{"id":20578,"date":"2024-09-11T00:00:02","date_gmt":"2024-09-11T04:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/?p=20578"},"modified":"2025-03-24T19:59:56","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T23:59:56","slug":"st-phoebe-inspires-creative-and-hope-filled-celebrations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/es\/st-phoebe-inspires-creative-and-hope-filled-celebrations\/","title":{"rendered":"Santa Febe inspira celebraciones creativas y llenas de esperanza"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Throughout September, Catholics at more than 130 parishes, schools, universities, and Catholic institutions in the U.S. and beyond are growing the awareness of St. Phoebe and lifting up women\u2019s voices as we share our experience of God\u2019s love in our midst.\u00a0 As creative witnesses and reflections are pouring in we\u2019ll share some highlights with you in our September newsletters!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Siobhan Rearick<\/b> preached this reflection at evening prayer<\/span><\/a> at Immaculate Conception Church in Durham, NC. She proclaimed the good news as it comes to us through <\/span>Phoebe, whose name means \u201cbright, radiant.\u201d\u00a0 <\/b>Siobhan, trained as a Catechist of the Good Shepherd, reminds us that we always proclaim the light before the dark \u2013 the love of God <\/span>before<\/span><\/i> the fall. Phoebe, and the women of the early Church, can inspire us today to announce this good news which comes as a ray of light.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cLet us be shaped by the example of these<\/span> holy women<\/span> and be inspired to proclaim the light before the dark. <\/span>How are we beacons of hope?<\/b> How do we help people trapped in those dark places? St Phoebe, shining light, pray for us, and help us to become beacons of hope and light!\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Another of my favorite insights comes from the <\/span>Dolores Mission Church bulletin<\/span><\/a> where <\/span>Fr. Brendan Busse, SJ<\/b> writes:<\/span><\/p>

\u201cWomen at the pulpit may not be what you expect to see or hear in a Catholic church;<\/b> it may not be typical, but it\u2019s definitely traditional.<\/b> From the very beginning of Christianity the testimony, experience, and ministry of women was at the center of the service and storytelling, preaching and practices that became the sacramental life of the community we now call church.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Amen, Fr. Busse! And thanks to <\/span>Fr. Greg Boyle SJ<\/b>, who paved the way to hear from <\/span>Daniela Valdez<\/b>, a young adult catechist who stepped into the pulpit and shared about St. Phoebe, drawing parallels to the women of Dolores Mission who know how to organize resources when someone is in need. (<\/span>Check out her reflection here: view at 20:10<\/span><\/a>).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Australian Catholics Exploring the Diaconate<\/span><\/a> led a September 3rd webinar, supported by Catholic Religious Australia and focused on the theme<\/span> \u201cWhere are St. Phoebe\u2019s successors today?<\/b>\u201d Their prayer and discussions included <\/span>Fr. Frank Brennan, SJ, <\/b>who <\/span>noted in his Sept. 7th homily<\/span><\/a> that his niece said to him: <\/span>\u201cI ho<\/span>pe you will have something positive to say for 50% of the population\u201d. <\/span>His proposal: \u201cWhat say, in light of differing cultural norms about the place of women around the world, the universal law of the Church were to be modified to authorise national episcopal conferences to approve their bishops ordaining women deacons?\u201d<\/b><\/p>

The webinar included powerful testimonies reflecting on the graces of ordination as experienced by <\/span>Deacon Adrian Gome<\/b>z, and as hoped for from <\/span>Joanna Thyer<\/b> and <\/span>Sr. Elizabeth Young<\/b> who reflected on what difference such grace could make for their lives in ministry. <\/span>The whole event is well worth watching!<\/span><\/a><\/p>

Below you will find links to women preaching on the occasion of St. Phoebe\u2019s feast day and opportunities to continue journeying together\u00a0 as we pray for St. Phoebe\u2019s intercession for a synodal church!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Finally: we are excited to share that<\/span> America Media released a short documentary<\/span><\/a> which can serve to foster a well-informed discernment about women\u2019s restoration to the diaconate. We commend it to you!<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Parishes around the country have begun celebrating women in ministry and the feast of St. Phoebe. Here are some places where women preached:<\/b><\/p>