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?
IVC engages men and women in their later years to bring their talents and experience into service in the nonprofit, social service sector enhancing their capacity to meet the need in the community while growing deeper in their faith and spiritual lives.
In my role, I lead the overall IVC mission and its strategic direction, financial health and fundraising efforts, cultivating relationships with benefactors and stakeholders, representing the mission publicly, building collaborations with other Jesuit apostolic missions, working closely with the national board of directors, and ensuring compliance with regulations and ethical and faith-based standards.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Inviting and engaging people to be part of this amazing mission of spirituality and service. Empowering leadership within the mission. Ensuring the mission is thriving.
What is one of the challenges you’re facing right now?
Getting the word out to more people who may be called to this mission and having the resources to support expansion.
What are some of the lights and shadows you’ve experienced as a woman working in partnership with a men’s religious order?
The greatest light has come from meeting and being inspired by individual Jesuits who believe in the value and giftedness of women and work intentionally to lift them into leadership roles. I have had the joy and honor of working with many Jesuits who believe in women, especially women serving in collaborative leadership roles.
There is a subtle yet powerful difference between being “at the table” and feeling you fully “belong” at the table. Any shadows I have felt in my 45 years in leadership in the church has come from that distinction.
How does Ignatian spirituality shape your approach to work?
Ignatian spirituality cultivates through its practice a deep attentiveness to the movement of the Holy Spirit, of grace, in the practicality of everyday life in this world. To see the sacred present in the physical. To see grace in the other. Honing and rooting my daily work in spiritual guidance steers the mission in line with God’s desires for the mission. Ignatian spirituality keeps me grounded in the daily practice of authentic humility and brings the fuel of grace to my anxieties when I face challenges, make mistakes or need assistance.
How could the Jesuits and the church as a whole foster women’s leadership more effectively?
Openly enjoy and actively empower the gift of women at all levels. Weave women more intentionally into leadership positions.
What’s one of your favorite quotes about leadership or the best leadership advice you’ve ever received?
True and deep listening is a leader’s superpower. In your leadership, be both contemplative and active. Time in careful reflection is time well spent. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
Anything else you want us to know that’s not addressed in these questions?
Just a reflection that comes to me as I do this survey: In the span of time I’ve professionally served in the church — almost 50 years — I’ve seen a tremendous evolution in the role and gift of women and laity.
When I first began my life’s work, I was usually “the first, the only” woman or lay person in a particular role or apostolic institution (parish, school, mission). I purposely stepped into the role I was progressively invited into with the thought “Well, if I can do it, others can too!” Today, the sea of women and men, lay and religious, in mission and service to the church has grown tremendously. It’s a heartening and hope-filled evolution that still has potential promise for more. From this perspective, the diversity of the Society of Jesus is enabling the mission to thrive. I’ve been privileged to be a part of it all.
