Catholic Women Preach

Preaching for the First Sunday of Lent Dr. Kim R. Harris offers a reflection on hope, liberation, and God’s life-giving power in the face of oppression, told through African American spiritual tradition and biblical storytelling: "On this first Sunday of Lent, we hear the story once again, of God blowing breath into a lump of clay. We think once again of God blowing breath into some dry bones. We know that in the midst of all that is happening, ‘dem bones can rise again!"Dr. Kim R. Harris is Associate Professor of African American Religious Thought and Practice at Loyola Marymount University. A liturgist, composer, and recording artist, she teaches Black liberation and Womanist theologies and presents on Black Catholic music, Negro Spirituals, and Civil Rights freedom songs. She composed "Welcome Table: A Mass of Spirituals" and co-authored "The Fire This Time: A Black Catholic Sourcebook."Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/02222026 to learn more about Dr. Harris, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for Ash Wednesday, Carolyn D. Townes, OFS invites us to enter into Lent with a posture of openness - hearts softened, spirits awake, ready return to one another and to God: "May the ashes we receive today awaken in us a holy tenderness. May they strengthen our resolve to honor the sacredness of every life — not only in prayer, but in practice. Not only in lament, but in the daily work of building a world where peace is possible, where justice is lived, where love is the shape of our choices."Carolyn D. Townes, OFS is a spiritual life and leadership coach and a loss to life mindset strategist, where she uses faith-based principles to provide spiritual and emotional wellness to those moving from the pain of grief and loss to a new life of purpose and peace. Since professing as a Secular Franciscan in 2000, Carolyn has served in several leadership roles for the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) is currently serving on the Ecumenical and Interfaith Committee. At present, she serves on the boards of Franciscans International, Pax Christi International Fund for Peace, and the Franciscan Federation and is an active member on the Nuns Against Gun Violence Coalition.Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/02182026 to learn more about Carolyn, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Betsy Cahill offers a reflection on Jesus' invitation to follow him, not merely the law: "In the reign of God, true righteousness transcends outward practice and demands of us a radical interior openness to knowing and doing God’s will. Jesus calls us unflinchingly to embark on an open-ended journey towards holiness. Do not follow the law mindlessly and meticulously, he proclaims: follow me."Betsy Cahill is a wife and mother, a writer, and civic volunteer with deep experience in biblical studies, historic preservation, and secondary education. Having earned degrees in Classics (Harvard) and English Literature (Oxford), in 2010 she achieved a long-time dream when she graduated from Yale Divinity School with an M.A. in Hebrew Bible. Using her knowledge of biblical languages, she has taught classes and lectured on spirituality and Scripture.Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/02152026 to learn more about Betsy, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Ximena DeBroeck, Ph.D. offers a reflection on being prophetic lights in a world marked by injustice: "I wonder what you need to be a prophet of light and flip every switch of mercy-filled actions so that those around you don’t have to fear the darkness of injustice. Go, then, be that prophetic light to the world!"Ximena DeBroeck is an adjunct professor of Scripture and Theology at the Institute for Pastoral Studies of Loyola University, Chicago, Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, and Divine Mercy University. Ximena grew up in Ecuador and is fluent in English and Spanish. She earned a Theology MA, with Scripture concentration, from Saint Vincent Seminary, a License in Sacred Theology-Biblical Studies from St. Mary’s Seminary, a doctorate in Systematic Theology from Duquesne University, and a MS in Psychology from Divine Mercy University.Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/02082026 to learn more about Ximena, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Preaching for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Rhonda Miska offers a reflection on perceiving the world through the Beautitudes, allowing them to shift our attention from power and success to mercy, justice, and love: "Through Jesus’ presence within us, we can put on the Beatitudes and see ourselves and the world clearly, as Jesus sees. And when we see clearly, we can choose love instead of fear, choose nonviolence instead of harm, choose community instead of isolation."Rhonda Miska is a preacher, teacher, spiritual director, writer, and lay ecclesial minister. She serves as Communication Director at the Church of St. Timothy and is a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Community in the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis. She is the founder and co-convener of the Catholic Women’s Preaching Circle, a peer community of Catholic women supporting and accompanying one another in breaking open God’s Word. She serves as the Lead Cohort Facilitator of PROCLAIM, a 22-month formation program for Catholic women in preaching and ministry of the Word.Visit https://www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/02012026 to learn more about Rhonda, to view her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.