Attached is a photo of some of the holy women who participated in the Mary
of Magdala Prayer Service, held on her feast day, July 22 at St. Cecilia
Church in Ames, Iowa. From left to right, Mary of Magdala (Joanie Ward),
Dorothy Day (Elaine Dekovic), Suzanna (Heather Will), Prisca (Jody
Melcher) and Sister Thea Bowman (Chanda Mwanza). Their first-person
portrayals with stories of faith, joy and service inspired the women and
men in attendance, who later shared stories of other holy women in their
own lives. Amid song and prayer, a litany of the holy women and sharing,
the group of 25 also heard a priest witness to the need for a stronger
role for women and married people in church ministry. The group continued
the celebration of Mary of Magdala with a simple meal of dried apricots,
grapes, olives, nuts, goat cheese, bread and wine.

P.S. One of the group had received an email that day from a friend
visiting the small southern France village of St. Maximim, where Mary of
Magdala is said to have stayed after crossing the Mediterranean. The
church there is named in her honor. In fact, four people present that
evening have been to that very small town, just north of Nimes.