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Advent 2025: Entering into the Mystery of the Cosmic Christ

Written on . Posted in Emerging Models of Parish & Community Life, Online Liturgies of the Word.

FutureChurch has celebrated the 2025 Season of Advent by devoting our Sunday night Online Liturgy and Faith Sharing to exploring the mystery of the Cosmic/Universal Christ. Drawing on the rich theologies and spiritualities of writers like Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Ilia Delio, and Richard Rohr, we have reflected on how the Christ who has been present since the beginning of creation continues to be revealed in our evolving universe and in each of us today. Each week a member of our virtual community has led us in prayer and shared how the Cosmic Christ informs their spirituality. It has been a joy to prepare our hearts for the Incarnation in a way that expands our wonder, deepens our connections, and renews our hope for all creation.
The following worship materials were used in this series. We pray that they will bless you in your Advent journey.

“The Cosmic Christ” – Opening Song

Cosmic Christ – Lyrics by Norman Habel, 2004. Tune: New Britain/Amazing Grace. View the collection here.
[1] Amazing is the Christ who died
To void all sin and curse
Just as amazing is the life
That fills the universe.
[2] The risen Christ is more than one
Who waits on some far shore;
In, with and under ev’ry thing
Christ is the living core.
[5] The cosmos hails the Christ, the One
Who reconciles all things
‘Til all creation rises new
With healing in her wings.
[6] As Christ unites the universe
Restores this Earth once more
A cosmic song reverberates
A rich symphonic score.

Ariell Watson Simon’s Opening Remarks for The Solemnity of Christ of the Universe – November 23, 2025

We’re calling today’s solemnity “Christ of the Universe,” referencing the term “the Universal Christ.” But what does it mean to associate these two words – christ, and universe? And what does “King” have to do with it?

Well,  let’s start with a bit of context. This solemnity is actually a relatively new one on the church calendar. Unlike many feasts which go back centuries, it wasn’t until 1925 that the Pope instituted a “Feast of Christ the King.” 1925 was an era of rising sectarianism, nationalism, and fascism. Sound familiar? Yeah. The pope wanted Catholics around the world to remember that Christ is our true leader and our true allegiance, not any political party or figurehead. He used the word “King” to describe Christ, because this was a familiar symbol at the time, to illustrate that Christ was a leader, sovereign and unifying.  But of course, the “king” analogy is in other ways a poor one, because Christ’s leadership forgoes the trappings of wealth, power, and privilege that we associate with royalty. As today’s gospel reading illustrates, Christ doesn’t act as one would expect a king to act. Christ does not lead from above – not like a king on a throne, elevated above the people. This is not the historical Jesus, just floating somewhere above the clouds.  As Richard Rohr jokes “Christ isn’t just Jesus’s last name.”

When we talk about “Christ,” “Christ of the Universe,” or “the Cosmic Christ,” we’re talking about the Word of God, incarnate in the universe from its very inception. Today’s reading from Colossians tells us that “in Christ all things in heaven and on earth were created: everything visible and invisible…all things were created through Christ and in Christ…and now all things hold together in Christ.”

In other words, Christ infuses all of matter. And because the whole cosmos is made up of matter, Christ is in all. Universal.  

This idea has its roots in early Christianity and is reflected in the scriptures, but got lost in the Western church somewhere along the way. In the early 20th century, paleontologist and priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin wrestled with how to understand God in a worldview informed by evolution. He coined the term “the Divine Milieu” to describe the world infused with God’s presence, and wrote about the entire world as a Holy Mass in which all of matter is Christ’s body. More recently, contemporary thinkers like Richard Rohr and Ilia Delio have brought these ideas into our century and explored them further in a blend of science and Christian mysticism. 

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, this FutureChurch community is going to explore together what it means to welcome the Cosmic Christ in Advent. From this perspective, the incarnation is not only the birth of one baby one time in Bethlehem. Christ is born in all, and through all. Our Advent journey is not simply about remembering, not simply about waiting. It is about awakening! Waking up to the presence of Christ in our midst, and clearing the path for Christ’s presence to grow among us, until it reaches its fullness in God’s kin-dom of peace and justice. 

In 1925, the world needed a reminder of who was really in charge – that Christ, the peaceful one, leads from within as the animating force of the universe. 

Today, one hundred years after that first Feast of Christ the King, we have again fallen asleep to the truth of the Universal Christ. On this solemnity, let us awaken anew to the presence of Christ Incarnate.

Cosmic Christ Advent Prayer – Closing prayer by Ariell Watson Simon

O Christ,
By your Incarnation the cosmos was formed,
The stars born, and the Earth established.
Open our eyes to see your Light inside all that is.
Cosmic Christ, create us!

O Christ,
Through the deepening of your Incarnation,
You revealed your presence among us,
The divine made manifest in the form of a child.
Bring your Light to birth anew.
Cosmic Christ, dwell with us!

