Thousands Expected at Special Celebrations
of St. Mary of Magdala

Organizers hope to reverse pattern of silencing of
female/lay preachers in Catholic Church:

On January 15 the U.S. Bishops conference passed a regulation prohibiting preaching by lay ministers "at the moment reserved for the homily." Since over 82% of all paid lay ministers are women, the new regulation effectively silences women's voices in Sunday worship.

In June, 600 Catholics in the Indianapolis diocese sent a petition to the U.S. Bishops meeting in Dallas asking them to rescind the regulation. They organized after Indianapolis Bishop Daniel Buechlein' sought to reverse a long standing practice permitting lay ministers to preach after the proclamation of the Gospel.

On July 22, nearly 200 groups in the U.S. and worldwide plan special celebrations of the Feast of St. Mary of Magdala in parishes, convents, Catholic schools, private homes and small faith communities. The celebrations are especially designed to encourage female preaching and presiding in Catholic settings.

"Women's preaching voice is needed in the Church. If the male apostles had silenced Mary of Magdala, we would never have known about the Resurrection of Jesus," said Sr. Christine Schenk project coordinator and executive Director of FutureChurch. "Thankfully, they welcomed her preaching the good news. Our Bishops today should do no less," she continued.

Spearheaded by FutureChurch and Call to Action, celebrations will be held in the United States, Canada, Kenya, Guatemala, Great Britain, and Australia and will attract between 30 and 300 people at each location, according to local organizers.

St. Mary of Magdala was a strong leader, a close companion of Jesus and the first to witness the Resurrection. In the past, she was mistakenly believed to be a prostitute or public sinner. Scripture scholars and experts on related Christian writings now believe she was confused with other women of the gospels. As a result, this saint was much maligned.

"It is especially important for Catholics to celebrate this great woman of faith this year when it is so clear that church needs the nurturing witness and prophetic voice of women," said Linda Pieczynski, spokesperson for Call to Action. "If women and mothers had been integrated into our Church's decision making structures and given preaching voice we would not be in the terrible situation we are in today."

"St. Mary of Magdala symbolizes the significant position of women in the early Church and she now stands as a beacon for women in the Catholic Church." said Schenk. "Presently women comprise 82 percent of all lay people and religious employed as parish ministers, yet none have a voice in the governing of the Church."

"Women Christians are now able to retrieve a sense of their own history," said Pieczynski, "Celebrating and learning about Jesus' remarkable inclusion of women despite the strong cultural prohibitions of the time can inspire all of us to redouble our efforts to end the systemic inequality of women in the Church and to work in behalf of the marginalized."

The recommended format for the celebration consists of a presentation by a biblical scholar explaining recent findings about St. Mary of Magdala's discipleship, followed by a prayer service at which a woman leader presides.

FutureChurch can provide contact details for local spokespersons at many of the events.