Lent invites us into prayer, fasting, and almsgiving — practices that clear our vision, enlarge our hearts, and move us to work for justice. Through the lens of justice for women in the Church, we ask: Whose voices are we hearing? Whose gifts are we receiving? And where might the Holy Spirit be calling us next?
The Church teaches that women and men share equal dignity through Baptism. Throughout history — from biblical times to the present — women have exercised profound leadership in the Church. Today, women are being appointed to significant leadership roles at the highest levels of the Vatican, and here at The Basilica we are richly blessed by women who serve as Director of Communications, Director of Christian Life, Director of Engagement and Family Life, Managing Director of Parish Operations, and Executive Director of The Basilica Landmark.
When young girls look up and see women leading in the Church, something important happens: they begin to imagine their own gifts as needed and welcomed.
We are invited to notice and become aware of women in scripture. In today’s Gospel of the “woman at the well,” after the Samaritan woman’s conversation with Jesus, this woman—who was living at the periphery due to irregular marital status – evangelizes her whole town. She followed this call after having been acknowledged and forgiven by Jesus. The “bent over” woman in the Gospel of Luke is healed. The woman with a hemorrhage in Mark is healed by Jesus. And in John’s gospel Jesus appears first to Mary of Magdala and he tells her, “Go to my brothers and tell them.” thereby commissioning her to become the apostle to the apostles. These stories matter.
Our ministry takes its name from St. Phoebe, whom Paul calls a diakonos (Romans 16:1). She was entrusted with carrying Paul’s Letter to the Romans nearly 700 miles to the heart of the Empire in about 55 AD. More than a courier, she would have proclaimed and helped interpret Paul’s words to the Roman community — many of whom were hearing about Jesus for the first time. Her ministry was diaconal.
The Church officially calls us to continue to study and discern the historical and theological questions surrounding women and the diaconate through a dynamic synodal process. By decree of the Vatican, this discernment remains open inside the Catholic Church, and it’s notable that many faithful Catholic women experience a deep call to the diaconate— a call to proclaim the Gospel, baptize, officiate at weddings, preside at funerals, and to dedicate their lives visibly and sacramentally through works of charity and justice. Imagine regularly hearing the Word of God proclaimed and broken open from a woman’s perspective.
This Lent, how might we engage all this work through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving?
- Pray for the courage to recognize and affirm the gifts of women in our parish and in the wider Church.
- Fast from dismissing, minimizing, or overlooking women’s voices and vocations in Church life and decision-making.
- Give alms by supporting ministries that serve women in need — and by offering your own time, talent, and leadership in service to the Church.
In the long version of today’s Gospel reading, Jesus says, “I tell you, look up and see the fields ripe for the harvest.” Women’s gifts are part of that harvest — ready to be received for the good of the whole Church.
Phoebe’s Footsteps exists to encourage, educate, and support Catholic women in leadership and service. If this reflection stirs something in you, listen to the words of the psalmist today, “If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.” Join us at a future event to listen, learn, and be inspired to lead.