O Christ,
In the fullness of your Incarnation,
Your presence will one day break forth,
Reuniting all the whirling elements of the universe in yourself.
Awaken in us the expectation of the dawning of your Light.
Cosmic Christ, come!

Amen.

First Sunday of Advent Introductory Remarks by Rosemary Marusak

Awakening to God in All things

The readings this week, along with our theme of the Cosmic Christ, inspired me to start our Advent journey asking how each of us can awaken ourselves to God being in All Things, in other words, awakening ourselves to God’s Spirit both within us and in everything around us, which is communicating with us and calling us to be co-creators with God towards the Good.

My personal journey with this began when I first heard Richard Rohr describe the creation of the Cosmos as the first incarnation, the point when God first “joined in unity with the physical universe” or in other words, when God’s Spirit first joined with matter. As a scientist, I asked, “what does this mean?” So I began reading the works of Jesuit priest, theologian, and paleontologist, Teilhard de Chardin, and in his book, “The Phenomenon of Man (or the Human Phenomenon)” he stated something that I, a chemist, found absolutely remarkable:  “The volume of each [atom] is the volume of the universe”. Reflecting on this I wondered, “is this a link between science and my faith?”  I thought of the Jesuit, St. Stanislaus Kostka’s “Finding God in All Things” when in 1568 he said, “I find a heaven in the midst of saucepans and brooms”?  Maybe I find heaven in the midst of chemistry and atoms.

Physicists describe the beginning universe as a baseball size fireball of extremely dense pure energy, 1027 times hotter than our sun and containing the brightness of 2 x 1023 stars. And from this energy [expanding over 13.8 billion years], has evolved all matter that we observe in the universe, the stars, our planets, our Earth, ourselves.  By reason and by faith, Teilhard de Chardin, Richard Rohr and Ilia Delio call this original fireball of energy that contains the universe, God’s heart or the Spirit or consciousness of God. And that is how all matter, including ourselves coinhere with God’s Presence. Learning of this was absolutely astonishing and life changing for me. By the very nature of the atoms of which we are composed, God is within me and God is in all things outside of me. God is, therefore, so very close, communicating and comforting always. I started looking and listening for God everywhere, and by doing this practice regularly, in gratitude for even the smallest of things, I gained a new love and respect for all of creation. With this new lens, I started grieving for the Earth with climate change and the destruction through war, of people and the materials through which God communicates and brings them comfort. I learned that each of us are unique, co-creators with God and that there is great hope that comes with understanding that we can help guide our future towards the Good if we find, listen to and align ourselves with God in All things.

In our second reading, St Paul says, “it is now the hour for [us] to wake from sleep”. Can we spend this Advent awakening to God in all things? Isaiah in our first reading says, ‘beat swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks’. Can we use the precious materials that are leant to us on this Earth for the Good? Jesus says in the Gospel reading, ‘Be vigilant! …The Promised One is coming at the time you least expect.”  Can we find God’s Spirit in all matter and materials now, and in thanksgiving, enjoy the amazing gift of matter through which God calls us into friendship? Fr. Phil Cooke, SJ of the Midwest Jesuits offers this “readiness prayer” to help us: “Jesus, I don’t know when You will come again. Send your Spirit and prepare me here and now!”

In the remaining weeks of Advent, our leaders will journey us through ways of discovering and listening to God as we await the birth of Jesus, God’s second incarnation – God’s Word and Consciousness expressed through Christ fully human.

QUESTION for Breakout rooms:

Each of us is unique in how God communicates with us. What is the most important way God communicates with you? How can you spend more time in conversation with God this Advent?

First Sunday of Advent Opening Prayer:

Expansive God,
Through your heart of Love,
Our universe is created
and our lives are transformed by your friendship.
Awaken us to your presence in all things,
So that we may walk in your light
As co-creators of peace and justice.
We make this prayer through Jesus, Christ made flesh,
who lives and thrives with you and with us all
In the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

Second Sunday of Advent Introductory Remarks by Carrie Roach

Who do you see in your imagination when hearing these words/ phrases?
Sass,
Chutzpah,
United in joy,
interiority,
burning love
diversification
complexity with no clinging?

In your imaginative exercise, is a  Cosmic Christ created?

Privileged as an economically circular based ,certified , environmental science teacher with a  graduate degree in theology , in 1995, one of my most powerful moments  was  when, Ms. Napoli,  our brilliant vice principal,  announced,   she was moving on.  JoAnn shared with us as her faculty and staff that the “only certainty in life is change.”  “To fear change is to fear life.”

