Bilingual Prayer Service Wednesday, September 3rd at 6:30PM
What is new for women in the Catholic Church?
Put simply: a lot! In recent years, there have been many “firsts” for Catholic women. Under Pope Francis, the Church has seen historic developments, including:
- The first women appointed to the Vatican office that helps choose bishops
- The first woman to lead a Vatican department
- The first woman named President of the Vatican City government
- The first women appointed as voting members of a Synod—a global gathering (previously limited to bishops) that helps shape Church teaching
Did the recent Synod discuss the role of women in the Church?
Yes—extensively. As part of the Synod on Synodality, millions of Catholics worldwide joined prayerful “listening sessions” to reflect on how the Holy Spirit is guiding the Church. Nearly every report from these sessions raised the issue of women’s full and equal participation in the Church. The Synod Assembly’s Final Document made several recommendations to deepen women's roles in Church leadership and ministry, including:
Pope Francis officially ratified the Synod’s Final Document on October 26, 2024, giving it the weight of magisterial teaching—meaning it’s now part of the Church’s official teaching.
- Continue the process of discernment about women’s access to the diaconate
- Elevate the voices of women saints and theologians in preaching and catechesis
- Include more stories of women from the Bible in the official lectionary (mass readings)
- Fully implement leadership roles currently available to women under Canon Law
Pope Francis officially ratified the Synod’s Final Document on October 26, 2024, giving it the weight of magisterial teaching—meaning it’s now part of the Church’s official teaching.
What is next?
The Church is now beginning to implement the Synod findings at the local level. There are many ways you can participate in this next chapter:
- Read the writings of women saints, mystics, and theologians
- Reflect on and share the stories of Biblical women and their roles in salvation history
- Support and listen to women leaders in our parish and beyond
- Learn more about the ongoing discernment around the diaconate and the role of lay people in church life.
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Who Is St. Phoebe?
In the Letter to the Romans, St. Paul commends St. Phoebe to the church in Rome, introduces her as a deacon (diakonos) of the church at Cenchreae, and asks that they “receive her in the Lord” (Romans 16:1-3).
St. Phoebe was a woman of great courage and deep love. She answered God’s call to minister to God’s people during the earliest days of the Church, when persecution against Christians was strong. She earned the trust of Paul, who depended on her to handle communications with the ecclesial community in Rome. St. Phoebe’s feast day, September 3, is in the current Roman Martyrology. Her day’s liturgical status is not of a feast or a memorial but that of a “commemoration.” Her liturgy is celebrated in Eastern Rite and Orthodox Churches. Growing her devotion is one way to help restore her memory and instate a liturgy to commemorate her in our tradition. Additional Resources
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Getting Involved
Hope to see you on Wednesday, September 3rd!
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