Catholic Women Preach

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.

Colleen Dulle Preaches for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, offering a reflection on the ongoing nature of conversion:  

"Each of the conversion stories we heard today were preceded by doubt and a sense of unworthiness...Each of these people, all towering figures in salvation history, need a word of encouragement to overcome their hesitancy and begin their work. So here’s a last question to reflect on: If we are to be Christ to one another, what can we do to encourage and empower the prophets of our day to speak, or the saints of our day to minister?"  

Colleen Dulle is a multimedia journalist covering Catholic and Vatican news. In her current position as Associate Editor at America Media, Colleen writes and edits Vatican news and analysis pieces, along with hosting and producing the weekly news podcast Inside the Vatican. She creates Vatican explainer videos for America Media’s YouTube channel and contributes to Sacred Heart University’s “Go, Rebuild My House” blog.  Her forthcoming biography of the French author, social worker and mystic Madeleine Delbrêl will be published by Liturgical Press.  

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/02062022 to learn more about Colleen, to read her text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Flora x. Tang preaches for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, offering a reflection on loving and belonging: 

 "At the end of our gospel reading, Jesus passed through the midst of the people and went away. In walking away, he began his ministry, found his new family in his disciples and friends: friends who gave him room to proclaim the gospel, friends who do not underestimate him or reject him for who he is. We learn from Jesus’ leaving Nazareth that in situations where we are not accepted at all and are experiencing harm, that it is okay to set boundaries, walk away, and find new communities of belonging."   

Flora x. Tang is a doctoral student in theology and peace studies at the University of Notre Dame, where she writes and researches about post-traumatic sacramental theology, queer theology, and literature of the Asian diaspora. Flora has previously worked as a hospital chaplain, a campus ministry fellow, and a service-learning program coordinator for college students. Her writings appear in the National Catholic Reporter and America Magazine, and her book of poetry is published in Mandarin Chinese. She is originally from Beijing, China.

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/01302022 to learn more about Flora, to read her text, and for more preaching from Catholic women. 

Jennifer Reyes Lay Preaches for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, bringing the readings into conversation with her work to end human trafficking:   

"Go, and be the Body of Christ in the world, proclaiming Good News to the poor and the vulnerable, liberating those held captive and oppressed through human trafficking, and opening the eyes and hearts of those who would rather not see this wound that is harming our collective body and wellbeing."  

Jennifer Reyes Lay is the first Executive Director of U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking (USCSAHT). Jennifer has a Master of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary, and an honors B.A. in Theology and International Studies from St. Louis University.  She currently lives in St. Louis, MO with her husband Roger and their dog Bella where she enjoys spending time outdoors, gardening, singing, dancing, reading, and writing.  

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/01232022 to learn more about Jennifer, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Paige Byrne Shortal offers a reflection on God's abundance and revisits her "Prayer for the Missing Instruments":  

"Like the overflowing abundance of wine at Cana,  

Paige Byrne Shortal is enjoying semi-retirement after forty years in pastoral ministry for two parishes and assisting various organizations with their regional and national worship services. She holds a BA in Theology from Saint Louis University and an MA in Pastoral Studies from Aquinas Institute of Theology, She has written for various Catholic publications, including the National Catholic Reporter, Liguorian, Ministry & Liturgy, and National Pastoral Music.  

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/01162022 to learn more about Paige, to read her text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus, Mariángel Marco Teja offers a reflection on living into our identities as beloved children of God:   

"Celebrating the baptism of Jesus is a good opportunity to renew our own baptism, to listen again in the intimacy of our hearts, until it is engraved in fire in our hearts: 'You are my beloved daughter/son'; and to know that we are sent like Jesus to proclaim God's love and to practice justice. We are all beloved sons and daughters of God, missionaries on the move."  