Sister Miriam Therese MacGillis ‘ Genesis Farm in New Jersey unveils teachings of the unstuck Jesuit Priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.  What a blessing to learn of this  stretcher barer on the “ Front” during World War One. Sister Miriam worked with   Fr. Thomas Berry, a Passionist Priest whose work was our core curriculum at IPM.   Ethics of Earth Care gave perspective within our  South Florida late 1980’s unsafe  HIV-Aids epidemic space. What a testament to  the gospel message .   So many young people were mysteriously dying from the unknown virus. Professionals from every arena were my  peers.  What an amazing practical theological setting.  Our green institute of pastoral ministry, IPM, lived Teilhard ‘s three values of an evolutionary thriving:  differentiation, subjectivity within the safe space of communion.  A generation later,  Sister Ilia Delio’s book:  The Not Yet God explains again that without evolution,  religion dies and without religion, evolution is BLIND. (p. 241)

I do not want to be stuck or blind.  I hope to grow  and own my  becoming.

Upstanding as one  more different, special and in community, seems like the natural flow as one who is now more physically disabled.  I desire to continue the process to  develop within a sense of wholeness.

Our readings  this week invite us to trust in transformational change.  Transitions are an indication of our flourishing. To fear change is to fear life.

“May all your transitions be joyous.” *

“Joy is the sure sign of the presence of the sacred.”

Second Sunday of Advent Opening Prayer:

O God,
You created the universe in infinite diversity
Even as your Spirit binds all together in unity.
Within your very trinitarian personhood,
You hold differentiation in communion.

Open our hearts to transformation,
That in this dynamic world,
We would embrace complexity over contradiction,
To welcome your peace
And see the wolf lay down with the lamb.

Grant this through Christ
– whose presence is already inbreaking among us,
and whose fullness draws near –
who lives and thrives with you and with us all
In the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

Third Sunday of Advent Introductory Remarks by Pat Pickett

“Caitlyn” (name changed to protect her privacy) is a child who is doubly diagnosed with severe autism and ADHD. When she attends ABLE TOGETHER, our ministry for neurodiverse children, Caitlyn does nothing but run, giggle, jump for three straight hours when she’s with us.

One Saturday a few weeks ago, we were on overload.

There was a crash, a chair is flipped and Caitlyn runs in, slams both arms on one of the tables and I hold my breath. She picks up a brush and roller. There is paint in bowls and I close my eyes. But, it is quiet. It is dead silent. Caitlyn is painting a picture.

Then, she’s finished. Up she jumps! She starts running. Then she stops. I put her picture on the drying table.  She runs, gets it and gives it to me again. I tell her it needs to dry. She picks it up again and with both hands gives it to me. She is insistent! I am to take/keep her picture. When I hold her picture, promising to keep it, she runs off.

The volunteers looked at me, and me them. What happened? I guess maybe God TALK happened and we didn’t even realize until it was over. Caitlyn was talking to God, and maybe God was talking through Caitlyn. Caitlyn had experienced that thrill of creation and being in touch with someone beyond herself. Her joy, and the joy we each felt at that moment was tangible.

Most of us use words as our symbols to communicate. But before words, like Caitlyn, we shared our feelings through gestures and sounds and coloring on paper. There was color in those early drawing we made which were so expressive but cutoff just as we were learning to love our creativity. As adults we tell ourselves, “I’m not an artist.” Thing is – you were made in God’s image and creativity comes with that! We participate in the Cosmic Christ when we co-create with God.

Visio Divina is a way of wordless prayer. Twin of Lectio Divina it takes us into Mystery through color and objects. It helps us move to that earlier time in our lives when no words, but our early expressions brought us into contact with Mystery. We were all born creative and expressive, like Caitlyn, and like God. That creativity never left.

Color is inclusive; it speaks to everyone in their own vernacular. When we express ourselves in color, we meet the Cosmic Christ in an uncluttered love.

Today we celebrate Gaudete, the Advent feast of Joy associated with the vibrancy of the color pink. For the next few moments, I invite you to pray through Visio Divina while looking at Caityln’s picture, and listening to a piece of music recorded by our FutureChurch community member Sonja on her harp. This picture is raw joy from all of us, from Caitlyn and from God. This is Gaudette!

So relax, Take a few moments to let these colors speak to you and allow yourself to respond.

Caitlyn’s Gaudete – image for Visio Divina

Third Sunday of Advent Opening Prayer:

Creator God,
Through your inbreaking the wilderness blossoms,
The nonverbal become expressive,
And our fearful hearts break forth with joy.

Open our eyes to the color you put in our lives.
Free our creativity,
That our prayer and witness
to the joy of the Gospel
Would transcend words.

To all who long for Christ’s fullness,
Grant perseverance and patience,
That we may announce by our lives
The good news of your kin-dom.

Fourth Sunday of Advent Opening Remarks by Sonja Grace:

Sonja Grace is author of Garlands from ashes – healing from clergy abuse, (a collection of healing journeys told by 18 courageous women and men in New Zeland), published 1996.

Where is the Cosmic Christ being born today, in our time?”

