Catholic Women Preach

Preaching for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Barbara W. Eckert offers a reflection on "vision" and truth:  

"The stories we read, places we walk, images we ponder, shape our vision of others’ lives. People do write the vision down, clearly.  For us to “read the vision, readily” there are faulty histories, old misconceptions, one-sided points of view in our way.  These are the “non-essential” and “potentially lethal” items for us to discard. "  

Barbara W. Eckert is a leadership consultant for the Catholic Church and has worked in over 60 dioceses in the US, Canada, and the Caribbean. Eckert is a consultant for Catholic Leadership Institute, Villanova University’s Center for Church Management, and the Saint John Vianney Center. She is a board member of the Missionaries of the Poor and part of the team for Shirts Across America’s workshops on human and civil rights. She holds a master’s degree in Pastoral Studies from Seattle University and is a proud “Zag” alumna of Gonzaga University. In Tacoma, Washington, she shares life, faith and learning with her husband Bill, loves to travel, create perennial gardens and be with her two sisters.  

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/10022022 to learn more about Barbara, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Amanda W. Daloisio offers a reflection on drawing close to one another:  

"On closer inspection of this story I realize that it has no description of any interactions between Lazarus and the rich man. And so I think, perhaps there were none! Perhaps the rich man never even really noticed Lazarus. His downfall, perhaps, was his complacency. And so yes, woe to that rich man! His wealth shielded him from the realities outside his door and the consequences were dire."   

Amanda W. Daloisio has been a part of the New York Catholic Worker community since 2002. She currently serves as co-managing editor of The Catholic Worker newspaper, work that allows her to debate both politics and grammar, which she truly loves. She is also the co-editor of Ambassadors of God: Selected Obituaries from The Catholic Worker.    

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/09252022 to learn more about Amanda, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary time, Mary J. Novak encourages us to be a reflection God's justice: 

"The question almost daily is how are we to act with God’s justice in a world that for some of us, is much more comfortable without it? The psalm and the second reading really do provide the essential way. First, the psalm guides us, as does Catholic Social teaching: to center those who are made poor by our systems and structures. And the second reading guides us to pray.  We pray for the spiritual freedom called for at the end of the passage in Luke, to serve God and not mammon, the medieval word for the worship of wealth or riches."  

Mary J. Novak serves as Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice in Washington, D.C. NETWORK was founded 50 years ago by Catholic Sisters to effect structural change at the federal level. Prior to joining NETWORK, Mary served Georgetown University Law Center as a Mission Integrator and Adjunct Professor of Law with a particular focus on Ignatian spirituality and pedagogy at the intersection of psychology, spirituality and the work of justice. Mary studied and trained in theology, spirituality, and spiritual direction at Santa Clara University and the Washington Theological Union. She has extensive experience in pastoral ministry, including the ministry of spiritual direction and circle processes.     

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/09182022 to learn more about Mary, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Laurie Cassidy offers a reflection on the familiar parable of the prodigal son:  

"Don’t these family dynamics feel familiar?  Aren’t these circumstances the very places where we feel lost and stuck.  It is tempting to want the parable to spell out a resolution, to offer a roadmap home, give an assurance that in the end 'we can all get along' if we just follow the divine directions.  But could it be that parable invites us to experience something better and beyond our imagining -- God’s compassion right at the very places we feel lost, vulnerable, stuck, and powerless? Jesus seems to be offering us compassion as 'a way out of no way'."  

Laurie Cassidy, Ph.D. is a theologian, anti-racist activist and spiritual director.  She currently teaches in the Christian Spirituality Program at Creighton University and was associate professor in the religious studies department at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania. An award-winning author and editor her latest book, Desire, Darkness and Hope: Theology in a Time of Impasse is edited with M. Shawn Copeland.  Her forthcoming book is entitled Praying for Freedom: Racism and Ignatian Spirituality in America. Over the past thirty years Cassidy has been engaged in ministry that facilitates the intersection of personal and social transformation.  Raised in Massachusetts she now makes her home in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, traditional homeland of the Ute in Colorado.

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/09112022 to learn more about Laurie, to view her video or read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women. 

Preaching for the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, timone davis offers a reflection on becoming "bluetooth Christians":  

"My call to live in Christ is not my parent’s call, not my siblings’ call, not my friends’ call. It is MY call. And as such, I must move past what anyone else may think or say, hoist up my cross, and follow Christ."  

timone davis* is a cradle Catholic who was a “pewster” until she discovered that the uselessness of the Church was because she wasn’t giving anything of herself.  After committing to do something, her life changed.  Her first ministry was with the RCIA, where she not only welcomed others into the Church, but also revitalized her own spirituality. After working for the Archdiocese of Chicago as the coordinator of ReCiL – Reclaiming Christ in Life Young Adult Ministry, timone launched PEACE centered WHOLENESS with her husband Orlando, where they are blending clinical counseling and spiritual companioning. In addition to running a business, timone is an assistant professor in the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago. In her spare time, she serves as the treasurer of the National Institute for Ministry with Young Adults and Associate Convener of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium.  *dr. timone davis uses lower case letters in the spelling of her name to indicate her willingness to embody the creedal assertion in John 3:30 in her everyday living.

