WILDflower: Untaming St. Thérèse of Lisieux Join WOC for our Fall 2021 virtual retreat marking St. Thérèse of Lisieux’s feast day (October 1-3, 2021). This retreat will explore Thérèse’s own vocation to priesthood, women/non-binary persons’ calls to priesthood today, and how her “little way” resonates with the many different roles people must take within a movement for justice. We hope to “un-tame” the “Little Flower” into something more like a WILDFLOWER. The retreat will led by ordained Roman Catholic Woman Priest Nancy Corran and WOC board member, Jocelyn A. Sideco. Learn More     October 27, 2021 from 7:00 - 8:30pm ET Archeology's Surprising Story about Early Christian Women and Men with Christine Schenk, CSJ We often look to books to learn about history...But sometimes art tells a different story! In her critically acclaimed book Crispina and Her Sisters, author Christine Schenk, C.S.J. explores the archaeological and literary evidence for women’s leadership in early Christianity. Schenk’s original research into visual imagery found on burial artifacts demonstrates that women were far more influential in the ancient world than has been commonly recognized. Join us for a fascinating visual journey and consider what it may mean for women and men today. Join FutureChurch and our friends at River's Edge for this illuminating presentation! Fee: $15.00 Register Pope Francis, Meet Your Priest: Ludmila Javorová

A Conversation Co-Hosted by FutureChurch and the Women's Ordination Conference

As Pope Francis travels to Slovakia next week, Sr. Miriam Therese Winter will join FutureChurch and the Women's Ordination Conference to recall the ministry and life of Ludmila Javorová, a woman who was ordained a Roman Catholic priest by Bishop Felix Davidek to serve in the underground church there when the church was under threat by the Communist regime from 1948 through 1989. Learn about her life, ministry, and why she is important as the world follows Francis to Slovakia: Tuesday, September 14, 2021 12:00 pm ET This event was recorded; watch the video here:  https://youtu.be/X44gIYt-8IU As Pope Francis travels to Slovakia next week, Sr. Miriam Therese Winter will join FutureChurch and the Women's Ordination Conference to recall the ministry and life of Ludmila Javorová, a woman who was ordained a Roman Catholic priest by Bishop Felix Davidek to serve in the underground church there when the church was under threat by the Communist regime from 1948 through 1989. Learn about her life, ministry, and why she is important as the world follows Francis to Slovakia: During his travels (Sept. 12-15), Pope Francis will visit his Jesuit brothers and likely recall the heroism of Jesuit priest Ján Chryzostom Korec who, under Communist rule, was secretly ordained a bishop (at the age of 27) and carried out his underground pastoral ministry - work that landed him in prison. Korec was later made a cardinal by John Paul II. Yet, Pope Francis will not spend time with 89-year-old Ludmila Javorová, a Catholic woman who put her duty to care for the Church and God's people over her need for safety by becoming secretly, but fully ordained as a priest under the communist regime.  Ordained in 1970 by Bishop Felix Davidek, Javorová became vicar general for a major branch of the underground Czech church for twenty years.   Ludmila Javorová became the first woman ordained to the priesthood to tell her story publicly, confiding her experience in its entirety to Sr. Miriam Therese Winter, who later published her authorized biography in 2001.  Join us as Sr. Miriam Therese Winter shares her story of meeting Ludmila. Learn how the story of her heroism unfolded between them and how they became very close friends along the way. We will also discuss the implications of her clandestine ordination and the Vatican's effort to "erase" it because Ludmila is a priest who is a woman.   This story is important for all people as Pope Francis journeys to meet Catholics in Slovakia and celebrate those who courageously protected and pastored Catholics there when the times called for such selfless measures.

Women Erased Series

FutureChurch's Women Erased Series offers online presentations that uncover the many ways women's leadership, witness, and ministries have been erased from our Church's Scriptures and Lectionary, historical record and memory, and communities.

These sessions, featuring leading scholars of Biblical studies, Church History, Ecclesiology, Canon Law, and Sacraments, as well as faith leaders will not only name and explore the history, but also put forth resources for correcting the record and telling the true story of women's central role in shaping and spreading Christianity from its beginnings to today.

Please join us as we learn from one another and prepare ourselves for taking action to build a Church where the gifts and ministries of women and all Cathoics are valued and restored.

Upcoming Sessions and Video recordings of past sessions