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They are our loved ones and friends. We are praying for them.

October 4, 2024
Olivia Hastie reflects on what it means to be carrying the names of our loved ones and honorees with us this week.

By Olivia Hastie

Russ, Martha, and I were standing in front of Saint Peter’s Basilica holding the banner with the names of women so many of you asked us to carry with us in the spirit this week in Rome. We had just arrived at the Vatican and were getting ready to make our way to the Dicastery for Divine Worship to deliver our open letter, freshly caffeinated after cappuccinos. 

We snapped a few photos and then had Lucy and Rita hold the sign, but before we could get that far a strange man started to walk toward us. Before I completely realized what was happening, he held out what looked like a wallet and flashed his badge:

“Vatican politzia,” he said, “What is this?”
“A banner with names on it,” we responded.
“Who are these people? What happens to them?” his partner chimed in.
“Well, they are our loved ones and friends. We are praying for them.” 

After asking us to move outside the square to be in accordance with Vatican rules and procedures, I couldn’t stop thinking about their question: “Who are these people? What happens to them?” At first it was funny to me. A silly story about when the Vatican police almost removed us for violating the rules.

But his questions kept percolating: Who are these people? What happens to them?

Martha and Olivia carry banners of Mary Magdalene and FutureChurch honorees outside the Basilica of St. Praxedes.

These are the names of women who have kept on keeping on in and around a Church that excludes them. These are the names of women who have come before and serve as beacons of spirituality, joy, hope and courage. These are women who embody the spirit of Mary Magdalene – a love for God, the desire to find God, and the ability to preach about where God is operating in their lives. 

And what happens to them? Well, we pray for them. But not merely a prayer of recognition, a prayer of naming. They are here with us, they are loved by us, they have shown us the way.  

When we walked into the Dicastery for Divine Worship, up to the Synod Secretariat, past the Trevi Fountain, to the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, past the Pantheon, and to the Piazza Navona. We carried the banner and honored their names – women of wisdom and inspiration. 

The spirit of Mary Magdalene has impacted so many without recognition. And when asked how or why this work is important, I just think of that banner. How many more women will be empowered to share their gifts after seeing themselves reflected in the lectionary through the commissioning of Mary Magdalene? 

More Posts

November 5, 2024
Russ Petrus offers an initial reaction to paragraph 60 of the Final Document of the 2024 Synod Assembly.
October 14, 2024
Martha Ligas reflects on the strength, hope, and joy being part of the larger Church reform community witnessing at the Synod gives her.
October 9, 2024
FutureChurch gathers with friends and supporters at Caravita Community in Rome to learn about celebrate Mary Magdalene and other scriptural women hidden by the lectionary.
October 8, 2024
We are grateful to everyone who contributed to our “Mary Magdalene Goes to the Synod” campaign and offered names for us to carry with us during our travels. It was an honor and sacred experience to carry these names in our hearts and to pray with them.

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