PRAY FOR WOMEN SEEKING TO CHANGE THE WORLD
by Kristen West McGuire
Women care about community—and invest their time, talents, and treasure to invest in positive changes. More women than men volunteer overall. And, more women than men choose professions such as social work, teaching, and nursing. Further, over two-thirds of non-profit employees are women. Women simply care more about making community work.
While Mother Teresa and Dorothy Day are notable examples, unsung and unknown laywomen have always fed the hungry, housed the homeless and nursed the sick. For example, Anne-Marie Chassaigne left a life of promiscuity, prostitution, and drug use in Paris and married and had children. When her son was killed in World War I, she embraced the Catholic faith and served children with special needs. She became a Dominican tertiary as a widow and lived a life of prayer and penance.
And, after Vatican II, both professed religious and lay women have embraced their calling to serve in thousands of apostolates all around the world. Both prayer and service offered to God lead to the Kingdom. For many women, their apostolic activities ebb and flow with their “season of life.” And prayer is most important!
Never be afraid to offer what you can to change the world! God has created us for good!
New Wave Feminists is a pro-life group that “advocates for the dignity of the vulnerable, amplifies a consistent life message, and agitates the status quo.” Led by prominent Catholic feminist Destiny de la Rosa, they operate two maternity shelters, one in El Paso, Texas and one in Juarez, Mexico.
https://www.newwavefeminists.com
TheSisters of Mary Morningstar are a contemplative order of nuns near Waco, Texas who welcome guests on retreat and visit women inmates on death row. They have an active oblates program, and are an international order.
https://www.marymorningstartexas.org/
Catholic Daughters of the Americasis a national spirituality and service group started in 1903. They strive “to be helping hands where there is pain, poverty, sorrow or sickness.” Active in 45 states, there are over 50,000 Catholic Daughters.
https://catholicdaughters.org/
Lord, We Pray:
• that women seeking social justice will develop an overflowing cup of spiritual graces that flows from the sacraments of the Church;
• that persons with power, funding, and influence will support social justice apostolates;
• that women who are discouraged in their mission work will rediscover hope and enthusiasm;
• for leaders of local ministries, that their work would change minds and hearts;
• for protection from those who misunderstand or reject Church teaching, and for their repentance; and
• for perseverance, seeking what is truly God’s good will for each individual worker and each individual receiving service.
Amen
