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Luke Hansen SJ, at Voices of Faith.

My first encounter with the “Voices of Faith” event happened on International Women’s Day 2015. I watched the livestream of the event that took place inside the Vatican and featured the stories of Catholic women working on the frontiers of the church in areas like education and healthcare for girls and women and also initiatives that supported migrants and refugees and worked against human trafficking. The event also featured a panel in which five accomplished women raised critical questions and spoke about their hopes and dreams for the leadership of women inside the Catholic Church.

Immediately I felt inspired and encouraged by this creative and unique initiative, which sought to be a place of encounter and a bridge between the frontiers of the church and the central government of the Catholic Church. The event highlighted the leadership of women already being exercised in the church but also insisted that this leadership be expanded to every area of the church’s life.

This year, the fifth year of “Voices of Faith,” I had the privilege of speaking on the panel at the event. The event mainly featured the voices of young women, especially in light of the upcoming Synod on young people in October. One of the inspirations guiding “Voices of Faith” this year was the letter of Pope Francis to young people in preparation for the Synod. “Do not be afraid to listen to the Spirit who proposes bold choices,” he wrote. “The Church wishes to listen to your voice, your sensitivities and your faith; even your doubts and your criticism.”

On the panel, I spoke about the strong presence and influence of women in my Jesuit formation. I have had women as professors of Scripture, ethics, sacraments and even homiletics. I learned Ignatian discernment from a Dominican sister who served as my spiritual director for three years. I prepared for priestly ministry with women: studying with them and collaborating with them. Women have been my supervisors, colleagues and friends. Along the way, I have tried to listen and learn from these women, especially as they shared their diverse experiences as Catholic women and raised critical questions about the church we love. I emphasized that this friendship and regular collaboration with women is essential for any man preparing for priestly ministry.

In response to other questions, I spoke about my hopes for the Papal Commission on the Diaconate of Women, and also the joy and pain that are experienced by women who experience a call from God to serve within the Catholic Church as ordained ministers but live with the reality that it is not possible to fulfill that vocation today.

The women who spoke at this year’s event were extraordinary. As just one example of many, Ssenfuka Joanita Warry, a Catholic, spoke powerfully about the double discrimination she faces as a gay woman in Uganda. She described the violence that results from the criminalization of homosexuality. She said that in her country the message from the church is treated as the message of God, so it is essential that the church treats gay persons with dignity and respect.

The courage of these women gave me courage. There were many powerful moments of honesty. At some points I saw people in tears because of the beauty and power of what was shared. I hope it is a ripple effect that inspires and encourages more women to speak about their experience of how God is at work in their lives and in the church.

 

Luke Hansen is a Jesuit priest from the United States, a student at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, and a former associate editor of the Jesuit journal America.

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