Programs

View WOC’s on-going, current, and past programs and projects. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us. For the latest news, see our Facebook Page

On-Going Programs

Three Ministries: Launched in 2003, the Three Ministries (Ministry of Irritation, Ministry of Walking with Women Called, Ministry of Prophetic Obedience) were created to encompass the diversity of thought and action within the movement.

Young Feminist Network: A ministry that equips and mobilizes young Catholic women to integrate faith with feminism and to eliminate oppression within themselves, church and society. Read our blog

NewWomen, NewChurch: Our bi-annual newsletter that provides up-to-date information and exclusive articles by feminist theologians and activists in the women’s ordination movement.

World Day of Prayer for Women’s Ordination: A concerted global action held annually on March 25, the feast of the Annunciation, to draw attention to the ban on women priests and the need for structural change in the church.

Diversity and Inclusion: An initiative to enable WOC to claim an anti-racist identity and incorporate racial justice, diversity and inclusion into all aspects of the agency.

Local Leaders Network : A national network of WOC leaders who serve as contacts for local organizing, media, and/or speaking engagements.

RAPPORT: Renewed and Priestly People Ordination Reconsidered Today: A covenanted community seeking ordination

 

  

Past Programs

August 14, 2008 – 2011: "Break the Silence. Shatter the Stained Glass Ceiling" After Roy Bourgeois, a Maryknoll priest of 36 years, gave the homily at the ordination of long-time WOC activist Janice Sevre-Duszynska, we released a statement of support and urged members to email Bourgeois’ superiors to stand in solidarity with him.  Two months later, the Vatican threatened Bourgeois with excommunication if he did not recant his public support of women’s ordination. He did not, and we launched this campaign with two coalition partners. So far, we have created an online petition that has gathered over 15,000 signatures, including over 200 women religious, to demonstrate the growing support for women’s ordination. WOC traveled to Rome to deliver this petition with Fr. Roy Bourgeois. Read more here. 

November 20-23, 2008: WOC at School of the Americas Vigil  As a part of the "Break the Silence" campaign, Aisha S. Taylor and Erin Saiz Hanna traveled to Fort Benning, Georgia to participate in the vigil, gather signatures for the petition, and raise public awarenes on the issue.  Read Taylor’s statement from the main page here and NCR’s coverage of WOC’s workshop here. View pictures here.

November 7-9, 2008: WOC at Call to Action Conference We met with current members, recruited new activists, and gathered hundreds of signatures on our "Break the Silence" petition as we hosted a WOC membership caucus, Young Feminist Network caucus, and booth.  We also co-sponsored a workshop on the new forms of ministry that are taking root around the country. View pictures here.

November 1, 2008: WOC participation in Roman Catholic Womenpriests ordinations in Chicago WOC leaders played a significant role in planning the ordinations of four women.  Read more here.

October 15-19, 2008: Women’s Ordination at World Synod of Bishops in Rome With activists from around the world, Taylor and Hanna organized a press conference, held prayerful demonstrations in St. Peter’s Square, gave out literature on women’s ordination in seven languages, and organized a tour of archaeological sites depicting women’s leadership in early Christianity. Our activism breached the walls of the seminary, which we learned after receiving a letter from a young seminarian in Rome. To read the letter and more, click here.

July 22-August 21, 2008: After learning that the University of San Diego rescinded the invitation to Rosemary Radford Ruether to hold a prominent teaching position, WOC worked with WATER to petition USD to amend the situation. Over 2,000 people signed the letter, and WOC activists delivered it on August 21, which resulted in a front page article about our action in the San Diego Union Tribune. For more information, read more here.

July 18-20, 2008: Joint Conference in Boston  Co-sponsored by WOC, Roman Catholic Womenpriests, CORPUS and the Catholic arm of Federation of Christian Ministries, over 300 people attended. Taylor and Kate Childs Graham presented a workshop on the women’s ordination movement, focusing on the growing numbers of ordained Catholic women, young women, and anti-racism, diversity and inclusion.  Childs Graham presented a new strategy to use international human rights law to draw attention to women’s exclusion from church goverance and to put pressure on the Vatican. Hanna helped plan the closing Sunday liturgy and read, and Taylor co-presided with three others.

April 14, 2008: "Giving the Gift of Women’s Leadership" during Pope’s visit to the USA Because the pope’s visit to Washington, DC fell on his 81st birthday, we named our campaign "Giving the Gift of Women’s Leadership." With our visual presence throughout D.C. and the varied media coverage we attracted, our message of justice for women in the church reached millions of people around the country and ignited public debate on the issue of women’s ordination.  For more information, click here.  To view pictures, click here. 

November 1-2, 2007: Regional Representatives Training: WOC’s Ministry of Walking with Women Called trained 10 leaders to connect with women in their region to support and facilitate communication for women called to ordination and a renewed priestly ministry.

August 16-17, 2007: Young Feminist Network Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion Training In conjunction with the Women-Church conference in Chicago, this retreat included workshops on essential leadership skills that enabled participants to actively engage in the women’s ordination movement. Read more here

May 18-20, 2007: WOC Board Anti-Racism training At the May Board of Directors meeting, WOC’s board and staff participated in a day-long training on anti-racism, diversity and inclusion. This is a step in the process to form an anti-racism team, so we can better advocate for a renewed priestly ministry, one that is free of racism as well as sexism and all forms of oppression.

November 3, 2006: "Bridging the Gap: Gender Equality, Sex and Ordination" As a member of the National Catholic Ministries Alliance, WOC helped plan and implement a day-long pre-CTA Conference seminar with keynote speakers Anthony Padovano, Andrea Johnson, Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger, Mary Ramerman, and more. We discussed and promoted the movement for an inclusive and renewing Catholic priesthood. View pictures

June & July, 2006 : Women’s Ordination Month Awareness Campaign With the success of the May campaign, we continued raising awareness by announcing the ordinations of women in June and July and publicizing the stories of women and men working for church renewal.

May 2006: Ordination Month Awareness Campaign We designed this campaign to draw attention to WOC events outside male ordinations, share knowledge about women’s ordination, and keep the issue of women’s leadership fresh in our minds.

February 18, 2006: Conversation and Celebration of Women Called

January 20-22, 2006: "Celebrating 10 Years of the Spirit at Work in Catholic Reform" Young Feminist Network Leadership & Organizing Retreat

November 14, 2005 Showering the Bishops with Roses from St. Therese in Washington, D.C.

August 12-20, 2005 World Youth Day 4 All in Cologne, Germany

July 22-25, 2005 Women’s Ordination Worldwide Conference in Ottawa, Canada and RCWP ordinations on the St. Lawrence Seaway

April 2005 Papal Transition Media Campaign, including the Pink Smoke events and WOC’s Media Coverage

 

2003: Ida Raming Speaking Tour

2000-2001 Billboard Campaign

July 15-21, 2001: Young Feminist Network Retreat
A retreat titled, "Theologies of Liberation Through Women’s Witness
"

1999: Ministry Survey