jesus Christ, “who made a choice in favor of the least among us and in favor of life.” The former vice-president of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA) added that by coming together on the camino (pathway) of hope, future generations will have “a church where we women can have a voice and live out our baptismal vocation in all the ministries to which we are called.”
Several Synod Members offered their witness, including theologian Sr. Beatrice Faye, CIC, of Senegal, Sr. Shizue “Filo” Hirota, RMM, of Japan and Deacon Geert De Cubber of Belgium. Sr. Elizabeth Young, RSM, of Australia and parish lay leader JoAnn Melina Lopez of Canada also shared their reflections.
Sr. Beatrice noted that the adoption of a genuine perspective of reciprocity as called for by the Synod would bring the church closer to the real-life sufferings that women experience around the world – like domestic violence, social discrimination, economic marginalization and the absence of women’s representation in decision making spaces. “Too often these lived realities remain on the periphery of church discourse,” said Sr. Beatrice. “The responsibility of fully recognizing the dignity and co-responsibility of women would compel the church to listen to these voices and to integrate them into its pastoral discernment.”
Sr. Filo has for years worked for the Church’s peacebuilding efforts, including the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative. “Women’s participation and leadership are indispensable, not only in peace building, but in every aspect of society at all levels,” she said. “What can we do to let the Ruah speak, act, move, and transform the now of the Catholic Church?…Let us continue enlarging the tent, and may our way of being in the Church be joyful, hope-filled, and spirit-led.”
Deacon Geert imagined St. Phoebe writing a letter today with words of encouragement that the letters, pastoral ministries, and bridgebuilding efforts we carry today matter more than we can see in the present.
During our evening celebration, we heard the co-responsible witness of Parish Life Coordinator Katie Jansen and Canonical Pastor Fr. Tim McMahon, SJ. of St. Francis Xavier College Church in St. Louis Missouri. Together, they gave us a glimpse of how the vibrancy of a parish community can flourish when gifts for leadership are intentionally shared.
Also sharing reflections and witnesses were parish lay leader Dermis De Jesús of Philadelphia, migrant hospitality ministry founder Sarah Riggio of Seattle, and Discerning Deacons co-director Casey Stanton of Durham.
Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ, founder of Homeboy Industries offered words of encouragement for the long journey of ongoing discernment about restoring Catholic women to the permanent diaconate. “We stand with you as you dismantle the barriers that exclude, and we stand with you as you imagine a circle of compassion, and then imagine nobody standing outside that circle,” said Fr. Greg. “We pray that the church will find a path to ease the constraints of women’s calls to diaconal ministry.”
To our Witness readers, help us to champion the vision of an emerging, co-responsible, synodal Church by sharing the links to these prayer services with family and friends for whom this is good news! Are there 3-5 people with whom you can share a link today?
- International St. Phoebe Prayer Service (Morning)
- St. Phoebe Day Celebration (Evening)
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