Our holy womb is where the soul of the incoming child or idea, like a seed is invited to gestate. In the depths of winter, when nature is still and quiet, it is a special time for retreating inwards, descending within to listen to the cosmic feminine Christ residing deep within our womb/heart.

As we reflect on Mary, let us consider the young pregnant mothers today in Palestine. The women who have lost their homes, their land, are living in tents made of plastic sheets which don’t keep out the rain, snow, or the biting, cold winds. The recent heavy rains have meant their tent is awash with mud. The baby clothes have been ruined, the recently bought nappies, baby formula and what remains of food are now all unusable. Still the divine feminine force insists on giving birth to new life.

One might ask, Why?

These people, who have lost hope in a never ending war, say we are now just bodies without souls. For them, a new life brings joy, brings the blessing of love in a place, surrounded by devastation. For those who have lost so much, what is most important for them remains their family and God. Where love is, there is God.

I can reflect on my own life. When I was pregnant for the first time, I was not married, because the Church refused to marry us.  I had just left an abusive relationship and was dossing down with various friends. And yet, despite everything, I bore a healthy girl. At the time I was riddled with guilt, it felt wrong to be blessed with a living baby, when I had not much materially to offer. A woman who had everything, a home, a nursery for the baby to be, a supportive husband. She finally managed to carry a baby to full term. Yet, it was born dead. She was devastated. I asked God, Why me? Why have I been blessed and not her?

I can only say, giving birth taught me how to be a mother and how to love. It was to be another twenty five years before my father freely hugged me. Children teach those of us who have never known love, how to love so that we may freely share our love with others.

When the feminine Christ emerges, it is not just about giving birth to children, it is also about giving birth to new ideas, new creations – be it with the written word in a poem, a story, planting a garden, composing music, singing a new song. The love of Christ shines through us in the darkest of times. The divine feminine love is strong, it is powerful, it is courageous and creative. It brings blessings to many.

Through acknowledging the sanctity of our holy wombs let us transmit love, peace and justice through all of our creations out into our world, instead of violence and trauma.

For me, I have found the Cosmic Christ in prison inmates, and in the homeless living on the streets of our cities.

I would like to end with sharing a song, Lost my Job. I wrote this song to capture the words of one woman living on the streets. I’d like us to imagine the word “wine“ standing for love?

Lost my job,
Couldn’t pay the rent,
Thrown out onto the streets, in the city.
Welcome angel into my home without walls?
My  home without walls.

Refrain: Dreaming, dreaming of turning water into wine.
Dreaming, dreaming of turning water into wine.

Enough to feed the whole wide world.

Refrain:

There’d be no more hunger.
Everyone be smilin’.

Refrain:

Fourth Sunday of Advent Opening Prayer:

Eternal God,
In the evolution of the cosmos,
In the words of scripture,
And in the prophetic dreams of your people,
You promise your abiding presence with us.
Through the holy womb of woman,
The Divine is born into our world.
Fill us with your Divine Life in every circumstance,
That we may learn from you the way of Love.

More Resources:

To learn more about the Cosmic/Universal Christ, here is brief list of suggested resources in the chat as a launching point for further learning:
A sign at Wheaton reads "All Are Welcome"

Wheaton Franciscans Create an Invitational Church

Written on . Posted in Emerging Models of Parish & Community Life.

by Sharon Niemet

It all began with an invitation to an energy group. In 2013, a group of 14 Wheaton Franciscan sisters and Covenant Companions (laypeople who have made a public commitment to the community) met to discuss the meaning of an invitational church. They gathered to explore these questions:

  • As Franciscans, we have been called to “rebuild the church.”
  • As Wheaton Franciscans, we are called to be “a presence of blessing.”
  • As People of God, how are we expressing our empowerment and responsibility to “be Church?”

Since those early days, the Invitational Church Circle was born and has evolved to embrace the perspectives of the people served (including a growing digital community) and those not yet known but who seek a welcoming community of faith. Circle members represent all facets of the Wheaton Franciscan community, including the Regional Leadership Team; Charism and Mission; Tau Center (spirituality center); Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation; Religious Formation; Liturgy; Covenant Companions; Congregation of Jesus and Poor Clare sisters residing with the Wheaton Franciscans; and Building and Administration. Remarkably, three of the original members from 2013 are still active with the circle today.

Living the invitation

In April 2023, the intention statement was updated to reflect the circle’s scope more accurately:

The intention of Invitational Church Circle is to respond to the urgent call of the spirit to
create a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming community where faith journeys are
nurtured and shared through ritual, kinship, and service.

The circle discusses and plans various ways to engage the faith community, friends, and digital followers, creating a welcoming space both in person and online. Some events, such as feast days and the annual Jubilee celebrating the anniversaries of sisters and Covenant Companions, follow time-honored traditions. Other activities are dreamed up and tried, such as a concert by Jesse Manibusan, composer, singer-songwriter, storyteller, and evangelizer to celebrate the Season of Creation or an outdoor walking event to celebrate peace and justice.

