Catholic Women Preach

Preaching for the Solemnity of the Ascension, Colleen Campbell Karchunas offers a reflection on transforming struggle and pain into testimony and purpose: "When we experience suffering or confusing and complicated events in our lives, it can be easy to turn away from asking deeper questions because of the pain we have experienced. However, the Ascension calls us to consider allowing what happens to us become a part of our story and call...What will you do with what has happened to you?"Colleen Campbell Karchunas is a pastoral minister passionate about formation and accompaniment, especially as understood by Pope Francis. She has served in various Catholic settings, walking with leaders, youth, and students on their faith journeys. Colleen holds a PhD in Catechetics and currently serves as a campus minister while studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling.Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/06012025 to learn more about Colleen, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Dr. Kim R. Harris lifts up “Saintly Seven” African Americans on the path to canonization and asks how the Holy Spirit is calling us to widen our vision of holiness and belonging:"I am thinking about a vision of who we are. And thinking about that widening of the vision and shining of a spotlight on the many heritages of people who are Catholic in these United States and in these Americas...When we imagine what our beautiful city could become, will become… When we continue to pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit. How do we envision that beautiful city?"Dr. Kim R. Harris is Associate Professor of African American Religious Thought and Practice at Loyola Marymount University. A liturgist, composer, and recording artist, she teaches Black liberation and Womanist theologies and presents on Black Catholic music, Negro Spirituals, and Civil Rights freedom songs. She composed Welcome Table: A Mass of Spirituals and co-authored The Fire This Time: A Black Catholic Sourcebook. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/05252025 to learn more about Dr. Harris, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Katharine Guerrero offers a reflection on rising to the challenge to love as Jesus loves: "Let us think about how we are called to love. And that, though it may be hard work, we have support. We have community. We have others we can lean on. We have our faith to guide us. And so let us rise to that challenge. Let us accept the challenge of love."Katherine Guerrero is Director of Mission and Belonging at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in California. She holds a master's degree in education with an emphasis in service learning.

Mollie Wilson O'Reilly preaches for the Fourth Sunday of Easter - Good Shepherd Sunday: "If we are blessed to be sheep in the care of a Good Shepherd, we can trust that shepherd to keep us safe. It's not our job to patrol the boundaries and keep trespassers out. It's not in our power to take anyone out of Jesus's hands."Mollie Wilson O'Reilly is editor-at-large and a contributing writer for Commonweal magazine, where she worked as an editor from 2008 through 2015. She grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Yale in 2003 with a BA in English Literature. She now serves on the board of trustees for the St. Thomas More Catholic Chapel and Center at Yale. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/05112025 to learn more about Mollie, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Third Sunday of Easter, Jenny Jackson offers a reflection on knowing Jesus and caring for the sheep: "So, let me ask you the question that changed my life: Who is Jesus to you? Not just in your head—but in your heart. Not just in theory—but in your everyday life. And how will you tend to the sheep?"Jenny Jackson currently serves as a Coordinator of Youth Ministry, supporting parish youth ministers and Confirmation coordinators of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Her experience in ministry ranges from event planning, liturgical preparation and preparing young people for the Sacrament of Confirmation. In her free time, she enjoys the chance to disconnect and enjoy the outdoors with her husband and son.Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/05042025 to learn more about Jenny, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Second Sunday of Easter, Marissa Papula offers a reflection on the convergence of trauma, hope, and mercy: "On this Divine Mercy Sunday, as we fumble for Easter hope in a broken world, as the wounded Christ reveals himself among us in the joy of the Resurrection, as we brave the coalescence of our lived experiences of hurt and hope, may we meet one another with such coherent mercy, bearing witness, standing in awe, announcing, beholding, embodying, 'Peace be with you.'"Marissa Papula is a leader, storyteller, and practitioner of cura personalis who believes in the power of faith to embolden imagination, ignite social change, and transform lives. She currently serves as Director of Campus Ministry at Loyola Marymount University. Hailing originally from New York's Hudson Valley, Marissa enjoys poetry, barre fitness, strong coffee, local bookstores, and finding God in all things through her infant son.Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/04272025 to learn more about Marissa, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for Easter Sunday, Dr. Cynthia Bailey Manns offers a reflection on the witness of women as we remember Mary Magdalene's Easter proclamation: "Mary's complete story, shared on Easter Sunday, a holy day of obligation, would ensure more Catholics hear John's full resurrection narrative where she was an example of female leadership, an Apostle to the Apostles, commissioned by Jesus to share the Good News of Jesus' resurrection."Dr. Cynthia Bailey Manns is one of four lay people from the United States who were appointed by Pope Francis as the first lay women and men voting delegates to participate at the Synod of Bishops on Synodality. She is the Director of Adult Learning at Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Community in Minneapolis—a community whose vision is to be a visible, progressive Catholic Community, compassionate and welcoming to all. She holds a Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Direction from the Graduate Theological Foundation in Florida and currently serves as Adjunct Faculty at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities.Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/04202025 to learn more about Dr. Bailey Manns, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for Good Friday, Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ, preaches on the transformative love of the Cross: "Everything that we fear, we see in the cross. We see in the cross pain, suffering, shame, defeat, failure, humiliation. And yet it is also a symbol of victory. The victory of Jesus' love for us.The love of God is more powerful than anything we fear."Sister Norma Pimentel is Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, where she oversees the charitable branch of the Diocese of Brownsville, the second largest Catholic Diocese in the United States. Sister Pimentel has over twenty years of experience in providing oversight to a diverse set of ministries and social services in the Rio Grande Valley such as homeless prevention, disaster relief, clinical counseling, pregnancy care, food assistance, and humanitarian relief to immigrants.Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/04182025 to learn more about Sr. Norma, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for Holy Thursday, Kathleen Dorsey Bellow offers a reflection on being drawn into the Paschal Mystery through the Triduum: "During the sacred passage through the Triduum, we will encounter God through powerful word, symbol and ritual in the retelling of humanity's redemption. During the three-day celebration, may we come to know that full, conscious and active participation with Christ in the Eucharistic liturgy is a share in his resurrection for our salvation and the deliverance of the world."Kathleen Dorsey Bellow is the director of the Institute for Black Catholic Studies of Xavier University, where she also holds the Drexel Society Endowed Professorship in Black Catholic Studies. A pastoral theologian she writes, consults and presents on several aspects of Catholic ministry, including worship, evangelization, and faith formation. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/04172025 to learn more about Dr. Dorsey Bellow, to read her preaching texts and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for Palm Sunday, Anne Arabome, SSS offers a reflection on what makes Holy Week holy: "The holiness of Holy Week is in our story, writ large in the passion and triumph of Jesus of Nazareth. This week calls us to focus our gaze on Jesus and to follow him closely along the way. If we do so, we discover an immense treasure: a life of total self-giving that trumps selfishness; a gift of self-sacrificing love for the weakest and most vulnerable among us; a fullness of life that neither death nor despair can threaten, steal, or destroy."Sister Anne Arabome, SSS, is a member of the Sisters of Social Service in Los Angeles, California. She has served as the Associate Director of the Faber Center for Ignatian Spirituality at Marquette University and recently founded the Sophia Institute for Theological Studies and Spiritual Formation in Namibia. She holds a PhD in Systematic Theology from the University of Roehampton, UK, and a Doctor of Ministry in Spirituality from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/04132025 to learn more about Anne, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Dr. Nicole Symmonds offers a reflection on remembering and living our inherent dignity and value as God's beloved: "Today's lectionary readings show us what remembrance looks like and how to re-member ourselves as the body of Christ. In this re-remembrance, we bring ourselves, our own best things, to our work in faith for God's church and the world, bringing about justice and peace." Dr. Nicole Symmonds is the Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics at Columbia Theological Seminary. Her work sits at the intersection of Christian ethics and women, gender, and sexuality studies. She explores Black women's embodiment, particularly the practices of liberative embodiment they craft as a method of resistance to domination and as a simulation of freedom. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/04062025 to learn more about Dr. Symmonds, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Sr. Lynn Marie Ralph, SBS, offers an imaginative and powerful retelling of the Parable of the Prodigal Son: "The prodigal daughter needed a complete makeover. She needed healing physically, emotionally, and spiritually. There are many women who need healing, especially from all types of abuse. The anxiety that builds up, sudden panic attacks, being alone and feeling as if love is lost. The prodigal daughter needed to be home with her mama."Sister Lynn Marie Ralph is a Sister of the Blessed Sacrament whose congregation was founded by Saint Katharine Drexel. She has been a member of the religious order for forty-two years. Currently Sister Lynn Marie is the Coordinator of Pastoral Care at Holy Redeemer Hospital in Meadowbrook, PA, where she has the opportunity to minister with a diverse group of ministers that include Jewish, Baptist, Christian, as well as Catholics. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/03302025 to learn more about Sr. Lynn Marie, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Jaime L. Waters preaches for the Third Sunday of Lent, offering a reflection on repentance:"Repentance allows us to turn our attention to aspects of ourselves and our lives that need more care and correction. The gardener acknowledges the ways that the tree has failed and commits to cultivating the earth and adding nutrients to nourish the tree and help it grow. The gardener asks for time, recognizing that renewal might not happen overnight. Then, the parable simply ends unresolved which I think is very fitting. The missing resolution and the lack of conclusion might signal that we need to finish the story. We have the opportunity to give time and care to nourish ourselves (and others too), and the results hopefully will be very positive! Today's Gospel reminds us to be intentional about our spiritual growth and development, turning away from sin and turning towards God, so that we, too, may bear fruit."Jaime L. Waters is Associate Professor of Old Testament and Program Director of Courage to Preach at Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry. She holds graduate degrees from Yale Divinity School (MA, Religion) and Johns Hopkins University (MA, PhD, Near Eastern Studies). Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/03232025 to learn more about Jaime Waters, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Second Sunday of Lent, Mayella Vasquez offers a reflection on listening - really listening: "Maybe that's our invitation, too. To listen to the voices that have been silenced. To listen to the cries of the Earth, the wounded, the forgotten.To listen to the One who speaks—not just on the mountaintops, but in the valleys, too. Because when we listen—really listen—we are changed. And when we are changed, so is the world."Mayella Vasquez is a passionate thinker, storyteller, and advocate for meaningful change. As a Master of Arts in Religion student at Yale Divinity School, she explores world religions with deep curiosity and empathy. She blends her interests in social entrepreneurship and diversity, equity, and inclusion to inspire innovative solutions. Through her preaching, Mayella seeks to foster insight, purpose, and compassionate community connections.Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/03162025 to read Mayella's preaching text and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the First Sunday of Lent, Ana Gonzalez, OP, offers a reflection on standing our ground in faith: "Just as Jesus and the Israelites were tempted, we will too be tempted, we will be challenged and we, like Jesus, must respond. We must remember that Satan's objective is to create division, destroy our faith, and separate us from the love and will of God. Are we paying attention? Are we willing to put into action the Word that holds our beliefs?"Sister Ana Gonzalez is a Dominican Sister of Peace and a current Graduate Student at the Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry. A proud Fronteriza, Sister Ana calls El Paso, Texas, con mucho orgullo, her home. Before pursuing a Master's in Theology and Ministry with a concentration in Latino Pastoral Ministry at Boston College, Sister Ana ministered at Albertus Magnus College, a founded ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Peace. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/03092025 to learn more about Sr. Ana, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for Ash Wednesday, Dr. Jessie Thomas offers a reflection on living each day as Ash Wednesday:"While the Lenten journey only lasts for weeks, our journey of life is forever. Every day is an opportunity to ask for God's forgiveness. Every day you and I must be an outward sign of our faith as well as an expression of our repentance..."Dr. Jessie Thomas is a Lay Pastoral Theologian in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. She holds a master's degree in Pastoral Ministry from the Athenaeum of Ohio and a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology St. Louis University. Dr. Thomas has served as adjunct faculty for the Diaconate Office in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati teaching Homiletics. She is also a regular presenter and guest preacher throughout the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/03052025 to learn more about Dr. Thomas, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sr. Quincy Howard, OP, offers a reflection on rooting our selves in the "good soil" of love: "Character is either rooted in a foundation of love or else it will bear bad fruit. Good fruit, we learn from Scripture, is seen in words and acts of love, kindness, acceptance, patience, and humility. Bad fruit grows from entitlement and deception and is easily recognized as it ripens into feigned outrage, violence, scapegoating, mockery and dehumanizing 'the other.'"Quincy Howard is a Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa with a background in urban planning, community development and disaster recovery. Growing up in Texas, she distanced herself from the Church and was a non-practicing Catholic for most of her life. A late bloomer to her vocation, she returned to her Catholic roots and entered religious life in her late 30s and recently made her final vows, a decade later. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/03022025 to learn more about Sr. Quincy, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Diana Macalintal offers a reflection on loving our enemies, even - and especially - when the stakes are high: "We can choose to love every time, but only if we remember what God has done for us. Choosing to love is powerful. Choosing to love is resistance. Because choosing to love your enemy removes their power to define who you are and whose you are. You are a child of God, blessed and beloved, crowned with the dignity of Christ."Diana Macalintal is the cofounder and codirector of Team Initiation and of Liturgy.life and is a widely-recognized leader in the areas of the catechumenate and Catholic liturgy and music. With a Master of Arts in Theology from Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, she served in campus, parish, and diocesan ministries for over 30 years. She is an author, speaker, and published liturgical composer. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/02232025 to learn more about Diana, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Julia Murphy offers a reflection on radical, Resurrection hope:"In these times of uncertainty, violence, and individualism, may we Christians act as if we believe in the Resurrection. José and his Salvadoran community showed my immersion group a model of this lived resurrection hope in their dedication to building their new home, as did those in Belize who welcomed them. They could not afford to live without hope. May this radical hope propel us into acts of compassion, hospitality, and bridge-building NOW, in our own ways, in our own communities." Julia Murphy (she/her) is a campus minister at Fairfield University in Connecticut. She coordinates domestic and international service immersion trips and other social justice ministries, and serves as the primary pastoral presence students at Fairfield Bellarmine, the university's two-year associate's degree program for low-income and first-generation students in Bridgeport, CT. She is also a residential minister and chaplain to first-year students. Julia holds an MDiv from the Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry and a B.A. in English and Spanish from Saint Louis University.Visitwww.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/02162025 to learn more about Julia, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Leah Sealey offers a reflection on how story telling can help enhance our lives of faith and discipleship: "What does this gospel reading about “being called” or even the Greek translation of “netting people” enliven in you? Perhaps you can spend some time alone or with a partner, journaling or reflecting together. Tell a story about a time when you had a change of heart or had an experience of being “won over”, or about your ongoing commitment to serving others in order to heal the fractures in our broken world." Leah Sealey convenes MKE Spiritual Directors, a peer development group for spiritual directors and a resource for those seeking spiritual direction in the Milwaukee area. In the spring of 2020, she graduated from Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology's Cor Unum program with a MA in systematic theology. