Lucile Murray Durkin Scholarship For Women Discerning Priestly Ordination

This unique scholarship

awards $2,200 to
women and non-binary people on their academic and spiritual paths, discerning ordination.

Endowed by the late Sheila Durkin Dierks and her family, WOC is honored to celebrate the pioneering legacy of Lucile Murray Durkin.

Support the scholarship fund

You can ear-mark your donation to WOC to go directly to supporting the longevity and growth of this unique and important scholarship fund. 

Donate to our scholarship!

Who is encouraged to apply?

 Scholarship applications are open to women and non-binary persons enrolled or accepted into an undergraduate or graduate studies programs, or relevant coursework. To be eligible the candidate must be enrolled or participate in at least one class or significant volunteer ministry of comparable scope that they believe would forward the discernment of their call to a life in ordained ministry.  This scholarship is primarily directed to women and non-binary people who wish to be ordained Catholic priests (including Ecumenical Catholic and Roman Catholic Women Priests). Secondarily it is open to those who are seeking priestly ordination in other denominations. 

How to apply

Applications for 2023-24 cycle are now open. Applications are due by April 29, 2024 and must include the following:

A completed application form

Including essay (1,000 words), original artwork, a video, or an audio file of your voice that speaks to one or more of these:

* Your sense/experience of being called to ordained ministry.

* Your vision of women and non-binary priests in the Catholic Church, and how their leadership might change the Church as a whole.

*The gifts you believe you would bring to ordained ministry.

*How you might explore a path to ordination or feminist ministry in the next year.

Two letters of recommendation

from an academic and/or spiritual mentor who can reflect on the applicant’s vision of her/their sense of call to feminist ministry and transformative ritual; and her/their character as a person of compassion, faithfulness, inquiry, sacrament, and service. Letters should be sent directly to the reading committee: scholarship@womensordination.org

Our 2023 Scholarship Recipients

Read detailed bios of our 2023 awardees here.

Christy Chady

2023

Julia Murphy

2023

Kelly Wurth

2023

Meet Our Past Recipients

Read about our 20222021202020192018,  and 2017 awardees

Adina Meyer

2022

Corinna Robinson

2022

Tammy Fuqua

2021

Susan Russell

2021

Jemma Suwa

2021

Meredith Toussaint

2021

Erin Conway

2020

Claire Hitchins

2020

Anne Tropeano

2020

Kate Fontana

2019

Kori Pacyniak

2019

Molly Minnerath

2019

Jojo V. Gabuya

2018

Maryclare O’Brien-Wilson

2018

Allison Connelly

2018

Sarah Holst

2017

Lisa Cathelyn

2017

Elaina Jo Polovick LeGault

2017

In memory of her…

Sheila Durkin Dierks

Rev. Sheila Durkin Dierks died February 20, 2023, at the age of 79 in Boulder, Colorado.

She had put her creative energy and commitment to justice into service for others, building community in the six cities to which life took her and her husband Peter and their four children. Welcome, empathy and collaboration were her hallmarks. And she was funny!

Sheila was a “firecracker lit by a divine spark,” according to Kate McElwee and Katie Lacz, leaders of the Women’s Ordination Conference.

Her one and only tattoo suggests that spark: a flame over her heart, inspired by the Gospel words, “Were not our hearts burning within us?” as Jesus’ disciples remembered his conversation with them on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:32).

Read Sheila’s obituary Make a memorial gift