Catholic Women Preach

Preaching for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Teresa Delgado, Ph.D., redirects our attention toward the systems, powers, and structures that use that use vulnerable people for their own benefit:   

"How is it scandalous to say that Jesus enacts no punishment, no condemnation, for an 'adulterous' woman, that he just lets her go; yet not scandalous that the religious power structures of the time could have accused an innocent person, condemning her to death, just to prove a point?What responsibility do we have in undoing the systems and structures that make it all too easy to drag a vulnerable person to the middle of the square to be stoned for all to see and participate?...As we journey through these final days of Lent, I pray we have not become so desensitized to the harm done by powers and privilege, because we are so much more focused on shaming the 'sinner' rather than dismantling the structures that make such shaming all too easy."  

Teresa Delgado is Director of the Peace and Justice Studies Program and Professor and Chairperson of the Religious Studies Department at Iona College (New Rochelle, NY). She received her doctorate from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, under the guidance of the trailblazing womanist theologian Dr. Delores S. Williams. She has published on topics ranging from diversity in higher education, transformational pedagogies, constructive theology and ethics, and justice for racially, ethnically and sexually minoritized persons.  

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/04032022 to learn more about Dr. Delgado, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Sr. Anne Celestine Ondigo, FSJ offers a reflection on reconciliation and re-entry:  

"Today’s readings announce the good news of acceptance where all, irrespective of their dispositions are eligible to a warm re-entry.  During this Lenten period, eligibility to God’s mercy is more emphasized as the Church draws its faithful to the penitential nature of the season, to the Sacrament of reconciliation, to renewal, penance and hope. It’s an invitation by the merciful Father to an act of sincere contrition. A decisive moment to review our conscience and return to the boundless sea of God’s love and mercy."  

Sr. Anne Celestine Ondigo is a member of the Franciscan Sisters of St Joseph-Kenya currently residing in Perry, New York. She is an educator who has taught for several years. She also advances advocacy for peace and justice both theoretically and pragmatically. Her advocacy in the field of peacebuilding is inspired by the values of the Catholic Social Teachings and those of St Francis of Assisi. A post-doctoral researcher at Boston College, she has a PhD in Diplomacy, Peace and International Relations.

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/03272022 to learn more about Sr. Anne, to read her text, and for more preaching from Catholic women. 

Preaching for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Sr. Anne Celestine Ondigo, FSJ offers a reflection on reconciliation and re-entry:  

"Today’s readings announce the good news of acceptance where all, irrespective of their dispositions are eligible to a warm re-entry.  During this Lenten period, eligibility to God’s mercy is more emphasized as the Church draws its faithful to the penitential nature of the season, to the Sacrament of reconciliation, to renewal, penance and hope. It’s an invitation by the merciful Father to an act of sincere contrition. A decisive moment to review our conscience and return to the boundless sea of God’s love and mercy."  

Sr. Anne Celestine Ondigo is a member of the Franciscan Sisters of St Joseph-Kenya currently residing in Perry, New York. She is an educator who has taught for several years. She also advances advocacy for peace and justice both theoretically and pragmatically. Her advocacy in the field of peacebuilding is inspired by the values of the Catholic Social Teachings and those of St Francis of Assisi. A post-doctoral researcher at Boston College, she has a PhD in Diplomacy, Peace and International Relations.   

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/03272022 to learn more about Sr. Anne, to read her text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Jaime L. Waters preaches for the Third Sunday of Lent, offering a reflection on repentance:  

"Repentance allows us to turn our attention to aspects of ourselves and our lives that need more care and correction. The gardener acknowledges the ways that the tree has failed and commits to cultivating the earth and adding nutrients to nourish the tree and help it grow. The gardener asks for time, recognizing that renewal might not happen overnight. Then, the parable simply ends unresolved which I think is very fitting. The missing resolution and the lack of conclusion might signal that we need to finish the story. We have the opportunity to give time and care to nourish ourselves (and others too), and the results hopefully will be very positive! Today’s Gospel reminds us to be intentional about our spiritual growth and development, turning away from sin and turning towards God, so that we, too, may bear fruit."  

Jaime L. Waters teaches Scripture at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. She is associate professor of Catholic Studies and the author of Threshing Floors in Ancient Israel: Their Ritual and Symbolic Significance (Fortress Press, 2015) and the forthcoming book What Does the Bible Say About Animals? (New City Press, 2022). Waters is also a contributor at America: The Jesuit Review of Faith & Culture. She holds a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University, M.A. from Yale University, and B.A. from Boston College.  Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/03202022 to learn more about Jaime Waters, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Second Sunday of Lent, Vivian Cabrera reflects on the dynamic between longing and doubt:  

"Our hearts can tell us what our minds can’t comprehend. They urge us to stay. As we enter Lent this year, let us sit in the certainty of what our hearts tell us, these hearts that were created by God, for God. Let us cry out what the psalmist says: ‘Hear, O Lord, the sound of my call; have pity on me and answer me. Of you my heart speaks, you my glance seeks.’ It’s up to us to stay and wait…long enough to let the Lord show up and speak."  