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/02092025 to learn more about Leah, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Feast of the Presentation, Anna Robertson offers a reflection on how the Prophet Anna's role in the readings informs our faith lives today: "[Anna] went forth preaching, carrying the Good News of the Light of the World beyond the walls of the temple to those who yearned for salvation. When we leave Mass on Candlemas, it is not enough to return to our homes with our candles, cozy in our assurance of our private salvation. Rather, Anna reminds us that we must bring the Good News out into the world, particularly to those who are suffering and longing for consolation." Anna Robertson is Director of Distributed Organizer at Discerning Deacons. In the past, she has served as Director of Youth and Young Adult Mobilization at Catholic Climate Covenant and Campus Minister for Retreats at Seattle University. She has a Master's of Theological Studies from Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry and a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Xavier University in Ohio. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/02022025 to learn more about Anna, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Pilar Siman offers a reflection on fostering belonging and solidarity: "As this new year begins, it may seem that you are looking into the horizon at your own large waves, and you may feel currents of uncertainty, anxiety and fear trying to pull you in different directions. Some of us may feel lost or unsure of what steps to take, especially when there is so much noise around us... Let Jesus's message that you are a unique and necessary part of the body of Christ, serve as a reference point that you can look to again and again, whenever you feel lost, disoriented, or like you do not belong." Pilar Siman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Qualified Clinical Supervisor and Certified Spiritual Director in Miami, Florida. She is the daughter of Salvadoran immigrants and granddaughter of immigrants from the Middle East and Spain. She is the founder of “Your Story Services” where she offers bilingual Spiritual Direction nationally and Clinical Supervision across Florida. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/01262025 to learn more about Pilar, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Claire Erlenborn offers a reflection on making change in community: "So how do we make real change today? We do it in community. We listen to our elders, the Marys in our lives, who remind us of the gifts we have been bestowed by the Spirit and we continue to slowly chip away at the slow work of the kingdom, doing our part with our specific gifts from the Spirit to make earth just a bit more like heaven. " Claire Erlenborn (she/her) serves as the Campus Minister for Pastoral Care at Loyola University Chicago. Her work focuses on retreats for undergraduate students, grief support both individually and in groups, as well as advocacy for students on the margins. Prior to this role, Claire worked with survivors of sexual violence at Northeastern University, with young adults experiencing homelessness at Bridge Over Troubled Waters, and with high school students at Villanova Prep High School while volunteering with the Augustinian Volunteers. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/01192025 to learn more about Claire, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Julia Louise Morrow offers a reflection on living with "holy envy" that allows us to see the Spirit at work in unexpected ways: "Our baptismal calling challenges us to live out this holy envy. Peter's words—“I see that God shows no partiality”—are as relevant today as they were then, challenging us to examine our assumptions and be open to the ways God is working beyond the borders we often impose. This doesn't mean abandoning our own faith but recognizing that the Spirit can move in ways we might not expect." Julia Morrow is a writer based in San Diego, California. She holds a B.A. in philosophy and theology from Wheaton College and is completing dual master's degrees in theology at the Franciscan School of Theology and in library and information science at San José State University. She researches how art enriches spiritual practice, particularly in its ability to illuminate theological truths for modern audiences. Visit https://catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/01122025 to learn more about Julia, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Feast of the Epiphany, Elena Dini offers a reflection on embodying faith, charity, and hope: "May we follow at the beginning of this Holy Year, this Jubilee, in which we are called to be pilgrims of hope, the example of these wise men, and all wise men and women of history, Christians and non-Christians, who made themselves pilgrims of hope listening to the voice of God and recognizing God's action in their lives. " Elena Dini is Senior Program Manager of the John Paul II Center for Interreligious Dialogue. She holds degrees in Near and Middle Eastern Studies, Communications, Catholic Theology and Interfaith Dialogue and is a PhD candidate at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in the field of interreligious dialogue. Elena is a frequent contributor to L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, for articles related to Muslim-Catholic and Jewish-Catholic dialogue. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/01052025 to learn more about Elena, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for The World Day of Peace (also the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God), Marie Dennis offers a reflection on resetting and reimagining in this year of Jubilee: "Sabbath, Sabbatical and Jubilee are rooted in right relationships. Neither people nor the earth were to be exhausted or exploited. The Jubilee year offers a time for the land and the people to rest, for forgiveness of debts, the return of land to its original owners, and the release of slaves. It is an economic, cultural, environmental, and communal reset that occurs every 50 years, signifying a time to renew nonviolent ways and to re-establish proper relationships with God, with one another, and with creation." Marie Dennis is the senior program director of Pax Christi International's Catholic Nonviolence Initiative. She was a member of the Pax Christi International board from 1999 to 2019 and co-president from 2007 to 2019. She is a Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace and was named a Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace in 2022. