FutureChurch

05/29/2026

These days, it can be difficult to feel joy — let alone practice joy as an act of resistance.

But when Mary Magdalene encountered Jesus outside the tomb and ran to share the good news with her community, her joy was resistance. In that moment, Mary chose courage over despair. Hope over fear. Resurrection over resignation.

This July, as we celebrate Mary Magdalene, we’re inviting you to embrace the joy of resurrection as resistance. ✨ To get us started, our team is sharing some of the people, practices, moments, and memories that bring us enough joy to keep resisting. 💛

What’s bringing you joy these days? To share Easter Joy as Resistance with your community, download our resource by clicking here: https://futurechurch.org/women-in-church-leadership/mary-of-magdala/mary-of-magdala-celebration-packs/

05/29/2026

What does the future of women in ordained ministry look like in the Catholic Church?

Join Robert Ellsberg of Orbis Books in a compelling One-on-One interview with Phyllis Zagano discussing her newest book, "The Vatican and Women Deacons."

Drawing on decades of scholarship and her service on Pope Francis’ 2016 Commission for the Study of the Diaconate of Women, Dr. Zagano explores the history of women deacons in the early Church, the Vatican’s ongoing discernment, and what restoring the female diaconate could mean for the future of Catholic ministry and leadership.

Then join FutureChurch as we welcome Dr. Zagano for a special conversation on this urgent and timely topic on June 18th at 7 pm on Zoom. As the Church continues its synodal journey, this event offers an opportunity for thoughtful dialogue about history, theology, ministry, and the evolving role of women in the life of the Church.

Join Robert Ellsberg, publisher of Orbis Books, in this One On One interview withPhyllis Zagano as they discuss The Vatican and Women Deaconshttps://orbisboo...

05/28/2026

How far has the Church come in fully welcoming women into ministry and leadership? Elizabeth “Betty Anne” Donnelly will share her personal journey of faith, advocacy, and hope for a more inclusive Church with the Association of Pittsburgh Priests

Betty Anne believes that barriers to women’s full participation have weakened the Church’s witness to the Good News and Catholic social teaching. In this powerful conversation, she will explore the origins and impact of Catholic Women Preach, as well as ongoing efforts to restore women to the Catholic diaconate and expand opportunities for lay Eucharistic preaching. Betty Anne is also the co-founder and preacher coordinator of Catholic Women Preach !

If you're interested in tuning in: https://www.associationofpittsburghpriests.com/event-6479721

05/27/2026

TONIGHT!! You don’t want to miss it!!

We’re thrilled to welcome Gracie Morbitzer-Collins and Dani M. Jiménez tonight at 7 PM ET for our first-ever celebration of contemporary Marian art.

A heartfelt thank you to Gracie and Dani for their stunning, breathtaking, and prophetic depictions of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Register for the event: https://futurechurch.org/event/?id=566

(And thanks, Gracie for this amazing graphic, all credit to The modern saints by gracie )

05/26/2026

Russ, Martha, and Ann Marie were overjoyed to be representing FutureChurch in Detroit celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Women's Ordination Conference! 🎉✨

For 50 years, WOC has persevered, persisted, and witnessed with prophetic courage — and this weekend was a beautiful testament to that legacy.

We are especially proud of our FutureChurch community’s role in the celebration:
🌟 Board member Leslye Colvin, who shared her wisdom on the final panel
🌟 Board member Nontando Hadebe, who delivered a powerful homily at the closing Mass on Pentecost Sunday
🌟 Board member Angela Meyer, who shared her wisdom on the final panel and led the choir at the closing liturgy
🌟 Board member Rita Houlihan, who supported this milestone conference and shared her passion for Mary Magdalene with others
🌟 Founding Executive Director Chris Schenk, who moderated an insightful and energizing panel
🌟 Staff member Martha Ligas, who served on the liturgy planning team and led the stunning Saturday morning liturgy

A heartfelt thank you to Kate McElwee, Katie Lacz, and their phenomenally gifted board and conference committee for creating such a meaningful and Spirit-filled gathering.