Vivian Cabrera is a writer and editor in New York. She attends the Graduate School of Social Service at Fordham University. Prior to her graduate work, Vivian worked at America Media as the assistant editor for digital media. Vivian’s writing has been featured in America, the National Catholic Reporter, and FemCatholic, and she contributed an essay to the book Interrupted Presence: Eleven Stories of Finding God in Times of Trouble.   

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/03132022 to learn more about Vivian, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the First Sunday of Lent, Melissa Cedillo reflects on inviting God into our work for justice:  

"As Lent begins, let us remember that we cannot survive on bread alone. Just as we cannot produce all the food we need for a happy and full life on our own. Let us remember to lean on Jesus in our most justice filled fights and in our moments of weakness...Where do we seek nourishment from when bread alone is not enough? How are we inviting God into our fight for justice?"  

Melissa Cedillo was born and raised in California's Coachella Valley. She attended Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Los Angeles where she earned a BA in Theological Studies. After college, Melissa spent time in Washington DC as a campaign associate for Faith in Public Life working to defend the integrity of the 2020 Census. Melissa then went on to complete an MTS at Harvard Divinity School where she studied religion, ethics, and politics through a public policy lens. Melissa currently works at the National Catholic Reporter as the Latino Catholics Fellow.

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/03062022 to learn more about Melissa, to read her text, and for more preaching from Catholic women. 

Preaching for Ash Wednesday, Sr. Cora Marie Billings invites us to live each day of Lent intentionally:   

"We know the scriptures also tell us that today is the day of salvation. So today - each day of Lent - as I go through it, I will focus on one thing that day. And the scriptures say a lot about almsgiving. For me, almsgiving is giving every part of my body - my voice, my heart, my lips, my ears. So each day of Lent, I will focus on giving one blessing, one grace that God has given me for that day."  

Sister Cora Marie Billings has been a member of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas for 65 years.  During that time she has  been a Teacher, a Campus Minister and an Administrator.  She is one of the Founding Members of the National Black Sisters’ Conference.   Since 1968 she has been an advocate for human rights and anti-racism. As such she has done presentations around the nation.  At present she considers herself a Community Volunteer.    

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/03022022 to learn more, to read Sr. Cora Marie's text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jennifer Theby-Quinn offers a reflection on being rooted in Jesus' radical, boundless love:  

"That’s what the firm foundation looks like: a tree, with roots reaching deep to her source, who stays near the water that gives her life, a person unafraid of vulnerability, unafraid of being wrong, because I am deeply, deeply rooted in the radical and boundless love of Jesus. This is the tree Jesus mentions at the end of today’s reading: the tree known by her fruit. I’d so much rather be a healthy fruit tree than a 2x4."  

Jennifer Theby-Quinn is a professional actor, vocalist, educator, and campus minister. Jen believes in the power of story-telling to shift perspectives and explore questions. She currently serves as a Campus Minister focusing on the Graduate Student/Young Adult Community and Women’s Community at The Catholic Student Center at Washington University in Saint Louis, Missouri. Jen also heads Upper Room, an undergraduate spiritual and theological formation program she had a hand in creating.  Based in Saint Louis, Missouri, Jen performs regionally in everything from contemporary drama to musical theatre to long form improv. Jen lives with her Beloved husband and two snuggly pups.   

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/02272022 to learn more about Jennifer, to read her text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (February 20, 2022), Deborah Wilhelm offers a reflection on pausing before springing to action:  

"That pause for conversation is a gift; it only takes place because everyone’s asleep--and as the text says, that deep sleep is the work of the Lord. This conversation is in that liminal space, neither here nor there, in which decisions are made and carried out, and lives are changed. Because at some point in our lives, we're all going to be Saul--broken, vulnerable, and nevertheless anointed by God."  

Deborah Wilhelm, DMin, is Adjunct Professor of Preaching and Evangelization at the Aquinas Institute of Theology, where she also co-directs the Delaplane Preaching Initiative; in addition, she lectures in practical theology at Loyola University New Orleans. She is co-author, with Bishop Sylvester Ryan, of Preaching Matters: A Praxis for Preachers, and co-author of the upcoming 2023 Year A edition of Living the Word.   

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/02202022 to learn more about Deborah or to read her preaching text and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Bridget Bearss, RSCJ preaches for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, offering a reflection that invites us to move beyond polarity:  

"We live in a divided world and we are the instruments of the heart of God, who choose to build bridges of relationship in places, structures, attitudes and experiences of difference. We do not remain in the polarity, but live from the unity of knowing that we – each one of us – has the possibility of prophet or persecutor."  

Bridget Bearss, RSCJ is an educator, artist-writer, activist for the Beatitudes, and facilitator of processes to build and strengthen the experience of communities of dialogue, justice and hope. She is a member of the Society of the Sacred Heart, United States-Canada Province, currently serving as Executive Director of a work of her congregation, Stuart Center for Mission.  

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/02132022 to learn more about Bridget, to read her text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.