In those first years of our movement to celebrate St. Mary of Magdala, we were thrilled with each and every new group that participated. We were surprised when we went from celebrations in 23 cities in the first year to celebrations in 150 cities in the second year. And by the fifth year, we counted 224 celebrations not only across the United States, but internationally: in the United Kingdom, Kenya, South Africa, El Salvador, Australia and Canada. And since then, there have been celebrations in countries around the world. We don’t have a final count for this year but we know there will be well over 300 celebrations. We were shocked—but oh so pleased! We really were not sure that a yearly event would be sustainable. But we touched a deep chord—one that twitched and spasmed—one that started a movement we could not have predicted.

And the creativity put forth in these celebrations also surprised us. There were certainly great speakers. There were musical programs. There were liturgical dance programs. There were enactments of women leaders of our church. Scripts were written. Prayer services were offered. But most importantly, people—men as well as women—were engaged in the thought that there is biblical evidence of the importance of women for our church.

And that’s the chord we struck. Women of faith were yearning for a reflection of themselves in church celebrations. They were hungry for role models—they were yearning for hope. And the celebration of Mary of Magdala as the Apostle to the Apostles provided that.

But we also dealt with people who were negative about our celebrations. There was a gentleman who accused me and all the FutureChurch supporters of being wiccan—of wanting to start a coven of some sort because we dared to say that Mary of Magdala was not a prostitute. We were picketed because we dared to speak out about expanding women’s roles in our church—of recognizing the contributions of women in the history of our church.  But we persevered— we did not give up because we knew that the chord we had struck had begun to sing a great song—and it took on a life of its own.

Press coverage was surprisingly supportive of our movement. We had people all over the country writing editorial pieces about Mary of Magdala and restoring her rightful place in our church history. And the papers ran them! Over the years, we have had coverage not only in the  Catholic publications, but the secular press: the LA Times, the Dallas Morning News, Chicago Sun Times. We have had radio and television news coverage—not just here in the United States but overseas as well.

I feel validation for all the work FutureChurch and supporters have done over these years—our persistence in proclaiming her role as the Apostle to the Apostles—our powerful message that women matter in this church and  the need for extended roles in our church. With the elevation of the celebration of St. Mary of Magdala to a feast day—recognition by our church of the importance of this particular woman whom God chose to proclaim the good news of the risen Lord—we now have a glimmer of hope for change that could come. And the announcement by Pope Francis of the formation of a commission to study the possibility of reinstituting women deacons in the Catholic church gives us even more hope for change in the future.

We certainly were not the first to proclaim the true identity of Mary of Magdala as the Apostle to the Apostles. But
I like to think that it was because of the efforts of FutureChurch that we are now celebrating the FeastDay of St. Mary of Magdala. Still, we will continue to be diligent—we take nothing for granted. But we feel the spirit moving and she is helping us build a future church for our daughters and our sons.

Sister Christine Schenk, CSJ, co-founder of FutureChurch, shares the story of how FutureChurch’s annual Mary of Magdala celebrations began.

Flashback:  1989-class at St. Mary Seminary in Fr. George Smiga’s class on the New Testament. I was stunned to discover there is no evidence whatsoever that St. Mary of Magdala was a prostitute but ample evidence in all four Gospels that she was the first witness to the Resurrection. But who knew?  No one!  And I vowed then to let people know about her faith-filled leadership if ever I could.

Enter God’s inscrutable providence. In 1997, as director at FutureChurch, I was at last able to fulfill my vow by launching FutureChurch’s international campaign to restore St. Mary of Magdala to her rightful place as the apostle to the apostles.

We asked our supporters to sponsor special celebrations on or around July 22 at which a biblical expert would trace Mary’s unparalleled fidelity in accompanying Jesus through crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection. This would be followed by a prayer service at which a woman would preside, preach and encourage attendees to reflect on their own encounters with, and witness to, the risen Christ.

Our first Cleveland celebration attracted 200 people to a local parish where Fr. Smiga himself spoke. A friend encouraged about eight women from her 12-step group to attend. To my surprise, they wept unrestrainedly throughout the beautiful prayer service created and led
by pastoral minister, Laurel Jurecki, who was clothed in a white alb.

It dawned on me that we were touching something very deep within the Catholic female psyche. A long-buried wound was slowly being brought to the Spirit’s healing light.

Annual celebrations of St. Mary of Magdala exploded after that, going from 23 that first year, to 150 the following year to between 250 to 400 celebrations worldwide in each of the last 17 years. Every summer, thousands of women and men helped correct an egregious injustice done to a great woman leader in our church.  And every summer, more women wept as wounds of unconscious misogyny were healed by the Spirit’s gentle touch.

And now, just two months ago the Vatican actually changed St Mary of Magdala’s memorial to one on par with all of the other apostles.

It’s not often that working to be the change we long to see actually happens in one’s own lifetime.  I am extraordinarily grateful for the providence of God, and for the powerful Holy Spirit energy at work in literally tens of thousands women and men over the past 19 years.  This would not have happened without them.

Margaret Mead is quite correct when she says: “Never doubt that a small number of people can change the world. They’re the only ones who ever have.”  But we have a long way to go before women’s ministry is in on par with men’s ministry in the Catholic Church.  Sadly, misogyny is alive and well and coming to a poll booth near you.

This is where the Holy Spirit comes in to do her thing—but she needs our help.  So I ask you to pay attention to the Spirit’s call within you . Where can you make a difference? Where can you sow seeds for a future you may never see, but one that won’t happen at all if you don’t begin now.

I long for a Catholic church in which all of our daughters and sons are proud to raise their families.  Come Holy Spirit, Renew the face of our church so we may at last proclaim a God in whose image both women and men are made.  Amen.

Feminist Theologian and author, Gina Messina , preaches on for our July 2016 Celebration of the Feast Day of St. Mary of Magdala, “Building a Church for Our Daughters.”