Watch the recording of the St. Phoebe Day celebration at St. John Fisher Parish during the first weekend of September 2023. Statements from women witnesses begin at 25:30. 

At St. John Fisher Parish in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, we celebrated the accomplishments of St. Phoebe through song, special liturgy, and witness at each of our Masses during the first weekend of September 2023.  Our celebration also included two powerful witness statements from female leaders in our parish, and special intercessions that uplifted the ministry of women in our Church.  It was amazing to hear about the works of St. Phoebe and her collaboration with St. Paul, and to recognize how both women and men have contributed to the founding of our faith. 

Learning about the history of women in the diaconate gave context to efforts to enable women’s participation in the diaconate today, and it was powerful to celebrate St. Phoebe and uplift the ministry of women in our own community. The celebration was a great opportunity to acknowledge how women already support our church in so many ways, and how with discernment those opportunities may grow in the future!