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Testigos
Katherine Novinski
January 18, 2022

“Research shows that organizations are stronger when they have leadership that reflects the diversity of the employees and communities they serve – teams that are diverse across lines of race, ethnicity, gender, income, and experience have been shown to operate more effectively. The fact that women cannot currently serve as deacons leaves women’s voices out of decision making structures in many parishes and the larger institutional church. Most importantly, we miss the perspective of women when we listen to homilies each Sunday. My hope is that if I have daughters in the future, that my daughters can identify with a female deacon who is preaching at Sunday Mass and see themselves in that role; and that if I have sons, my sons can learn from the female perspective at Mass, not just the male perspective. My hope is that young girls will not be reminded on a weekly basis of how they are excluded from Catholic Mass and that young boys will not be reminded on a weekly basis of how they are empowered above women through the current Catholic institutional structures.”

As Catholic Women Preach has shown, we are missing a valuable perspective each Sunday at Mass when women are not able to preach. Having women deacons will create stronger parishes and could bring people back to the Church who have left, if they feel like their voice and perspective is now valued. It will create stronger faith communities in the long-term, as it means that we are valuing all members of the community for their contributions and not elevating the role of male over female, perpetuating inequality. We still have to fight for the full inclusion of women in ministry in our Church, but I see women serving as deacons as the first step in that fight.”

Katherine Novinski is an Educator in Denver, Colorado

Testigo
“[W]e celebrated St. Phoebe Day with a mass to uplift the voices of women in the Church, invite the community to rethink women’s participation and raise awareness of the global synod…Many were deeply moved by our celebration together. A senior female parishioner shared that she had waited most of her adult life to hear the hope that was offered during mass. A man approached after the celebration to ask for a copy of the reflection shared. With tears in his eyes, he shared that he hoped to share it with his daughter who had left the Church.”
St. Francis Xavier College Church
St. Louis, MO
Testigo
“As a parish, we know the blessing of the many ministries and gifts that women in our parish share with all of us. Celebrating mass this weekend to honor the witness of St. Phoebe focused attention on women’s gifts for leadership in our parish and the Church more broadly. We are proud to be a part of the conversation and discernment for women’s ordination to the diaconate.”
St. Bridget of Kildare Parish
Seattle, WA
Testigo
“This is not only because Church teaching written by men sometimes misses the mark when it comes to women’s lived experience. It is not only because our Church’s management in many ways mirrors the patriarchal systems that have also harmed our secular society – mismanaging cases of abuse and failing to provide living wages or adequate parental leave policies to its employees. It is primarily because without women’s voices, we are missing out on entire elements of who God is.”
Kelly Sankowski
St. Phoebe Day Witness, St. Martin de Porres, Toledo, OH

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