Cleveland Homilies Empower, Inspire
(l to r) Diana Culbertson OP, Ann Klonowski, Theresa Hafner CSJ and Pat Shullick help "End the Silencing of Catholic Women" with three beautiful homilies and prayerful presiding (by Klonowski).
“I’ve heard five great homilies in my life. Two were at St. Michael’s, the other three were here tonight.” So said a woman who just happened to wander in from a nearby WeightWatchers meeting to Cleveland FutureChurch’s July 20, St. Mary of Magdala celebration at the Independence Civic Center
Over 100 people gathered to hear three women preach the homilies they would love to preach at Mass if only they were permitted. And so, at least temporarily, this celebration succeeded in “Ending the Silencing of Catholic Women,” the theme of this year’s special celebrations. A sung litany to hidden women of scripture and church history including Miriam, Esther, Prisca, Petronilla, Veneranda, Hildegard, Dorothy Day and many others proved a powerful introduction for the female preachers.
The National Catholic Reporter covered the Cleveland celebration which appeared on its website on St. Mary of Magdala’s actual feast day of July 22. At press time over 300 celebrations were being celebrated all over the world. Our next newsletter will cover these in greater depth. The homilies for Cleveland’s celebration can be downloaded or viewed at www.futurechurch.org.