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/01012025 to learn more about Marie, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Feast of the Holy Family. Ellen Romer Niemiec offers a reflection on mutuality: "In a time when it may seem safest to preserve ourselves as individuals and avoid the risk of vulnerability, may we heed God's radical invitation to love one another deeply and courageously. May we choose to trust that when we act out of love for one another, that love will be shared in return and enkindle in us the desire to only love more deeply." Ellen Romer Niemiec currently serves in enrollment management at Catholic Theological Union, where she is also pursing a Doctor of Ministry. She has pastoral experience in retreats, international immersions, non-violence work in correctional facilities, program development, and spiritual direction. She has written prayers and other spiritual reflections for Wisdom's Dwelling, Catholic Health Association, GIA publications, FemCatholic, and America Media. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/12292024 to learn more about Ellen, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Sarah Simmons, CSJ offers a reflection on stubborn, sustaining hope: "Mary and Elizabeth's meeting is the prophetic defiant joy that God is not only among these women, but within these women.  They create a space beyond the boxes and are filled with wonder at the miracle of God, the miracle of their bodies that carry stubborn and sustaining hope.  Their defiant hope is happening now, among us, within us, if only we are vulnerable and aware enough to notice it.  For we are a people of the incarnation, we believe that Christ is within all of us, including you.  How do you long to express it?" Sarah Simmons is a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph and has lived in Chicago for five years. She currently spends her time as a student, chaplain and spiritual director. She is deeply passionate about embodied and creative practices that serve to co-create spaces of belonging and transformation. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/12222024 to learn more about Sarah, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Third Sunday of Advent - Gaudete Sunday - Kate Ward offers a reflection on letting God's joy find us in the stillness: "Joy comes from resting in the presence of what is real: our God, our loved ones, the beauty of God's creation. God help us to make do with less: less power, less wealth, less busy-ness and activity. On this Gaudete Sunday in Advent, lead us to the stillness where we find your joy." Kate Ward is Associate Professor of theological ethics at Marquette University, working in areas including economic ethics, virtue ethics, fundamental moral theology and Catholic social thought. She lives in Milwaukee with her family, where they are parishioners of Our Lady of Divine Providence in the Riverwest neighborhood. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/12152024 to learn more about Kate, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dermis de Jesús offers a reflection on Our Lady's message of accompaniment: "Our Lady of Guadalupe recognized the dignity of the people of México, the color of their skin, their language, chose them as messengers. Her message of accompaniment- “Am I not here; I who am your mother?”- resonates with us today as it resonated with St. Juan Diego, and propels us to be courageous in how we respond to God's calling, in how we spread God's word and God's love." Dermis de Jesús worships and serves at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Philadelphia. She is active in various ministries, including lay leader of prayer, coordinating and directing the children's choir, co-coordinating the Spanish language Mass, Eucharistic Minister and lector. She is a past recipient of the St. Vincent de Paul Award, nominated for exemplifying Vincentian values. A native of Puerto Rico, Dermis calls Philadelphia her second home, where she lives with her husband, Willhem, their children Sofía and Marcos, and their dog, Mario. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/12122024 to learn more about Dermis, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, Jazmin Jimenez offers a reflection on freedom and discernment: "On this feast of the Immaculate Conception, let us remind ourselves that authentic discernment requires freedom and space. Let us ponder how we can imitate the freedom with which Mary discerned a big question. Loving God, draw us more deeply into the practice of discernment. Give us the freedom to listen to the stirring of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Allow us to feel all the feels- let us be troubled, let us ponder, let us question, let us listen… and in the end, let our Yes mean Yes and our No mean No- all for your greater Glory. Amen." Jazmin Jimenez (she/her) is the Director of Liturgy & Worship at American Martyrs Catholic Community in Manhattan Beach, CA. Before transitioning to parish work, she taught theology and worked in campus ministry at Verbum Dei Jesuit High School and Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy for a combined 13 years. She completed her Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/12092024 to learn more about Jazmin, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Second Sunday of Advent, Colleen McCahill offers a reflection on "preparing the way" in our own time and place: "What will we do, this Lukan Advent, to prepare a way in the desert? We will see and seek reasons to rejoice, and we will share them. We will keep kindling even the smallest, and most domestic lights. And in our time and our place, we will be true partners in the Gospel." Colleen McCahill has served as the Pastoral Associate for St. Vincent de Paul Church in downtown Baltimore, Maryland for nine years. There, she supports the parish life of a community devoted to worship and to service. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Maryland Institute, College of Art, a Master of Arts in Theology with a concentration in spirituality, and a Master of Arts in Church Ministries, both from St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute, Baltimore. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/12082024 to learn more about Colleen, to read her preaching text and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the First Sunday of Advent, Valerie D. Lewis-Mosley offers a reflection on hope in God's righteousness and justice: "When we seek a life centered in abiding in God's way - we are walking humbling with God. It is then that God guides the humble to justice and teaches us in the way of truth." Valerie D. Lewis-Mosely, RN, OPA, is the retired Director of Religious Education at the Church of Christ the King - Jersey City, New Jersey, a historical Black Catholic Parish. She now serves in various capacities across the nation as a mentor to youth and young adults; evangelist, retreat leader and revivalist and public speaker, life coach and Spiritual Director. Catechesis to children and youth and women's spirituality and empowerment are a major component of her ministry as a pastoral associate. She is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Theology at Caldwell University, Caldwell, New Jersey, and Xavier University of Louisiana Institute for Black Catholic Studies. