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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
“For many years, I had the privilege of leading Communion services in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. In the beginning, I did this with great trepidation, but by the time my ministry ended, I was thoroughly convinced that the Holy Spirit can fill the hearts, souls and minds of faith-filled women every bit as much as those of men.”
Jacalyn Anderson
Parish Member and Lector, Winchester, WI
Witness
“I have been blessed with women who have shared their many gifts with me. They have broken open Scripture for the people of God with their own perspective and insight. They have shown ways of leading which empower and confirm the value of each individual person. They have offered perspectives and visions of the Spirit’s call to live God’s love for all.”
Don Highberger, SJ
University Campus Minister and Hospital Pastoral Minister, St. Louis, MO
Witness
“If I could be ordained a deacon, the people would hear the Good News preached with authority at the pulpit and in the world. For me personally, it would feel like the ability to serve in the manner in which God has put on my heart to serve. As a minister of the word, liturgy and charity, I would preach the word to inspire others to love God and their neighbor. I would continue to bring communion to the sick and imprisoned, but I would also free our priests by taking on some baptisms, weddings, and funeral services that are outside of the Mass. It would feel like the fullness of what I was meant to do.”
Theresa Shepherd-Lukasik
Director of Adult Faith Formation, St. Joseph Parish, Seattle, WA

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