Here's to the next 50 years!! May they be as abundantly blessed as the last!!

05/22/2026

We are two months away from FutureChurch’s favorite day of the year… Mary Magdalene’s feast day! ✨

This year’s theme, “Easter Joy as Resistance,” speaks directly to the moment we are living in — a time marked by fear, violence, division, and the silencing of voices in our world, our Church, and our communities.

Mary Magdalene’s witness reminds us that hope is possible even in the midst of grief. She carried sorrow to the tomb, was called by name, and was sent to proclaim the Good News that love is stronger than death. We believe that joy is not an escape from suffering, but a holy act of resistance.

We invite you to host your own Mary Magdalene celebration on or around July 22nd using FutureChurch’s flexible prayer service guide. Adapt it for your community: change the readings, add your own petitions, include songs your community loves, and gather together to proclaim Easter hope.

And if this year’s theme doesn’t fit your community’s needs, FutureChurch also offers an extensive library of past Mary Magdalene celebration guides — complete with prayers, readings, and music suggestions to help you plan your own meaningful gathering. 🌿

Access the materials by clicking the link in our bio!

05/21/2026

Save the date and join us for, what we are sure will be, a fabulous conversation with Dr. Phyllis Zagano.

We are honored to welcome back our longtime friend and advocate for a conversation on her newest book, The Vatican and Women Deacons. Drawing on decades of scholarship and her service on Pope Francis’s 2016 Commission for the Study of the Diaconate of Women, Dr. Zagano will explore the history, theology, and ongoing discernment surrounding women in ordained ministry.

At this pivotal moment in the Church’s synodal journey, this conversation invites us to reflect on the future of ministry, leadership, and inclusion in a global Church. Together, we’ll explore how history, doctrine, and pastoral need continue to shape this urgent and hopeful conversation — one FutureChurch has worked to advance for more than two decades. 🌎💜

You can register for this event here: https://futurechurch.org/event/?id=567

05/20/2026

ONE WEEK!! As many of you know In the Catholic tradition, the month of May has been dedicated to Mary the Mother of God. But all too often images of Mary have been limited or lacking, depicting Mary in ways that may be outdated or unrelatable. We are excited to host "Beyond the Blue Veil: Contemporary Marian Art" with and who will share their artistic depictions Mary as multi-racial, layered, and contemporary.

Each artist will share samples of her work and hopefully inspire us to see that praying with diverse images of Mary can have a beautiful impact on both our prayer lives and how our prayer life may motivate us into action.

Register here: https://futurechurch.org/event/?id=566

05/19/2026

Help us celebrate Pride this year! 🌈

Over the past several years, FutureChurch has marked Pride with meaningful conversations and storytelling. This year, we’re continuing the tradition with a special panel discussion: “Living Your Truth: Lessons from the Catholic(ish) Q***r Community.”

Join us our panelists share personal stories, prophetic wisdom, and reflections on faith, identity, belonging, and hope. Moderated by James Reding of God Talk with Medene and James, this conversation invites all who are seeking a more honest and expansive way of living their truth—whether you identify as q***r, Catholic(ish), both, or neither. 💜

You can register here: https://futurechurch.org/event/?id=568

05/15/2026

We are excited to share an awesome opportunity for this summer: The Center at Mariandale will host an online series for Earth Justice. Each zoom session will deepen our attention to earth through prayer and conversation with one another as we remember the land, seek to live in abundance, and reflect on our response to unjust systems. You can register individually for each session, or for the entire series at this link: https://centeratmariandale.secure.nonprofitsoapbox.com/calendar/event/2171

The first session is Wednesday, May 20th at 6:30pm where Shawn Stevens (Red Eagle) will share stories as he asks us to Reawaken an Indigenous Mindset. We hope you will join in for this series of events!!