Catholic Women Preach

Preaching for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Kelly Swan offers a reflection on how we return to who we're called to be when injustice leaves us numb, weary, or close to despair:"Justice simply begins with refusing to stop caring for each other. We begin with love."Kelly Swan has worked at the crossroads of faith and justice for the Ignatian Solidarity Network since 2016, first as director of communications, and now as director of advancement. She is a proud graduate of the former Wheeling Jesuit University and now lives in Cleveland Heights, OH, with her four children. Visit https://www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/10252026 to learn more about Kelly, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Stephanie Boccuzzi preaches for the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, offering a reflection on refusing the false binaries placed before us: "I ask for the courage to refuse binaries and the set up of false choices, and instead to take heart to keep naming what belongs to God even when someone hands me a coin and asks me to pick a side."Stephanie Boccuzzi is a writer, speaker, and former theology teacher. She holds a Master of Divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University. Stephanie most recently served as Mission Leader for Trinity Health of New England and is an advocate for the chronic illness and disability community. She currently serves as Board President of the Women's Ordination Conference, which works to advance the full participation of women in the life and leadership of the Catholic Church.Visit https://catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/10182026 to learn more about Stephanie, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Katie Glenn Brown Preaches for the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, offering a reflection on showing up for God's Reign: "Let us dare to show up, not perfectly dressed or without flaws, but with openness, with willingness, clothed in garments of grace and love, and ready to dance."Katie Glenn Brown is a faith-based environmental policy advocate and organizer with the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, She holds a B.A in Political Science and Philosophy from Saint Mary’s College of Notre Dame and a Master of Theological Studies from Boston College’s Clough School of Theology and Ministry. Outside of her advocacy work, Katie coaches a local high school cross country and track team, teaches Confirmation at her parish, and can often be found training for her next marathon and spending time with community.

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/10112026 to learn more about Katie, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Margaret Eletta Guider, OSF preaches for the Twenty-seventh Sunday (also the Feast of Saint Francis), offering a reflection on being caretakers and peacemakers in our fraught world: "Let your hearts and minds be united Christ, that you may know what is true in a world of lies and deception, that you may know what is noble in a world of hubris and pomp, that you may know what is right in a world that lacks a moral compass, that you may discover what is pure, lovely, and admirable, and often hidden from sight, in a world of corruption, horror and infamy."Margaret Eletta Guider, OSF, is Associate Professor of Missiology at the Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry and Professora Ordinaria of the Ecclesiastical Faculty. Her publications focus on the Church in Latin America, Vatican II Studies, Mission Studies, Franciscan Studies, and Ministerial Formation.Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/10042026 to learn more about Sr. Guider, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Marilín Llanes, OP preaches for the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, offering a reflection on building and living a common life for the common good: "Let us practice humility with courage, reconciliation with tenderness, and common life with conviction. And let us live each day ready to build the common good—not as isolated voices, but as Gospel partners for the long journey."Sister Marilín M. Llanes, OP, a vowed member of the Adrian Dominican Sisters, currently serves as Office Director for shareholder advocacy and community impact investing with the Portfolio Advisory Board. A Cuban American who immigrated to the U.S. as a young child and settled in Miami, she brings over 15 years of community development experience, including two decades as a bilingual school psychologist and founding an immigrant-supporting business in San Antonio. She holds graduate degrees in mental health counseling, school psychology, and community development policy, and serves on several nonprofit boards. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/09272026 to learn more about Sr. Marilín, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Nóirin Lynch preaches for the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, offering a reflection on moving beyond fear of scarcity in God's love: "This week's readings call us to seek out God honestly, bringing ourselves just as we are, to be loved..."Nóirin Lynch is Director of the FCJ Spirituality House in Spanish Point, Co Clare, Ireland, an Ignatian retreat centre. Born in Limerick, she has worked in pastoral ministry since 1992. For the past 8 years she has directed retreat centres for religious sisters in Dublin and Limerick. She is also a singer-songwriter who has released two CDs of Irish folk music.

Visit https://catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/09202026 to learn more about Nóirin or to read her preaching text and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Erin Lothes preaches for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, offering a reflection on righteous anger as a faithful response to the climate crisis, and on where our environmental guilt is truly owed:"Climate disciples are challenged to speak truth to power and expose the lie of greenwashing and the shame of the personal carbon footprint invented by fossil fuel companies to gaslight the modern world."Erin Lothes, Ph.D., is executive director of Bethany Center Hudson Valley, an ecological education center in New York. She is author of Inspired Sustainability: Planting Seeds for Action and The Paradox of Christian Sacrifice, and has written extensively on faith-based environmentalism and energy ethics, including a commentary on Pope Francis's Laudate Deum.Visit https://www.catholicwomenpreach.org/09132026 to learn more about Dr. Lothes, to read her text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Ashley Kitisya preaches for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, offering a reflection on climate and environmental justice as a call to communal responsibility:"My neighbour is not only the person beside me. My neighbour is the family living near a polluted river. My neighbour is the farmer whose crops have failed because the rains no longer follow familiar patterns. My neighbour is a community forced to move because a wildfire, flood, or rising sea has made their home unsafe..."Ashley Kitisya currently serves as Director of Africa at the Laudato Si’ Movement, spearheading continental initiatives that unite faith-based communities, youth, activists, and policy influencers to champion fossil fuel divestment and sustainable energy transitions. Ashley’s academic background in Law (LLM Strathmore University, LLB Catholic University of Eastern Africa), complemented by advanced training in justice, peace, and environmental governance, underpins her rigorous approach to policy advocacy and campaign development. She is based in Nairobi, Kenya.Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/09062026 to learn more about Ashley, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

* Editor's Note: This preaching was originally prepared and delivered by Sr. Nicole Trahan, FMI, on August 30, 2020. While Sr. Nicole references current events from that time, including the pandemic, her exhortation to keep growing, learning, and allowing God to transform us remains pertinent today.Sr. Nicole Trahan, FMI, preaches for the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, offering a reflection on what it means to resist conformity to the age we live in and allow ourselves to be transformed instead: "Let us challenge ourselves to keep learning and growing, allowing God to transform us by the renewal of our minds, so we might act with courage in spite of the obstacles and struggles to bring about a time acceptable to the Lord."Sr. Nicole Trahan, FMI, a native of Orange, Texas, is a member of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (Marianists). She currently lives in San Antonio, Texas, where she serves as Director of Marianist Initiatives and Special Projects at St. Mary's University. She also serves on the USCCB's advisory committee for the Subcommittee on African American Affairs.

Preaching for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Shannon Evans O'Brien offers a reflection on trusting the Holy Spirit's voice within us over the noise of outside opinion:

"The keys to the kingdom are not just for Peter, but for everyone willing to trust the guidance of the Holy Spirit within them, come what may."

Shannon Evans O’Brien is the spirituality and culture editor at the National Catholic Reporter and the author of the books The Mystics Would Like a Word, Feminist Prayers for My Daughter, and Rewilding Motherhood. With interest in ecofeminism, social change and contemplative practice, Shannon leads workshops and retreats across the country that spark curiosity and compassion.

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/08232026 to learn more about Shannon, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.