The circle, with input from others, develops an annual theme and logo to help focus efforts and create a cohesive message for those it serves. This annual theme is then tailored for special seasons such as Lent/Easter, Season of Creation, and Advent/Christmas.

The Wheaton Franciscan 2025 theme centered on the Jubilee Year theme, “Pilgrims of Hope,” and the 800th Anniversary of the Canticle of Creation.

The weekly Eucharistic celebrations bring joy and comfort for individuals and families seeking a spiritual home. Special prayer services, from Taizé to Prayers of Hope, unite people of faith in responding to the needs of our world today.

First Sundays feature fellowship after liturgy, known as “Coffee &…”, where people gather for friendly conversation over coffee and breakfast foods. The circle works hard to create opportunities for sisters, covenant companions, faith community members, and visitors to connect and open doors for contemplation and action.

As part of the 2025 Lenten activities, household supplies were packed and donated to local refugee families.

Some of the most popular Invitational Church events involve generous giving, such as collecting food for Thanksgiving baskets, gift cards to brighten the Christmas celebrations of those in need, a Lenten donation drive for newly arrived refugees, and donations of items for a local animal shelter during the annual pet blessing on the feast of St. Francis (Oct. 4). People from all walks of life come together to celebrate gratitude and extend generosity to their neighbors.

The Wheaton Franciscans have a peaceful and lovingly landscaped campus, so some activities occur outdoors. People are invited to enjoy the serenity of the St. Clare Garden, walk the labyrinth, and stroll through the Peace Path.

The St. Clare Garden features a labyrinth for quiet meditation and reflection.

 

During the 2025 Earth Day celebration, guests were invited to help plant a new tree.

A master calendar for planning and evaluation

The circle produces a master calendar of events that guides the use of space, time, resources, and potential participation. The calendar also features regional and national events — such as Interfaith Week, Catholic Sisters Week, and Charism Carrier Week — to help spot opportunities for collaboration and shared learning.

The circle also analyzes and reflects on completed events, querying if those activities served the community and exploring better ways to accomplish their goals.

“We try not to overschedule, but we also try to offer what our community needs. If we are not thoughtful in scheduling, we defeat our desire to be welcoming and invitational. This collaboration and coordination are increasingly important in our post-pandemic hybrid world,” explains Jeanne Connolly, the circle’s convener and Director of Charism and Mission.

Being agile in an ever-changing world

Every meeting, the circle members ask, “What more can we do to open our doors?” The isolating days of the pandemic taught valuable lessons in how to stay connected and how to quickly adapt to using digital resources. Zoom meetings and livestreamed liturgies began out of necessity during those days but are still used today to connect with those who live far away or are physically unable to attend in-person events.

“Invitational Church Circle is always on the move, making things happen and looking to strengthen vital connections among our sisters, covenant companions, faith community, friends, and those simply knocking on our door or visiting our website. We hope that everyone feels the Franciscan love and hospitality that guides our work,” notes Sr. Mary Lou Wirtz, Regional Directress.

To learn more about the Wheaton Invitational Church Circle,
contact Jeanne Connelly at jconnolly@wfsisters.org.

Who are the Wheaton Franciscans?

We are a community of vowed sisters and covenant companions (laypersons) who live the Gospel in the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi and our foundress, Mother M. Clara Pfaender. Through our shared commitment to Franciscan contemplative presence and service, we strive to be a blessing in the heart of the world.

 To learn more, visit www.wheatonfranciscan.org

Do you know of or belong to a community that you would like to see highlighted? Reach out to Martha at martha@futurechurch.org.

FutureChurch: Commission’s Assessment on Women Deacons a Failure of Courage, Synodality, and Leadership

Written on . Posted in Press Releases.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Russ Petrus, Executive Director
russ@futurechurch.org | 216-228-0869 x2

Today the Vatican released the findings of the latest commission to study women deacons. While the commission states it cannot issue a “definitive judgment,” its assessment at this time is that women cannot be admitted to the diaconate “understood as a degree of the sacrament of Holy Orders.” This conclusion is a disappointing failure of courage, synodality, and pastoral leadership. 

At a moment when the global Church is in urgent need of reform and renewal, particularly on the role of women in the Church, the commission’s report reflects an institutional reluctance to engage fully with both the historical evidence and the current pastoral needs of the People of God as well as an unwillingness to listen to the Holy Spirit speaking through the experiences of women and the Synod process. 

The commission side-stepped decades of scholarship and abundant evidence showing that women were ordained as deacons in the early Church and beyond in favor of reinforcing patriarchal barriers to actualizing women’s full baptismal equality and participation in the life and ministry of the Roman Catholic Church.