Mariángel Marco Teja was born in Asturias, Spain. She is sister of the Congregation Ursulines of Jesus. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Geography and History from the University of Oviedo, Spain. She has always been linked to the world of human rights, in some stages at professional level and in others as voluntary. The six years prior to coming to Canada in April 2019, she lived as a missionary in Ecuador, where she worked with REPAM (Pan-Amazonic Ecclesial Network), whose collaborative ties she maintains to this day. She is eager reader with a constant desire to learn.  

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org.preaching/01092022 to learn more about Mariángel, to read her text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Feast of the Epiphany, Genie Natividad, MM offers a reflection on today's standing with seekers and refugees:   

"To stay in their homes and in their own land, therefore, is not an option. They must leave. But where?...Like the Magi who follow the star, the asylum seekers too must follow their own star hovering over them, trusting, believing, and moving forward and onward to what is life-giving. They must choose life, not death. They rise and go meet the One who comes, Jesus the Christ who gives them life."  

Sister Genie Natividad, born and raised in rural Philippines, is a Maryknoll Sister. Her most recent mission was in 2021, when she responded to the call for volunteers at the U.S. Mexico border providing aid to migrants. Genie was recently elected to serve in her congregation’s leadership team for the next six years.  

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/01022022 to learn more about Genie, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Anne Arabome, SSS preaches for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God:  

"As I see it, Mary’s contemplative posture teaches us that the quality of our presence to one another, the depth of prayer in which we hold one another, and the expanse of our love for others can be life-giving beyond words and healing beyond all remedies, especially at times of anxieties and worries, loss and pain, uncertainty and despair, such as we have experienced during the pandemic. Her contemplative poise draws us into the loving embrace of the Divine, who loves and enfolds us in Christ. Her contemplative openness reveals God’s desire to touch and transform our lives with God’s light. Not only is Mary a missionary disciple, an apostle of joy, she is – to use a phrase from St. Ignatius of Loyola – a contemplative in action."  

Anne Arabome is a member of the Sisters of Social Service in Los Angeles, California. She is presently the Associate Director of the Faber Center for Ignatian Spirituality at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which provides faculty and staff with support and guidance in leading a reflective life. Of Nigerian parentage and origin, she is a naturalized US citizen and holds a PhD in Systematic Theology from the University of Roehampton in London, UK and a Doctor of Ministry in Spirituality from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Illinois.  

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/01012022 to learn more about Anne, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Feast of the Holy Family, Emily Garvey offers a reflection on complicated people and complicated relationships:  

"Today celebrates Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, complicated people who behaved in complicated ways. But they loved God, they loved one another, and they loved others. Their humanity probably leaked out in some messy ways. But they kept trying - they kept putting on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. They bore one another and forgave each other."  

Emily Garvey currently works for the University of Notre Dame in a program that brings together a summer long justice learning immersion for undergraduates with tenets of Catholic Social Teaching. She is a lifelong Catholic and a mother to two sons, one of whom is transgender. Since 2015, Emily has engaged in respectful dialogue, in public and in private, about Catholicism and gender diversity. She holds Master’s degree in Systematic Theology from the University of Notre Dame.   

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/12262021 to learn more about Emily, to watch her video or to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Ann M. Garrido Preaches for Christmas:  

"And Christmas and Easter are two sides of the same coin.  Both tell us that there is nothing—nothing—that is human that God is not willing to enter into in solidarity with us. Neither conception and birth, nor life and death.  None of this is foreign to our God.   Yes, Christmas and Easter are two sides of the same coin: the coin with which our salvation is paid."  

Ann Garrido is associate professor of homiletics at Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, MO.  While her first passion is teaching, Garrido has also served the school in a number of administrative roles including (at varying points in time) as Director of the Doctorate of Ministry in Preaching, Director of MAPS Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Director of Field Education, Director of Distance Learning, and Director of the Aquinas Ministry Integration Project. Most recently, Garrido served as the Marten Fellow in Preaching at the University of Notre Dame.  

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/12252021 to learn more about Ann, to watch her video or read her text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.