A Reflection on Living with Hope

    Hope was my word of the year for 2022. I chose it after hearing a homily from my hometown priest where he said, “Until you truly hope for something, God will remain impersonal to you.” It struck me that I never really hoped for anything with my whole heart, and that I truly did not […]MORE

    November is Black Catholic History Month

    The National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus of the United States established November as BlackCatholic History Month in 1990. This month is a time to celebrate and remember the lives,contributions, and history of Black Catholics. Here are some resources to help you learn moreabout the history of Black Catholics: Books to Read Subversive Habits: Black Catholic […]MORE
    Women of the Church hosted its first regional gathering on the campus of Saint Meinrad Seminary and School in June 2022. We asked participant Jane Rush to offer her experience of the weekend.   I am writing about my experience, but please know that my story is only one voice among thirty. I was one […]MORE

    Sr. Esta: Living the Paschal Mystery

    Sr. Esta Joseph, CJ, a Haitian woman religious, showed me the beauty and possibilities of a life that reflects the paschal mystery.  I met Sr. Esta in 2007 during a visit to Haiti with a group of ministry students from Notre Dame.  She was the principal of St. Rose of Lima School, a Catholic girls’ […]MORE

    Learning and Growing with Sr. Thea Bowman

    For a number of years, Sr. Thea Bowman, FSPA, has captured my attention and imagination.  When I think of Sr. Thea, I think of her joyful spirit, her boldness and courage, the radiant love that seems to permeate every quote I read or video clip I watch. Here at Saint Meinrad in the 2nd Anselm […]MORE
    When reading the story of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-45), my imagination is captured by John the Baptist leaping in Elizabeth’s womb. Although tiny and as yet unborn, John is already attuned to the presence of God. When Mary appears at the door, bearing Jesus in her own womb, John can’t contain his joy […]MORE
    Recently I have been involved with a mentor training program, in preparation for working with young Catholic women leaders in the coming year. As part of our training with Dr. Joshua Miller, we have been invited to reflect on “achievement stories” or “fulfillment stories.” When you review the whole course of your life, what is […]MORE

    An Easter Witness of Strength and Hope

    “Speak, Mary, declaring what you saw, wayfaring…’Christ, my hope, is arisen.’” –from the Easter Sequence The Paschal Candle has always captivated me. It calls to mind the Easter fire bursting into life, our procession into the darkened church with our candles burning, the brilliant light of the church aglow as we sing the Great Alleluia. […]MORE

    The Power of Poetry

    I grew up learning and memorizing poems: starting with nursery rhymes and graduating to poetry of different cultures and languages. A well-turned phrase, an unexpected pairing of syllables has the power to ignite the imagination and stir the senses. We see the brushstrokes of words create a painting. We feel the cadence and rhythm of […]MORE

    Communion of Living Saints

    Since the 2016 conference, I have been imagining what a “Women of the Church” community would or could look like in between events.  I felt so “high” after that first conference I thought to myself, how can I sustain this sense of joy day in and day out. The women I had been introduced to […]MORE