Second Sunday of Easter - John 20: 19-31

Australian Women Preach has always celebrated diversity.  Our women preachers come from different generations, backgrounds, cultures, geographical

Tanya Wittwer lives on the lands of the Peramangk people with her songwriter husband, Leigh Newton, two alpacas and four chickens. Their elastic-sided family live within semi-regular Sunday-night-family-meal distance.  Sixty-three years ago Tanya perceived herself as being called to pastoral leadership in her church. When she was twelve she discovered ordination was not possible in the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand. Her subsequent dream of being a ballerina was probably delusional, and God has continued to keep her early calling alive. So she has the broad and shallow working life of one who cannot enter her vocation, having had coordination and management roles in community service, domestic violence prevention, nature conservation, chaplaincy and public health, and academic roles in counselling, community health and theology. Most recently she was holding administrative roles and teaching preaching, pastoral care, and research topics at the Adelaide College of Divinity. After degrees in arts, education and religious education, Tanya completed a Master of Divinity at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, and a PhD in homiletics through Flinders Uni. She has been working with many others towards the ordination of women in the LCANZ church for the past forty or so years, and this effort has intensified in recent years.  In late 2022 she edited “unless they are sent”, a collection of writings from the past forty-five years, affirming the ordination of women.   

Gail Gill writes: I was for a while as a graphic artist in advertising agencies and increasingly began to find it lacked meaning. As a mature age student, I began study to be a teacher in Catholic schools. I worked in the Sydney Archdiocese mainly as a teacher, REC and principal. I also worked as a religious education advisor and then led the development of Sydney’s first religious education curriculum for primary schools. I have worked in Broken Bay as a schools consultant and as a facilitator for school advisory boards with the Catholic Schools Office. I was seconded for three years to the Broken Bay Institute in the first three years of its development. In 2009 I resigned from the Catholic Schools Office in Broken Bay to become a consecrated member of a ministry the then Bishop, David Walker, had established for women in the diocese. I have worked in a number of parishes in various capacities, including one where I was a Coordinator of Parish Life according to canon 517.2. I have also been a member of the Broken Bay formation team for the permanent diaconate. I have an adult daughter and son and two beautiful granddaughters. Currently, I am transitioning towards retirement that will include some writing and engagement with groups such as Australian Catholics Exploring Diaconate (ACED).

Easter Sunday - Matt. 28: 1-10

Palm Sunday - Matthew 26:14-27:66

For this Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, we were privileged to record on country in the Kimberley. Brigid Drummond is a Proud Nyul Nyul woman from Beagle Bay, a mother, wife and educator in Catholic Education for over 40 years.

Shirley Quaresemin, is a proud Nyikina woman from Derby, a wife, mother, over 40 years in Catholic Education and the current chairperson of NATSICC. Francesca Ishiguchi is a mother and Proud Nyul Nyul, Nyikina and Yawaru woman from Broome. She is devoted to Mary and the Rosary. Pepita Pregelj, writes, “My Mum born Beagle Bay, my maternal grandmother was taken (stolen gen) with her sister off the streets of Derby when they were about 6 years old and taken to Beagle Bay. My maternal grandfather also stolen generation. Knowing that our mothers and grandmothers and aunties have such strong faith is an inspiration. We can only continue practising and sharing our faith despite different challenges we all face.”

These First Nations Women are in conversation with Diana Jans, the CEWA Broome Regional Office Religious Education Consultant and over 25 years as an educator in Catholic Education.

Fifth Sunday of Lent - John 11: 1-45

Rev Rachel Kronberger lives on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nations in inner suburban Melbourne. She was ordained as a Minister of the Word in the Uniting Church in Australia in 2002 and since then has served in congregational ministry. She is currently the Minister in Placement at Wesley Church Melbourne, where she preaches twice most Sundays, rejoicing in the steadfastness of God. Rachel also enjoys encouraging deeper connections in Christian community, supporting the curiosity of visitors and newcomers, and exploring the place and role of an inner-city church in a post-Christendom context.

