This Women’s History Month, we are highlighting the work of just a tiny percentage of the women leaders who serve the church and the world through their leadership in Jesuit and Ignatian ministries. These leaders shared a bit about their work and how Ignatian spirituality shapes their lives. They also offered their perspectives on ways the Jesuits can continue to improve how they welcome, empower and support women leaders.
Other Jesuit institutional connections:
What does your job entail?
In a nutshell, my job is about animating Jesuits, Jesuit collaborators and Jesuit works in the Jesuits USA Central and Southern (UCS) Province to engage more deeply in “walking with the excluded” and “caring for our common home” through their service, advocacy and action. This is done through a variety of means including: education, training, networking, and engagement in legislative and corporate advocacy.
What is one of the challenges you’re facing right now?
I’ve been involved in working in the Catholic Church for social and economic justice for 45 years — the last 20 with the Jesuits, and never have I experienced the kind of disregard for human rights and dignity of poor and marginalized people that we are seeing now by our U.S. political leaders.
Changes are coming so fast and furiously that it’s hard to figure out where and how the Jesuits and colleagues can make our voices heard — voices for peace, justice inclusion, equality, love of neighbor. But we MUST do this. We — Jesuits and colleagues — MUST be agents of hope and reconciliation even in these times when this message may seem to fall on deaf ears and hearts.
How could the Jesuits and the church as a whole foster women’s leadership more effectively?
The Jesuits and the church need to offer regular and effective avenues for the voices of women to be heard — and acted on — whenever possible. This can be done in so many ways: hearing women reflect on Scripture during liturgy, making space on “official” committees and commissions for women, engaging women in the formation of future clergy, recognizing the tremendous contributions that women have made and continue to make to the life of the church — and to the mission of the Jesuits.
In our own UCS province, our provincial Fr. Tom Greene, SJ, has established a Women’s Commission as one way that he can get input from women leaders across the province — this has been a great first step in insuring that our skills, experience and views are considered and valued.
What’s one of your favorite quotes about leadership or the best leadership advice you’ve ever received?
One of the quotes that I read when I first started work in the church was from a seasoned church community organizer: “Nobody likes a grim do-gooder.” It’s a reminder to me that unless our work for justice is infused with hope and joy, nobody will want to engage in this work with us. Sure, the social and economic problems we struggle with are big — but WE and the “beloved communities” we are part of are so much bigger if we continue to be joyful and hopeful.