Equally troubling is the commission’s claim that the 22 written submissions “[representing] few countries” it received after the Synod invited input “cannot be considered the voice of the Synod, much less of the People of God as a whole.” This statement fits a pattern of secrecy and obfuscation of this particular topic, ignoring more than a decade of calls from around the world to restore women deacons and the consistent raising of women’s ordination in global listening sessions as a part of the Synod on Synodality. 

After the question of women deacons was moved to Study Group Five, FutureChurch – joined by Women’s Ordination Conference and the Association of US Catholic Priests – sent a letter to Pope Francis, the Synod office, and the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith requesting that they consider the full body of scholarship on women deacons while reevaluating past biases on the subject rooted in clericalism. 

FutureChurch notes the commission’s admission that the question remains unresolved. This lack of closure only underscores what the faithful already know: the Holy Spirit is not finished with this issue, even if the commission is. And so, FutureChurch once again calls on Church leaders to engage the global Church honestly, to reckon with historical truth, and to finally open pathways for women’s sacramental ministry. 

As long as the Church refuses to affirm women’s gifts and recognize their vocations to ordained ministry, it will continue to undermine its credibility and mission. Catholics around the world — especially women who serve, preach, and lead — deserve more.

 

The Spirit Still Speaks: New Voices for Reform

Written on . Posted in Emerging Models of Parish & Community Life, Justice In the Church, Uncategorized.

On November 19, 2025 FutureChurch hosted a powerful conversation with a panel of young thinkers and activists. Moderated by Shannon K. Evans, Katie Gordon, Maxwell Kuzma, Medene Presley, and Yunuen Trujillo shared their experiences, insights, and hopes for a more just, inclusive, and Spirit-led Church.

Key points: 

  • Speaking from his perspective as a convert to Catholicism from the Afro-Pentecost tradition, Medene J.R. Presley comments on how the Church can reach out to communities it has hurt and alienated, noting that simply issuing documents isn’t enough.
  • As someone who occupies many Catholic spaces, Yunuen Trujillo addresses the need for progressive Catholics to open their minds and spaces to true intersectionality and inclusivity as one way to confront the pervasiveness of white Christian nationalism.
  • Reflecting on his journey as a transgender Catholic, Maxwell Kuzma discusses the role of personal discernment and intergenerational solidarity so that we can show up unapologetically in Catholic spaces as our true, authentic selves.
  • Katie Gordon reflects on her work with Nuns and Nuns and her relationships with different communities of women religious to share insights about how faith communities grow, evolve, and change.

More about our panelists:

Shannon K. Evans is the spirituality and culture editor at National Catholic Reporter and the author of the books The Mystics Would Like a Word, Feminist Prayers for My Daughter, and Rewilding Motherhood. With interest in ecofeminism, social change and contemplative practice, Shannon leads workshops and retreats across the country that spark curiosity and compassion. She and her family make their home in central Iowa.

  • Katie Gordon is a spiritual seeker inspired by monastic tradition. She is the Coordinator of Monasteries of the Heart, an online movement that translates Benedictine wisdom for contemporary seekers. Katie is often experimenting with new ways of co-creating community outside of traditional religious forms, including her previous projects like Nuns & Nones and the Formation Project. She is most inspired by Benedict as a model of “living otherwise” today, and writes about this and more on her Substack, Following the Monastic Impulse.
  • Maxwell Kuzma is a writer, advocate, and podcast host exploring what it means to be transgender, Catholic, and committed to justice. A columnist for National Catholic Reporter and board member of DignityUSA, he centers LGBTQ+ voices in the Church and reimagines Catholic theology through a liberatory lens. He has been interviewed by press such as the NYTimes and BBC on queer and trans Catholic identity, church reform, and LGBTQ+ inclusion.
  • Medene J.R. Presley is from Sacramento, CA; born and raised in the Afro-Pentecostal Christian tradition, but in 2018, was received into the Catholic Church while studying in seminary. He holds a Bachelors of Psychology from William Jessup University; a Masters of Divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology, and is currently pursuing a second Masters in Clinical Psychology at Loyola Marymount University.  Medene researches the integration of psychology and theology, moral/practical theology, and pastoral counseling.  He is the co-founder of the God Talk with Medene and James podcast.  Moreover, he is a religious educator, campus minister, and community service director at a private Catholic high school in Los Angeles.
  • Yunuen Trujillo is a lay minister, faith-based community organizer, and immigration attorney. With over 15 years of experience in young adult ministry, she currently serves as the Religious Formation Coordinator (Spanish) for the Catholic Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Persons of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Yunuen has worked with L.A. Voice PICO, a faith-based organization focused on creating a society that reflects the dignity of all, advocating for immigration reform, criminal justice reform, and increased resources for education. She is a board member of New Ways Ministry and FutureChurch. Yunuen is also the author of LGBT Catholics: A Guide to Inclusive Ministry, published in English and Spanish by Paulist Press.