Preaching for the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mary Lou Bozza offers a reflection on humility:  

"Jesus is urging us, when we are invited as guests into a situation, to begin with a posture of openness to what others are bringing-- when in doubt, assume that others are more in need of special care than we are, and try to offer that care. Not because your own struggles aren’t real, but because everyone is struggling, and even in our weakness, we have something to offer others. When we are put into the position of being host, when we have been given the resources-- financial, emotional, physical, or otherwise-- to be able to welcome others, we should seek out not those who are the easiest to welcome, but those who are most in need."  

Mary Lou Bozza is the Assistant Director of the Center for Ministry and Service at Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts. Mary Lou and her husband Gary are the parents of a delightful toddler, and spend much of their time surrounded by their large Irish-Italian-Chinese-Lebanese family, enjoying delicious food and each other. After growing up in central Connecticut, Mary Lou attended Boston College, graduating with a degree in Theology and Hispanic Studies. Her senior thesis about Dorothy Day is part of the Dorothy Day archives at Marquette University.   

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/08282022 to learn more about Mary Lou, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cindy Bernardin offers a reflection on "striving":   

"The thing about this gospel-striving is that it admits to our unfinishedness. It leaves room, plenty good room, for God’s healing-saving grace. Gospel-striving is not deadly, solitary, or lonely. It is alongside, among, in relationship with, God and neighbor."  

Cindy Bernardin currently preaches ecumenical Sunday Morning Prayer once a month in New Harmony, Indiana. Her latest ministry is working as a preaching coach for the Institute for Homiletics - Preaching for Encounter program, a collaboration between the University of Dallas, The Catholic Foundation of Dallas, and the Archdiocese of Dallas. Cindy previously ministered as a certified Catholic Chaplin. She holds an Master of Arts in Theology from Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology and a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology.   

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/08212022 to learn more about Cindy, to read her text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, Kerry Robinson offers a reflection on finding hope in radical faith and community:  

"It seems especially lately, collectively and individually, we know the terrible seductive temptation to despair, the feeling of hopelessness about the future, the weight of so many seemingly insurmountable challenges before us making it difficult to see beyond a bleak horizon.  And yet. This Gospel.  This Gospel is a celebration of radical faith in God’s abundant, loving invitation no matter the reality in which we find ourselves."  

Kerry Alys Robinson is the founding executive director and partner for global and national initiatives at Leadership Roundtable. She and her husband, Dr. Michael Cappello, have two children, Christopher and Sophie.  

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/08152022 to learn more about Kerry, to read her text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Karen Seaborn offers a reflection on disturbing the peace in order to achieve true peace for all:   

"Today’s gospel tells us that Jesus came to set the world on fire. And he calls us, his disciples, to continue the work he started. He never told us working toward peace and unity would be easy. Or immediate, as much as he wished it was so. Jesus had to trust that new life would emerge from the conflict that led to his passion and death. So too are we called to trust—that when we set a fire for justice, inclusiveness, and radical love, new life will emerge."  

Karen Seaborn is a member of the retreat team at King’s House Retreat Center in Belleville, IL, where she preaches quiet retreats, serves as Spiritual Director on directed retreats, and presents weekend retreats for married couples with her husband, Scott. Additionally, Karen offers parish workshops and days/evenings of reflection throughout the greater St. Louis metropolitan area. She is an adjunct professor at Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Mo. She holds a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching degree, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis.  

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/08142022 to learn more about Karen, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jackie Minnock, B.Th, M.Phil, offers a reflection on being lamplighters to one another:   

"We all have a part to play in this journey of faith – in this journey of believing in something greater than self. The process is laid out in today’s readings. We are called to be light to others, using the gifts we have been given.  We are called to allow others to light the way for us too."  

Jackie Minnock was born in Dublin Ireland. She contracted Polio when she was a year old and is proud to be known as a Polio Survivor. Jackie now lives about an hour north of Dublin in Co. Louth. She is married to Colm for over 30 years and has two children and one grandchild. She completed her Theology Degree by Distance Education at the Priory Institute Dublin in 2011 and her Masters in Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies at The School of Ecumenics at Trinity College Dublin in 2014. She has written for a number of Theological Journals in Ireland and has also broadcast on Irish National Radio - TE - in their Living Word slot on morning radio. She has also written a number of articles for the Polio Survivor Magazine in Ireland. She is a member of We Are Church Ireland and Root & Branch Lay Led Synod Group and is passionate about reform in the Catholic Church.  

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/08072022 to learn more about Jackie, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.