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/12012024 to learn more about Valerie, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Solemnity of Christ the Kind, Olivia Hastie offers a reflection on belonging: "When Jesus says, 'everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice,' I think he's asking for more than simple obedience and piety. He's inviting us to create spaces of true belonging by connecting through shared stories and experiences. I believe he's calling us, not just to spread his message through words, but to embody and live out his teachings in our actions and relationships. To belong to the truth is to form genuine connections, where love, empathy, and understanding bring the Gospel message to life in a way that reaches others deeply and meaningfully." Olivia Hastie (she/her) is a doctoral student in Theological Ethics at Boston College, focusing on how embodied experiences shape Christian thought, particularly through liberationist, feminist, and queer perspectives. She also serves as a Program Associate at FutureChurch, applying her research to advocate for a more inclusive and just Catholic Church. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/11242024 to learn more about Olivia, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Martha Ligas offers a reflection on being open to the Promised One who draws near in times of despair: "Maybe Jesus is reminding us of something that we need to hear when we're at our lowest. When we feel the most despair, the most fear, the most anxiety, that is when God is the closest to us. That is when we are the least alone. That is when the Promised One is right at our door." Martha Ligas (she/her) serves as the Pastoral Minister at the Community of St. Peter in Cleveland, Ohio, and Program Associate at FutureChurch. Both spaces give her room to ride the coattails of the Spirit by reimagining what it means to create faith communities of belonging. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry from Fordham University. Martha lives in Cleveland, OH with her partner and their pets. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/11172024 to learn more about Martha, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jen Frazer offers a reflection on the offerings and sacrifices of the two widows in today's readings: "In the end what meaning should we take away from these readings? It is the very generosity of our two widows (in the first reading and in the Gospel) that highlights their social oppression. Even if the sacrifice is unjust, God who knows our hearts, honors that sacrifice as the act of love that it is. God is on the side of the oppressed because they are in need of God's protection. Both are true. Sic et non." Jen is an Erie Benedictine sister, currently living in Erie, Pennsylvania. There Jen shares time with some of the terrific people of L'Arche as her full-time gig, and for fun teaches a couple of classes at Mercyhurst, a local Catholic college. Jen has a couple of graduate theology degrees from Boston College, and a degree in studio art from Hampshire College. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/11102024 to learn more about Jen, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Eilis McCulloh, HM offers a reflection on loving God with our whole being and our neighbor as ourselves: "Before we can love our God with our whole being, we must practice active and holy listening. We must open ourselves to the movements of the Spirit–to the little fires of God around us. This is the only way we can authentically be in relationship with those around us…how we are to Hear the invitation from God–to truly love our God with our whole heart, our whole mind, and our whole body." Sr. Eilis McCulloh is a member of the Sisters of the Humility of Mary (Villa Maria, PA) and currently serves on the Grassroots Mobilization Team at NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice. She is a frequent contributor to Global Sisters Report and is also a co-host of the Just Politics podcast. Prior to joining the staff at NETWORK, she spent more than 10 years ministering in refugee resettlement and immigration services in St. Cloud, MN, Akron, OH, and Cleveland, OH. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/11032024 to learn more about Sr. Eilis, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Solemnity of All Saints, Christine Firer Hinze offers a reflection on the invitation to live in solidarity today's feast offers: "But let's be real—the record shows that to live as a finite-sinner-saint -- beatitudinally, in spiritual and practical solidarity with our neighbors and against the powers of sin and death— is beautiful, but it's a difficult, scary, and costly path. We cannot do it alone, and we need all the help we can get. Today's great feast promises us exactly that." Christine Firer Hinze is Professor of Theological and Social Ethics in the Department of Theology at Fordham University. She holds a PhD in Christian social ethics from the University of Chicago. Her teaching and research focus on foundational and applied issues in Christian social ethics with special emphasis on the dynamics of social transformation, Catholic social thought, and economic and work justice for vulnerable women, families and groups. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/11012024 to learn more about Christine, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching on the healing of the "Daughter of Abraham" (Luke 13:10-17), Sr. Christine Schenk, CSJ offers a reflection on the abundant love and vision of our healing God: "Jesus decries the rigidity of the rule keepers—a perennial affliction of religious leaders of every denomination even to our own day— 'Don't you understand? Freeing this woman, this daughter of Abraham is more important than freeing the ox and ass as your religious rules allow?'   The phrase 'Daughter of Abraham' occurs nowhere else in either the Hebrew or Christian scriptures.  Jesus is saying 'This woman is a fully equal member of God's own people,  and her dignity and well-being must be the priority here.'" Hidden Sister: The Gospel of Luke is the only one that recounts Jesus' healing of a woman who had been bent over for eighteen years (Luke 13:10-17). This passage is assigned to Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time. Although Jesus recognizes her as a “daughter of Abraham,” this touching story of her faith and Jesus' willingness to break the Sabbath law in the synagogue and heal her is not proclaimed on any Sunday. Moreover, in 2024, this reading is replaced by the proper readings for the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude. Christine Schenk, CSJ has worked as a nurse midwife to low-income families, a community organizer, an award-winning writer-researcher, and the founding director of an international church reform organization, FutureChurch. Schenk also writes a regular column for the National Catholic Reporter and is one of three nuns featured in the award-winning documentary "Radical Grace."

