Celebrating the Feast of Mary Magdalene 2022

On the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, we remember how she became the “Apostle to the Apostles” by letting her voice carry the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection. The clarity of her message has carried forth since the time of the Gospels as a brave proclamation of what seemed impossible.

This feast day, we ask you to be a proclaimer like Mary Magdalene! Share our synod report with your bishop and parish priest, to let our voices carry to say that it is not impossible for the church to change; that the message of gender equity and ordination justice is ringing forth loud and clear. Our voices can and must carry through the rest of the synod process. Even though the diocesan phase is over, our efforts must be stronger than ever as the process moves into the hands of the bishops.

Mary Magdalene is a bold messenger, a tower of strength and courage, a willing apostle. May we look to her as our model as we carry forth our message of a new Church for a new day.

Take action with WOC on July 22nd:

• Join WOC staff for an Instagram Live on July 22nd at noon ET (@womensordination)
• Share a link to our synod report with church leaders.
  • Find the mailing or email address for US bishops online
  • You may want to write a personal note, or use our template below to express your hopes and concerns about the synodal process.
• Let your voice carry on social media:

Dear Bishop, 

I write to you today as a faithful member of your diocese and a participant in the Synod on Synodality. On the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, we remember how she became the “Apostle to the Apostles” by letting her voice carry the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection. The clarity of her message has carried forth since the time of the Gospels as a brave proclamation of what seemed impossible. 

I want to share with you the 10-page synod report from the Women’s Ordination Conference, an organization close to my heart. The report captures the experiences of Catholic women and the tension, pain, joy, and hope we experience in the church. The voices of women must carry throughout this synodal journey, and I ask that you read and pray with the report, and weave it into your discernment ahead. 

On her feast day, we remember that Mary Magdalene is a bold messenger, a tower of strength and courage, a willing apostle. May we look to her as our model as we carry forth our message of a new church for a new day.

Yours in Christ,