“Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire!.” ~ Catherine of Siena
“Our sister, Catherine, must be smiling at the news of Pope Francis’ approval of changes that will for the first time allow women and lay people to vote at a major meeting of Bishops! After all, she was a woman, and a lay person as well!
Think for a moment, of the women you know today, who are steadfastly upholding the dignity and the giftedness of women, against all odds. And think for a moment, of all the women who have gone before us; our own Dominican Sisters and so many others, who worked to bring about transformation in Church and society, but who would never live to see the fruits of their labors. All of these women, past and present, were being who God meant them to be; and in the process, they created tiny, timid sparks that would eventually come together, to set the world on fire.”
In 2021, Pope Francis initiated a synodal journey of the whole People of God, beginning in each local Church and culminating in the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome, in October 2023. The theme of this Synod is about the very nature of the Church, the specific way of living and operating as a Church together.
“When the Synod gathers in Rome in October, it will now include 70 voting members who are not Bishops, and half of whom will be women. While the proportion of women voters overall would be only about 10 percent, this decision should not be underestimated. Francis has made it clear that the Synod is a central deliberative body that will help him determine the future of the Church. And women will finally be part of the deliberative process.”
~ Margaret Mayce OP, International Coordinator, Dominican Sisters International Confederation
“Proclaim the truth and do not be silent through fear.” ~ Catherine of Siena