Preaching for Easter Sunday, Dr. C. Vanessa White offers a reflection on the power of women's voices proclaiming the Good News then and now: "If women doubt their value, this telling and retelling of the resurrection story reaffirms the power of a women’s voice  - for it was Mary’s voice that first testified to the Resurrection and whose story continues today...On this day, can we, like Mary, run and share the news of Jesus’ presence in our world?  In spite of our doubts and fears, do we have the strength, the fortitude, the faith to go out like Mary and the disciples and share the n ..read more

Preaching for Good Friday, Leslye Colvin offers a reflection on resisting systems of power and oppression: "History teaches that those who speak from the margins are targeted to suffer cruelties, and, quite often, to suffer death. Jesus was a man with a target on his back. He was born and lived on the margins of a powerful and oppressive system that placed no value on his life. He resisted the dehumanization of this system by recognizing each person as being made in the image and likeness of his beloved Abba, and he acted accordingly. For him, this was God’s law written on his heart, and his l ..read more

Preaching for Holy Thursday, Dr. Cynthia Bailey Manns offers a reflection on living God's bold, fierce love for everyone: "In October, I will return to Rome to participate in the final assembly of this Synod. And although I will NOT be washing feet, I will follow the model of Jesus’ bold, fierce love as he cared for those he encountered. He was a healing presence to those he taught, listened to, guided and accompanied. I will be a healing presence to those I encounter, listen to, and accompany. I will love others with more empathy and without distinction. And I will love God more fiercely. Beg ..read more

Preaching for Palm Sunday, Sheila Leocádia Pires offers a reflection on entering into Holy Week as a Synodal Church: "May this Holy Week be a season of deep reflection on the Church we want, a season of more conversations in the Spirit, a season of prayer and listening, and a season of open dialogue with one another." Sheila Leocádia Pires is a Mozambican media practitioner  with over 19 years of experience in Catholic journalism. She is the first woman to be appointed Communications Officer of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC). Ms Pires is a Synod delegate and ..read more

Preaching for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Ogechi Akalegbere offers a reflection on living as beacons of hope and justice: "As we reflect on this Gospel passage and the message of Sister Thea Bowman, let us recommit ourselves to the work of building a more just and compassionate society. Let us pray for the courage and the strength to stand up for what is right, even when it is difficult. And let us never forget the words of Jesus, who reminds us that whatever we do for the least of our brothers and sisters, we do for him." Ogechi Akalegbere is a Nigerian-American who currently works as the Dire ..read more

Preaching for the Third Sunday of Lent, Vickey McBride offers a reflection on trusting in God's will for us and our world, especially when anger at injustice consumes us: "Anger is a natural, human response. It is healthy and often a helpful compass that directs us to urgent needs. But if you ever feel consumed by anger when things don’t go the way you think they should, it might be helpful to remember what the psalmist says: God’s word is right, perfect, clear. God’s word leads us to everlasting life. And while we should stand up for God’s word and act as living witnesses, God does not requir ..read more

Preaching for the Second Sunday of Lent, Salena Ibrahim offers a reflection on responding in freedom to God's invitations: "In this process of letting go of our attachments, knowing the cost of discipleship, and still choosing to be faithful, we can better hear God speak to us of our belovedness, of our common belonging in God. This Lenten season, let us examine our interior attachments so that we can freely respond with Abraham, “Here I am,” and allow God to transform our lives." Salena Ibrahim is earning her Masters of Divinity at Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry where her wo ..read more

Preaching for the First Sunday of Lent, Diana Marin invites us to enter into the desert spaces of our lives with trust in God: "This past week we entered into Lent, a season of intentional desert traversing. I like to think of Lent as a skills building time. It’s a desert that is measurable and measured: we know when it begins and when it ends, we know the rules, we know to deepen our prayer, fast, and give. We do this in community. This doesn’t mean it’s not challenging, it is. But it’s a desert that invites us to build spiritual muscles, so that when life wallops us sideways, we can get back ..read more

Preaching for Ash Wednesday, Clarissa V. Aljentera invites us to discern a Lenten journey that incorporates the universal elements of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, but is uniquely ours to walk: "How do you believe God is inviting you into a Lenten journey that is uniquely beautiful and uniquely yours? What is God calling you back to? How will your heart make its way home?" Clarissa V. Aljentera (she/her) is a second-generation Filipina American born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is currently the Director of Education for Justice with the Ignatian Solidarity Network. She is p ..read more

Preaching for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Olivia Catherine Hastie offers a reflection on bringing our "messiness" to God: "Our messes never go away. We all carry anxiety, trauma, discomfort, family issues, identity crises, pain, and sorrow...How will you ask God to bless your mess? How will allow the spirit to move you to love others in the midst of their messes?" Olivia Catherine Hastie is a second year Master of Theological Studies student at Harvard Divinity School focusing on Religion, Ethics, and Politics. She earned her bachelor’s degree in religious studies and peace and conflict ..read more