Catholic Women Preach

Preaching for the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Tessa Pulaski offers a reflection that brings a serigraph by Corita Kent, which features a quote from Dan Berrigan, SJ, into conversation with the readings of the day.

Tessa graduated from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in 2015, where she studied Science, Technology and International Affairs. She has served as an intern at the Global Catholic Climate Movement, the Jesuit Center for Ecology and Development in Lilongwe, Malawi, and at Refugees International's Climate Displacement Program and the Brookings-LSE Project on Internal Displacement in Washington, D.C. This past year, Tessa worked on Catholic Relief Services’ Advocacy Team, focusing primarily on food security issues.

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/08052018 for more information about Tessa, to see her preaching video, and read her text.

Chantal Afou Bengaly preaches for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, offering a reflection on generosity: "It is too easy to lament the condition of the world and, like the disciples, feel overwhelmed. Jesus says, ‘just bring me what you have and let’s get started.’"

Afou Chantal Bengaly is a social justice activist, motivational speaker, trainer, moderator and youth mentor. She was the first woman from her home village of Kourouma to study attend university. Chantal served as a catechist for children ages 6 to 15 during her studies. She currently works as program manager with Wetlands International Mali.

She contributed to the forthcoming text God's Quad: Small Faith Communities on Campus and Beyond edited by Kevin Ahern and Christopher Derige Malano and published by Orbis Books, Maryknoll, NY.

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/07292018 for more about Chantal and to see her preaching video and read her text.

Samantha Lin preaches for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, offering a reflection on community and unity.

Samantha Lin earned her bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service from the Georgetown University in 2014. In 2012, Samantha studied in Amman, Jordan and simultaneously taught English to refugee kids through Jesuit Refugee Services Jordan. After graduating, Samantha served with Jesuit Volunteer Corp in Chicago where she worked in refugee resettlement. She has also worked with Seeds of Peace, an international peacebuilding camp for teenagers from the Middle East, South Asia and the US. In 2015 Samantha was granted the Russell Berrie Fellowship in Interreligious Studies to study in Rome and remained there after the year-long fellowship, recently earning her diploma in Judaic Studies from the Pontifical Gregorian University.

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/07222018 to learn more about Samantha, read her text, and view her preaching video.

Colleen Griffith preaches for the Feast of St. Mary of Magdala, offering a prayerful meditation addressed to Mary herself:

Dr. Colleen M. Griffith is Professor of the Practice of Theology at Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry where she serves as Faculty Director of Spirituality Studies for the M.A. program. the dual degrees, and the Post-Master’s Program in Spiritual Formation. She holds her doctorate in Theology from Harvard Divinity School, where she worked under the direction of historical theologian Margaret Miles. Dr. Griffith’s research and writing interests include historical and contemporary spirituality, Christian theologies of the body, method in practical theology, and exploration of the relationship between doctrine and spiritual practice.

Visit http://www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/07222018a to learn more about Dr. Griffith, read her text, and see the preaching video.

Preaching from Nairobi, Kenya, Heidi Cerneka offers a reflection on missionary discipleship for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary time.

Heidi Cerneka has lived in Latin America for over 20 years, and is currently living in Nairobi, Kenya, working with incarcerated women and refugees. She holds Master’s degree in Pastoral theology. Additionally, after 20 years of advocacy for women and justice, she decided to return to school and to obtain a law degree. She is now a licensed attorney in the state of Illinois. She has served as a Maryknoll Lay Missioner (MKLM) for almost 20 years, and is on the MKLM board of directors. Maryknoll Lay Missioners is a lay Catholic organization inspired by Jesus and the Gospel to live and work for justice in communities around the world.

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/07152018 to learn more about Heidi, and to see her preaching video and read her text.

Sallie Latkovich, CSJ preaches for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary time, offering a reflection on our baptismal call to be prophets in the world.

Sallie is a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph, and holds a Doctor of Ministry Degree from the Graduate Theological Foundation in Scripture and Spirituality. Sallie is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the Catholic Biblical Association, and a member of Spiritual Directors International; she is active in a number of Peace and Justice Organizations including NETWORK. Recently elected to the Leadership Team of her religious congregation, Sallie will leave her position at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, in July 2018.

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/07082018 to learn more about Sallie, and to see her preaching video and read her text.

Sr. Gabriella Bottani preaches for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary time, offering a reflection on Jesus' invitation to "arise" and stand up for justice.

Sr. Gabriella has been the International Coordinator of Talitha Kum, the Worldwide Network of Religious Life against trafficking in persons, constituted by the UISG (International Union of General Superiors) since 2015. Talitha Kum -- headquartered in Rome, Italy -- is a network of 22 local networks, based in 76 countries in 5 continents.

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/07012018 to learn more about Sr. Gabriella, the Talitha Kum network, see her preaching video with captions, and read her text.

Elizabeth Mueller Stewart preaches for the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, offering a reflection on speaking our truth, especially from a woman's perspective.

Elizabeth Mueller Stewart, a St. Louis native, graduated from Cor Jesu Academy in 2006. In 2009, after living in El Salvador with the Casa de la Solidaridad program (Santa Clara University), she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Justice & Peace Studies at Marquette University. Following undergrad, she joined Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest for a year in Washington. In 2014, she graduated with a Master of Divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley. Beth is currently the Director of Service Learning at a Catholic high school in the Bay Area.

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/0242018 to learn more about Elizabeth, see her preaching video, and read her text.

Alyssa Pasternak Post preaches for the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary time, offering a reflection encouraging us to be "courageous" in this already-but-not-yet time of God's reign.

Alyssa Pasternak Post earned her bachelors degree in Theology from Wheeling Jesuit University and her Masters in Theological Studies from the University of Dayton. Post-college Alyssa served in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps at WomenRising in Jersey City, New Jersey, followed by a few years as a theology teacher at St. Dominic Academy in Jersey City and later at Archbishop Alter High School in Dayton, Ohio. She also facilitated theology courses on the subjects of morality, prayer and Catholic social teaching for The Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation at the University of Dayton.

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/06172018 to learn more about Alyssa, and to see her preaching video and text.

Alison M. Benders preaches for the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, offering a reflection that challenges us to engage in the work of the Turbulent Spirit: "The Holy Spirit's work cannot be reduced to comfort and consolation. Rather, the work of the Spirit is turbulent. The Turbulent Spirit upends our distorted priorities through the protests of the poor."

Alison M. Benders, J.D., Ph.D., serves as Associate Dean and Senior Lecturer at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University. Alison earned her B.A. in Philosophy at Yale University, her J.D. at the University of Virginia, and her Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Boston College.

Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/06102018 to learn more about Alison, and to see her preaching video and text.