Prayers:

 

Catholic Women Preach Advent 2025

Written on . Posted in Catholic Women Preach, Women In Church Leadership.

“This Advent, when fear walks our streets again and raids attempt to silence hope,
our practices must become acts of justice.”
– Yolanda Chavez preaching for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

 

This Advent and Christmas, in solidarity and with a deep and urgent concern for our immigrant siblings, Catholic Women Preach is featuring reflections from Latina women, migrant women, and women who accompany migrants in ministry and advocacy. Reminding us of the Holy Family’s own search for safety, shelter and dignity, their preaching offers a prophetic witness to the Gospel and a profound expression of the Church’s mission to stand with and for those on the margins. 

May these women’s words inspire deeper compassion, courageous dialogue, and renewed commitment to the Gospel call to welcome the stranger.

Letter to US Bishops

As the shepherds of the Catholic Church in the United States, our bishops have unique moral authority to defend the dignity of migrants and to inform the national conscience with Gospel values.

And so, in addition to centering these voices on the Catholic Women Preach website, FutureChurch has sent a letter to every bishop in the United States inviting them to join us in a spirit of synodality and solidarity and to listen and reflect upon their preaching. We thanked the bishops for their recent Special Pastoral Message on Immigration and encouraged them to continue speaking out in bold opposition to the sinful and dehumanizing treatment of immigrants in this country.

View our letter to US Bishops

How You Can Help

 

“Advent is not about waiting for God to act.
Advent is about waking up to where God is already at work and joining God in that work.”
– Dr. Angélica N. Quińónez preaching for the First Sunday of Advent.

 

FutureChurch needs your help to amplify these voices and messages this season. We’re inviting all FutureChurch and Catholic Women Preach friends, supporters, and followers to share this messages with their own communities and networks. And, in particular, we’re asking folks to reach out to their local faith community asking that these reflections be shared in bulletins, newsletters, emails, and community social media.

Sample Letter/Email to Send to Bishop or other Diocesan leader

Dear Cardinal/Archbishop/Bishop [Last Name],

In a spirit of synodality and with deep concern for the urgent reality facing migrants in our country, I write to ask for your continued and courageous public witness at this critical moment. As Advent and Christmas draw near—a season marked by the story of the migrant Holy Family seeking safety—the suffering of immigrants, migrants, and refugees in these times calls for a clear moral response from our Church.

This year, Catholic Women Preach is centering the voices of Latina women, migrant women, and those who accompany migrants in ministry and advocacy. Their preaching speaks with prophetic clarity, reminding us that Christ is revealed in the stories of those who are most vulnerable today. I hope you will listen to these reflections at www.catholicwomenpreach.org and consider sharing them with our diocesan communities.

The recent USCCB message on immigration is an important step, and I am grateful for it. Yet as political rhetoric intensifies and immigrant families continue to face dehumanizing treatment, the need for strong, consistent episcopal leadership has never been more urgent. I ask you to continue raising your voice boldly for compassion, justice, and systemic reform grounded in the Gospel.

Please know of my prayers for you and for all who are entrusted with guiding our Church in these challenging times.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Sample Letter/Email to Send to Parish or Community Priests, Staff, and Leadership

Dear Father, Sister, Mrs., Ms. Mr., etc [First name, last name as appropriate],

In a spirit of synodality and with a deep sense of urgency for our immigrant siblings who are facing tremendous hardship, I write to ask for your support in lifting up an important resource this Advent and Christmas.

This year, Catholic Women Preach is featuring Advent and Christmas reflections from Latina women, migrant women, and women who accompany migrants in ministry and advocacy. Their preaching offers a powerful reminder that the Holy Family’s story—seeking safety, shelter, and dignity—is alive in the lives of countless families today.

I hope you might consider sharing these homilies in our parish bulletin, newsletter, website, or social media to help our community reflect more deeply on the Gospel call to welcome the stranger and stand with those on the margins. The reflections can be found at www.catholicwomenpreach.org, and new ones will be released throughout the season.

As our parish prepares to welcome Christ anew, these women’s voices offer both inspiration and challenge—inviting us into greater compassion, solidarity, and prayerful awareness. Thank you for considering this request and for all the ways you shepherd our community.

Sincerely, 

[Your Name]

 

Download a Flyer to Share

Descargue un folleto en español para compartir

Stay Tuned…

FutureChurch will continue to develop ways for people of good will to stand with our immigrant siblings and to encourage our bishops to take action in the weeks and months ahead. In the meantime, we encourage you to learn more about the issues from our friends at Pax Christi USA and NETWORK Lobby and to explore the abundance of resources and information available through Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC).

We also encourage you to read and consider signing the Cabrini Pledge offered by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Visit the Catholic Women Preach Website

Mary Magdalene Cohort

Written on . Posted in Women In Church Leadership.

