March 6th, 2014
Another interview with Pope Francis published in Italy and Argentina by the daily Corriere della Sera, made headlines yesterday, covering topics such as contraception, civil unions, Humanae Vitae, “Papal fame,” and the role of women in the church. What did Pope Francis say about women in the Church? Come verrà promosso il ruolo della donna nella Chiesa? «È vero…
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March 5th, 2014
Over the weekend I attended a planning meeting with international partners to clarify the goals of an event to mark the 50th anniversary of the closing of Vatican II, to be held in the fall of 2015 in Rome. A dozen or so organizers from around the world united under the theme of “making…
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March 4th, 2014
March 2014 marks the one year anniversary of the election of Pope Francis. It has been a year of remarkable activity, media attention and excitement. “Man of the Year” for Time Magazine, on the cover of Rolling Stone, quoted by people of all denominations, Francis has made a significant mark on the world community. As Catholics interested in working…
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February 27th, 2014
When the priest said his homily was about tradition, I took that as my cue to check my cuticles and clear my throat. My mom might take this as an opportunity to balance her checkbook. Of course, these silent protests become more difficult with small faith community and online banking. The priest continued by telling…
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February 26th, 2014
Leggendaria, an Italian literary magazine, described as “a showcase of intelligent women,” was founded as an independent magazine in 1997, after having existed as a supplement to the monthly Noidonne since 1986. Leggendaria claims to be a tool for critical thinking: “taking the knowledge and experience of women as a privileged point of view.” Their…
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February 24th, 2014
In the Celio neighborhood of Rome, on a quiet street behind the Colosseum, there is a small shrine dedicated to the legend of Pope Joan, Papessa Giovanna. Fact or fiction, legend or parody, the flowers are fresh on this small shrine. Perhaps appropriately there is a triangular construction site, sectioning off a hole in the…
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February 22nd, 2014
Today is my 3-year anniversary on staff at the Women’s Ordination Conference! Hoping you’re the nostalgic-type like me, and will enjoy a little walk down memory lane together. It is because of our members that I have the opportunity to do so many incredible things around the world, with such amazing colleagues — thank you…
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February 19th, 2014
Carol Ganim. Being Out of Order: The Prophetic Generation of Nuns and Sisters Vandamere Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-0-918339-77-5. $19.95 Reviewed by Kate Conmy Being Out of Order: The Prophetic Generation of Nuns and Sisters by Carole Ganim is a refreshingly practical retelling of her journey as an Ursuline sister from 1956 to 1972. Offering verisimilitude…
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February 17th, 2014
For the past four weeks I have been in Italian immersion classes, while living with an Italian host family in Rome. The school, DiLit, prioritizes listening and speaking practice over grammatical exercises, complimented with cultural seminars and excursions throughout the city. Empowering students to open their mouths and build brain connections prior to writing (a…
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January 20th, 2014
The Eternal City calls! It’s true: the Women’s Ordination Conference is going to Rome, and staying awhile! In our effort to change the structures and representation of women in the Roman Catholic Church, we at WOC believe we must be firmly situated within the Italian context to better highlight the global necessity of women’s ordination.…
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