Fourth Sunday of Lent - John 9: 1-41

Danielle Anne Lynch is a theologian, musician, and teacher, working in Brisbane.  Her work in systematic theology encompasses Theology, Music, and Songwriting, with particular interest in feminist and queer approaches. She also works in Mission, Liturgy, Religious Identity and Culture, and Religious Education. Danielle's book on music and theology God in Sound and Silence: Music as Theology was published in 2018. Her album Into Silence, a collection of original songs exploring life in all its dimensions, including spiritual and faith aspects, was released in 2020, and her Mass For All Of Us was released in 2022. Danielle's music is available on online platforms.

Third Sunday of Lent - John 4: 5-42

Dr. Mary Coloe PBVM is a Presentation sister and has recently retired as  professor of New Testament at Yarra Theological Union, which is a college within the University of Divinity, Melbourne.  She will continue to research and write on the Gospel of John.  In 20221 her two-volume commentary on John in the Wisdom Commentary Series was published and has been well received. This series is a feminist commentary on the biblical books. This year, 2023) she is invited to be the key presenter at the American Catholic Biblical Association conference. She also has three small books of reflections on each Sunday Gospel of the year – These are called, Sundays under the Southern Cross – available through Garratt Publishing.

Mary has taught at Australian Catholic University and a number of places overseas such as Berkeley, California; Boston College, and Jerusalem. In recent years she has worked on an international dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Church/Disciples of Christ. Mary calls this her “Vatican” hat, as this appointment was for the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity.

Second Sunday of Lent - Matthew 17: 1-9 - “The Transfiguration: for a purpose and a promise”

Trish McCarthy grew up on the coast of NSW which has inspired her love for the gift of Creation, learning and adventure. She has completed studies in Exercise Science, Education, Theology and Spiritual Direction. 

First Sunday of Lent - Matthew 4:1-11

Teash is co-pastor of St Kilda/Elsternwick Baptist Church. She is currently the only out Baptist pastor serving a church in Victoria, and likely Australia. She also runs Queers Be With You with her friend AJ, where they offer education and consultation to Churches and Christian Organisations regarding LGBTQIA+ inclusion and pastoral care. Teash has a particular passion for feminist and queer theologies and all liberative theologies.

When she's not working you can probably find Teash trying to encourage her elderly greyhound to walk just a tiny bit further down the street or watching something embarrassingly trashy while her partner knits and she embroiders or cross stitches.

Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time - Matthew 5: 38-48

Dr Sally Longley is a Spiritual Director, Supervisor and Retreat Leader based in Sydney; she has studied at the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in the USA and has a D Min. Sally leads silent and themed retreats and is a Giver of the Ignatian Exercises. She is a pastor of Avalon Peace church, and a team member on Listen into Life, which is a formation program for spiritual directors. Sally has authored 3 books, the latest being “Conversations with Silence: Rosetta Stone of the Soul” (2021) (www.longley.com.au).

Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time - Matthew 5: 17-37

Marilyn says:

I am a Catholic lay woman whose faith is as central to my identity as my gender. I am a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother committed to working for an inclusive practice of Catholic faith that is respected and active in the public square, a faith that can sustain future generations as my faith has sustained me.

My professional work has involved developing and implementing machinery of government and public policy for the status of women across policy portfolios in both Federal and Territory governments including as the first Women’s Health Adviser in the ACT. My tertiary background includes graduating as a R.N. St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney; B.A. Applied Science, University of Canberra; M.Litt. History/Gender Studies ANU.

I have been involved in the renewal movement in the Catholic Church for over 20 years. Initially attending WATAC meetings as a young mother, subsequently as a member of renewal groups including the Ordination of Catholic Women Inc, representing Australia on the international Women’s Ordination Worldwide Network, International Catholic Reform Network, former Convener of the Australasian Catholic Coalition for Church Reform, member of Catholics Speak Out and Concerned Catholics Canberra Goulburn. My key focus has been for equality, dignity and respect for all.