On Thursday, October 3, 2024 FutureChurch was welcomed by the Caravita Community in Rome to host a prayer service entitled “Throw Open the Doors and Make Space at the Table: Celebrating the Hidden Women of the Lectionary.”
Through scripture readings, story telling, and prayer, the prayer service names and uplifts women whose stories are omitted, truncated, relegated to a weekday, misrepresented, made optional, or otherwise hidden by the lectionary.
FutureChurch Program associate, Martha Ligas, preached on the power of our names and being called by name. The music ministry was offered by Olivia Hastie and Russ Petrus of FutureChurch. Additional readers include Katie Lacz, Rose Lue, and Lucy Rieger. The prayer service concludes with a ritual blessing that names each participant and sends them forth to proclaim the resurrection.
On the morning of Friday, October 5, 2024, the FutureChurch team along with Rita Houlihan, Lucy Rieger, and Rose Lue gathered at the Church of Saint Sabina in Rome for a simple prayer service to uplift the names of those whom we carried us on our journey to “bring Mary Magdalene to the Synod.”
We are grateful to everyone who contributed to our “Mary Magdalene Goes to the Synod” campaign to support our efforts to expand the lectionary and offered names for us to carry with us during our travels. It was an honor and sacred experience to carry these names with us and to pray with them:
Ann
Marie Reisert Bailey
Victoria Baldwin
Josue Behnen, OSB
Hermilia Benavides
Sam Bowns
Sr. Mary Brinkman
Margaret Brogden
Sr. Anne Campbell
Mary Cara
Anita M. Caspary, IHM
Richard Conley
Geraldine Cortissoz
Pat Coughlin
Beverly Cramb
Eleanor Dallimore
Lydia Tinajero Deck
Lizzie Berne DeGear
Sr. Andre Dembowski, RSM
Anna DePierro
Mary Gallagher Dolan
Sr. Barbara Doherty, SP
Rosemarie Dougherty
Jacquelyn Dubay, OSB
Katherine Elsner
Kenny F
Margaret Fissinger
Patricia Flood
Deceased members of FutureChurch
FutureChurch founders and members past and present
On Wednesday, September 4, 2024, members of the church reform and renewal community gathered in virtual community to show our love, respect, admiration, and gratitude for Sister Theresa Kane, RSM.
What’s Russ’ favorite church hymn? Olivia’s most-used expression? Martha’s favorite book? Ann Marie’s favorite recipe? Learn the answers to these questions and more through this “meet-and-greet” with the FutureChurch team!
Our meet and greet was an informal opportunity for FutureChurch community members to get to know the staff, learn what led them to FutureChurch, and hear some of their hopes and dreams for the season ahead.
FutureChurch director emerita, Deborah Rose, joins us to share an overview and analysis of the Instrumentum Laboris – or Working Document – that will guide conversation and discernment at the October 2024 Assembly of the Synod on Communion, Participation, and Mission. Deb’s presentation provides an overview of how the document was created and a review of its contents with a particular focus on where and how the issue of women’s leadership and ministry appears in text.
Laura James has expanded her “Mary Magdalene and the Risen Jesus” series with six new images to depict all of John’s Resurrection Narrative. Our virtual art show presents a first look at these “Stations of the Resurrection,” exploring the theological significance of each painting. We also hear from Laura James herself about her inspiration and process.
Inspired by contemporary biblical scholarship, this art series was commissioned by FutureChurch board member, Rita Houlihan.
About Laura James: A self-taught artist of Caribbean heritage, Laura James has enjoyed a long career painting in two styles she refers to as ‘sacred’ and ‘secular’. James separates and combines the sacrosanct and the ordinary and has created a diverse body of work that is her own.
Originally captivated by the Ethiopian Christian Art form, James’ sacred work employs this ancient way of making icons and expands on the collection of stories traditionally painted in this style. James is pleased to help black people see themselves in their sacred texts, in African religions and Christianity, a place where racialized people have curiously been excluded in the west. To that end, James was delighted to illustrate The Book of the Gospels lectionary, published by Liturgy Training Publications in 2001; the book is used worldwide by numerous Christian denominations and is currently in its second edition. Her religious art is at the forefront of the movement toward a more inclusive representation of Biblical figures.
LTP book designer Anna Manhart writes, “We like Laura’s work because it is distinct, memorable, popular and timeless, telling stories in a simple, fresh, and direct way. People respond to the expressive faces, eyes, and gestures, colors, and intricately patterned clothing. Her art appeals to varied ages and cultures. The depictions carry the tradition of Ethiopian iconography to the present day, bridging centuries and continents.”
Ms. James is represented by Bridgeman Images, the world’s leading specialists in the distribution of fine art for reproduction, and James’ work can be seen in hundreds of publications from textbooks to film worldwide. James’ third children’s book, My Mother Was a Nanny was recently released, and she continues to work as a commissioned artist. Laura James lives and works in The Bronx, NY. Learn more at www.laurajamesart.com
About Rita Houlihan: Rita L. Houlihan works to restore our historical memory of Biblical women leaders with a focus on Mary Magdalene. She commissions scripture-based art to counter demeaning legends and touch the public’s imagination.
FutureChurch’s 2024 celebration of Mary Magdalene uplifts the role that women play in bearing witness to the Risen One in our midst today. This year’s celebration was developed and co-led by Martha Ligas and Olivia Hastie of the FutureChurch staff. We welcomed three witnesses: Vickey McBride, Ariell Watson Simon, and Yunuen Trujillo who all shared their reflections from their own ministry and context. FutureChurch executive director, Russ Petrus, provided music.
About our witnesses:
Vickey McBride is Chair of the FutureChurch Board. She most recently served as Vice President for Mission at Saint Martin de Porres High School (Cristo Rey) in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2023, she received the Michael Pressley Award for Excellence in Catholic Education.
Yunuen Trujillo is a Catholic lay minister, a faith-based Community Organizer, and an Immigration Attorney. As a lay minister, she has served in Young Adult Ministry for more than 15 years and she is one of the leading figures for inclusive Catholic LGBTQ Ministry in the United States. Yunuen is a member of the FutureChurch Board.
Ariell Simon (she/her) is a healthcare chaplain living and ministering in central Missouri. Ariell has served as a healthcare chaplain in hospitals and nursing facilities in three states. Ariell also coordinates FutureChurch’s Sunday evening online Liturgy of the Word.