Introducing FutureChurch’s Inaugural Young Women’s Group: The 2026 Magdalene Cohort

FutureChurch is thrilled to announce that 2026 will be the inaugural year for a new young women’s* group called the Magdalene Cohort! All women with an interest in theology, ministry, and/or faith-based social justice and who are in their junior or senior years of undergraduate studies are encouraged to apply. In order to provide a personal experience for each member, the cohort will be capped at 12 participants. Applications are due on or before December 19, 2025. 

*FutureChurch is an open, welcoming, and inclusive community. We welcome all who seek a more just and inclusive Church—whether you find yourself connected to, on the margins of, distant from, or questioning your relationship to institutional Catholicism. Furthermore, we celebrate the image of God reflected in every person and embrace the diverse and beautiful ways women, non-binary, and gender expansive people live into and express their embodiment of that image of God.

What is the purpose of the Magdalene Cohort?

First and foremost, the Magdalene Cohort is a relationship-building opportunity. Not only does it provide the opportunity to learn and grow with like-minded peers, but it will also intentionally connect participants with both mentors and experts in the fields of theology, ministry, and faith-based social justice. 

In addition to relationship-building, through this year-long program, participants will have the opportunity to grow in four distinct interest areas: theology, faith-based social justice, ministry, and spirituality. The program will culminate in a project of each participant’s choosing, chosen and crafted in collaboration with their mentor. 

What is the goal of the Magdalene Cohort?

In a field that has so often been dominated by men, the goal of the Magdalene Cohort is to encourage, support, and celebrate young women on their theology, ministry, and justice journeys. 

What is the time commitment of the program? 

Participants will meet from 7-9pm ET on the third Wednesday of every month via Zoom. Each participant will also be required to meet quarterly with their individual mentor, and participate in the Magdalene Cohort retreat in Cleveland, Ohio July 10-12, 2025. 

How is the program structured? 

Part I: Jan 21, February 18, March 25: A Tree Has Strong Roots: Theological Foundations

Like a tree with strong roots, the program begins with theological foundation. For our first three zoom sessions. participants will meet with a theologian who will share their expertise in their areas of interest. These sessions will give participants the opportunity to engage with the expert, ask questions, and solidify their theological foundations before continuing on with the program. 

Part II: May 20, June 17, July 15: One Tree, Many Branches: Faith-Based Social Justice

Like a tree with many branches, our world was created with beautiful diversity. However, not all identities are treated with equity. During these three sessions participants will meet a faith-based expert who is rooted in social justice. Participants will take a deep dive into social justice issues that inflict our world today.  

Part III: September 16, October 21, November 18: Blossom and Grow: Ministerial Applications

The fruit of a theological foundation and a passion for justice is a pastoral heart. Throughout this segment of the program, participants will dialogue with professional ministers and learn of the fruit of their ministries. 

April 15, August 19, December 16: Water the Soil: Pause and Reflect

After each part of the program concludes– and before the next one begins– participants will gather for pause and reflection. This spiritual grounding is the lynchpin of the program, as it allows the seeds that have been planted to be watered and, eventually, to grow. 

Capstone Project: Seed Scattered and Sown 

In addition to the 12 virtual group sessions, four times throughout the year participants will meet for a virtual “coffee” with their assigned mentor. These discussions will provide unparalleled opportunities to build relationships with women who have vocations in theology, ministry, or faith-based social justice work. With their mentor’s guidance, each participant will discern a capstone project to be the culmination of their work in the Magdalene Cohort. 

Magdalene Cohort Retreat: July 10-12, 2025

Though the Magdalene Cohort is primarily a virtual experience, halfway through the program we invite all participants to gather in Cleveland, OH for an in-person retreat. During this retreat we will have the opportunity to meet one another in-person, to grow our connections with one another, to reflect on the experience so far, and to brainstorm the direction of our capstone projects. While this retreat is offered at no charge to participants, each participant is asked to cover their own transportation to the event.*

*If transportation costs are an issue, financial assistance is available. Please contact Russ at russ@futurechurch.org to discuss options.  

Program Calendar at a Glance:

Ready to Apply? Download the application HERE!
All applications and resumes listing relevant experience are due by December 19th.

Questions? Reach out to FutureChurch Program Associates Olivia or Martha at olivia@futurechurch.org or martha@futurechurch.org. 

Dr. Cynthia Bailey Manns Accepts 2025 Fr. Louis J. Trivison Award

Written on . Posted in Fall Event.

FutureChurch is honored to present the 2025 Louis J. Trivison Award to Dr. Cynthia Bailey Manns in deep gratitude and recognition of her care-filled and faithful service to the People of God – and especially those at the margins – as a delegate to the Synod on Synodality. 

The Fr. Louis Trivison award is given to a Roman Catholic who exhibits outstanding leadership in advancing FutureChurch’s Vatican II mission or vision in one or more areas of: teaching, administration, research, publication, advocacy, and pastoral care.