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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
“Being able to be educated on who St. Phoebe is and giving others the chance to meet her, being part of a community of women who promote an inclusive model of the church, and seeing my own community come alive and heal from division provides a vision of what can and will be possible one day in the Catholic Church.”
Kathleen O'Brien
Maryknoll Bay Area Regional Coordinator in the Mission Formation Department
Witness
“I have witnessed these women become Catholic high school teachers, professors, writers, administer parish life and leaders of prayer services. Women have been my peers and supervisors, except in diaconal ministry. I continue to hold out hope that women’s gifts for ministry and service can and will be acknowledged by the church.”
Fr. Tom Cwick, SJ
Pastoral Minister, North Side, St. Louis, MO
Witness
“I am grateful as a pastor and a part of the BCCs here to learn and journey together with others. As a priest in our community, I am proud to be a part of this ministry to uplift women who are struggling. It is great joy and fulfillment. In my personal life, I have experienced the richness of acknowledging and uplifting the witness of women in the early Church and also in our Church today.”
Fr. Vincent Dsouza, SJ
Pastor and Base Christian Community Leader, India

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This is the hub where we share relevant news, events and opportunities to participate in the work. 
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