Preaching for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Courtney Esteves offers a reflection on the freedom of choice that God gifts to us: "I invite us, on this Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time, to receive this 'What do you want?' question in two ways: First, let's put ourselves in the place of Bartimaeus and respond through honest prayer – what do we want God to do for us? And secondly, let's follow Jesus's example by asking those around us, 'What do you want me to do for you?' What response might we receive if we ask this question in earnest?" Courtney Esteves (she/her) is a third-year Master of Divinity student at Andover Newton Seminary at Yale Divinity School (ANS at YDS). Courtney is formed by two decades of Catholic education, as well as many years spent within lay-led Catholic ministries such as her spiritual home, Benincasa Community. A proud alumna of Saint Gabriel School (Bronx, NY), Marymount School (New York, NY), and the College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, MA), she is grateful for a faith infused with the charisms of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary and the Jesuits. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/10272024 to learn more about Courtney, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Rebecca Malone preaches for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, offering a reflection on what it means to share in Jesus' glory: "In Jesus, glory can be so much more: serving, giving, caring. His glory is a radiance, a glow, a place to remain and abide. We want to be close, not to push ahead of everyone else, but so that the warmth of his glory becomes our home . . ." A resident of Montreal, Canada, Rebecca Malone serves in children's ministry at her parish. Her particular focus is the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Raised in New York, Rebecca attended the Academy of Mount Saint Ursula in the Bronx, where she was inspired and formed in faith by the Ursuline sisters. Today, she pursues a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies at the Aquinas Institute of St. Louis University and serves on the board of the Center for Children and Theology. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/10202024 to learn more about Rebecca, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Donna Orsuto offers a reflection on responding faithfully to God's call in our lives today: "So, this week, as we ponder Jesus looking at us, loving us, and calling us to follow him, I encourage you to pray for Wisdom. Plead for this precious gift which will put your heart right. Make an effort to read the Word of God each day and let that Word do its work in you each day. This is really important because we have practical decisions to make. Jesus is calling us to follow him now — today — and we do not want to go away sad." Donna Orsuto hails from Ashtabula, Ohio (USA), but has lived in Rome for nearly five decades.  She is currently serving as the Director of the Department of Moral Theology and Spiritual Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University where she has been teaching since 1990. She has authored two books and numerous articles in the area of spirituality. Orsuto is also co-founder of The Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas (www.laycentre.org), which is dedicated to creating community and offering formation and leadership opportunities for lay women and men studying at pontifical universities. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/10132024 to learn more about Donna, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mary M. Doyle Roche reflects on the the ways Church teaching and the lectionary relegates women to the recesses of life in the world and in the Church: "Perhaps you too are trying to hold a place for the scriptures, for the lectionary, for the Church even as you face squarely the harms that they have perpetuated and given theological significance. I hope that we as Church can honor the reality of these experiences and all of the emotions that come with them, without looking away or glossing it all over. I hope we can allow ourselves to transform these recesses and shadows into spaces of resistance and solidarity from which we might emerge sure of our dignity, sure of the Spirit moving through us, and sure of God's love." Mary M. Doyle Roche is Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. She earned her PhD in theological ethics from Boston College and has pursued teaching and research interests in feminist ethics, health care ethics, and ethical issues that impact families, children, and young people. Most recently, she has co-edited with Jacob Kohlhaas, "Modern Catholic Family Teaching: Commentaries and Interpretations" (Georgetown University Press, 2024). Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/10062024 to learn more about Mary, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Veronique Dorsey offers a reflection each person's calling to share the word of God: "Would that all the people of God were prophets… oh what a time it would be! We gotta stop gate keeping and telling people who can and cannot proclaim the word of the Lord." Veronique Dorsey is a New Orleans educator and musician. In 2013 she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree Cum Laude in English with a minor in Theology from Xavier University of New Orleans. She has spent the last ten years sharing her gifts as an English educator. In addition to being an educator, she has a passion for ministry and the people of God. She is drummer on Sundays at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church and a trumpeter as a member of the award winning Original Pinettes Brass Band. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/09292024 to learn more about Veronique, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Carolyn A. Wright preaches for the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, encouraging us to participate in the continuing unfolding of God's plan: "Let us deeply grasp that we are on a journey with God and others and because of our relationship with God, let us each contribute to the fullness of the realization of God's Kingdom through our one precious life in real and substantive ways." Carolyn A. Wright serves on the faculty of Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri and teaches in the area of spirituality and ministerial formation. She directs the Theological Field Education program and the Masters of Arts in Pastoral Studies - Catechesis of the Good Shepherd degree program. She holds a Doctor of Ministry degree in Christian Spirituality from Washington Theological Union, a Master of Divinity degree and a Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Aquinas Institute of Theology. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/09222024 to learn more about Carolyn, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Zulma Tellez preaches for the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: "If all Creation is good and God is omnipresent within us and the cosmos, then salvation is available to all creation. We are to be an inclusive church by all means and see Jesus' cross as an instrument of resurrection, redemption, mercy, and salvation." Zulma “Zully” Tellez is a Hispanic Mexican-American woman with Sephardic roots. She is a certified Spiritual Director by Mercy Center and Master Catechist from the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Currently, Zulma is a DRE leading RCIA, Bible study, and prayer groups at St. Boniface Parish in San Francisco's Tenderloin district. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/09152024 to learn more about Zulma, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mary Jo Iozzio offers a reflection that challenges us to expand our understanding of Jesus' healing miracles: "Perhaps another direction for the healing was uttered, maybe it was Jesus and the crowd who began to understand the man's manner of communication. The 'Ephphatha' challenges us to welcome the deaf, the mute, the blind, and those with physical and/or developmental disabilities as they/as we are. By Jesus' action in a disability perspective, maybe, just maybe, the 'Ephphatha' freed the crowd from their language barriers such that they began to understand their man." Mary Jo Iozzio, Ph.D. is Professor of Moral Theology at Boston College School's Clough School of Theology and Ministry. She earned her doctorate in Systematic Theology with a focus on Moral Theology in 1994, and a License in Sacred Theology-STL with a focus on disability in 2019 - both from Boston College. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/09082024 to learn more about Mary Jo, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Feast of St. Phoebe, Rose Lue offers a reflection on the Holy Spirit's invitation to rethink women's participation Church leadership and ministry: "Knowing about Phoebe, the role she played in the early church, and Paul's recognition of her, however, affirms my call and gives me hope! Hope that one day women like me who are answering the call to serve can also be recognized and be instituted as servant leaders. Hope that one day we may receive the sacramental grace the church offers." Rose Lue is a community organizer, justice advocate, and spiritual companion. An Advanced Lay Leader in the Diocese of San Jose, California, having completed 7 years of formation along with the candidates for permanent diaconate, Rose currently leads the mental health ministry at her parish and serves on the diocesan committee for Catholic Campaign for Human Development. She is also an immigrant from the Philippines, wife, mother to three, and an active long-time member of St. Simon Parish in Los Altos, California. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/09032024 to learn more about Rose, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Susana Réfega, offers a reflection to begin the Season of Creation: "We are first fruits, we are the coming promise of a greater promise and hope. Only when we work together and are united with God and Creation can the first fruits of hope be born. As my children approached the first fruits on my in-laws table with eagerness, let us also begin this Season of Creation with joy!" Susana Réfega serves currently as the Executive Director of the Laudato Si' Movement. Susana has dedicated most of her professional life to international development and solidarity serving in different roles and organisations. She holds a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology from René Descartes University, Paris and Master's Degree in Development, International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid from Sorbonne University. She lives in a Colares – a small village near the coast in Portugal with her husband, her three children, a dog and two cats. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/09012024 to learn more about Susan, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Anna Robertson offers a reflection on the fullness of God's faithfulness and promise to all people - and particularly women: "When the Church's failures to honor my dignity threaten to undermine my sense of God's fidelity to me, I look to the women who followed and continue to follow Jesus. They—you who are listening now—have been leading me back into trust that the fullness of God's promises pertain to me. We do that for one another." Anna Robertson is Director of Distributed Organizer at Discerning Deacons. In the past, she has served as Director of Youth and Young Adult Mobilization at Catholic Climate Covenant and Campus Minister for Retreats at Seattle University. She has a Master's of Theological Studies from Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry and a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Xavier University in Ohio. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/08252024 to learn more about Anna, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Sarah Hart preaches for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, offering a reflection on the wisdom of the feast: "And this is our call and charge; to invite all to the table, to make endless room for others, to leave no one out. Because Wisdom , in love, welcomes everyone to the feast. May we remain in Christ, and in communion with the world, and in the love of God." Sarah Hart's enthusiasm about all things creative means that her resume is extensive and varied. A Grammy nominated songwriter/composer, producer, recording artist, author, speaker, workshop educator and worship leader, Sarah brings the joy of her faith into all of her endeavors. She resides in Nashville, TN with her husband, Kevin. They have two amazing daughters, Rose and Evelyn. Visit https://www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/08182024 to learn more about Sarah, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.