This unique scholarship
awards $2,200 to
women and non-binary people on their academic and spiritual paths, discerning ordination.
Endowed by the late Sheila Durkin Dierks and her family, WOC is honored to celebrate the pioneering legacy of Lucile Murray Durkin.
Who is encouraged to apply?
Scholarship applications are open to women and non-binary persons enrolled or accepted into an undergraduate or graduate studies programs, or relevant coursework. To be eligible the candidate must be enrolled or participate in at least one class or significant volunteer ministry of comparable scope that they believe would forward the discernment of their call to a life in ordained ministry. This scholarship is primarily directed to women and non-binary people who wish to be ordained Catholic priests (including Ecumenical Catholic and Roman Catholic Women Priests). Secondarily it is open to those who are seeking priestly ordination in other denominations.
How to apply
Application are now open for 2025! Please have all materials in by May 15, 2025.
Apply here!A completed application form.
Including essay (1,000 words), original artwork, a video, or an audio file of your voice that speaks to one or more of these:
* Your sense/experience of being called to ordained ministry.
* Your vision of women and non-binary priests in the Catholic Church, and how their leadership might change the Church as a whole.
*The gifts you believe you would bring to ordained ministry.
*How you might explore a path to ordination or feminist ministry in the next year.
Two letters of recommendation
from an academic and/or spiritual mentor who can reflect on the applicant’s vision of her/their sense of call to feminist ministry and transformative ritual; and her/their character as a person of compassion, faithfulness, inquiry, sacrament, and service. Letters should be sent directly to the reading committee: scholarship@womensordination.org
Meet our 2024 Awardees!
We celebrate the courage and visionary leadership of Hannah, Katie, Judith, and Katie, who walk a prophetic path toward equality and justice. We challenge church leaders to listen to their voices and learn from their experiences. God is calling these inspiring people to lead.
Read more about our awardees!
Hannah Coley
2024
Katie Dutton
2024
Judith Twinobusingye
2024
Katie Wojda
2024
Support the scholarship fund
You can ear-mark your donation to WOC to go directly to supporting the longevity and growth of this unique and important scholarship fund.
Donate to our scholarship!
Julia Murphy
2023
Christy Chady
2023
Kelly Wurth
2023
Adina Meyer
2022
Corinna Robinson
2022
Tammy Fuqua
2021
Susan Russell
2021
Jemma Suwa
2021
Meredith Toussaint
2021
Erin Conway
2020
Claire Hitchins
2020
Anne Tropeano
2020
Kate Fontana
2019
Kori Pacyniak
2019
Molly Minnerath
2019
Jojo V. Gabuya
2018
Maryclare O’Brien-Wilson
2018
Allison Connelly-Vetter
2018
Sarah Holst
2017
Lisa Cathelyn
2017
Elaina Jo Polovick LeGault
2017
In memory of her…
Sheila Durkin Dierks
Rev. Sheila Durkin Dierks died February 20, 2023, at the age of 79 in Boulder, Colorado.
She had put her creative energy and commitment to justice into service for others, building community in the six cities to which life took her and her husband Peter and their four children. Welcome, empathy and collaboration were her hallmarks. And she was funny!
Sheila was a “firecracker lit by a divine spark,” according to Kate McElwee and Katie Lacz, leaders of the Women’s Ordination Conference.
Her one and only tattoo suggests that spark: a flame over her heart, inspired by the Gospel words, “Were not our hearts burning within us?” as Jesus’ disciples remembered his conversation with them on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:32).
