Voices of Women
I just finished reading The Invention of Wings, a new book by Sue Monk Kidd – author of Secret Life of Bees. The book is set in the early 1800s in Charlotte, North Carolina. The story follows the lives of two girls, a black slave and her white owner. Over 35 years, both girls grow into women and struggle with finding freedom, finding their voice.
In reflecting on the novel and its focuses on women’s rights and racial justice, I can’t help but pause. While laws have changed, our society is still wounded, still needing to attend to these issues, over 150 years later. Yes, women can vote and own property, but they still earn less than men. They still struggle to be heard in the Boardroom and in our Church. Slavery is no longer the law of the land but discrimination is still rampant. Black people are not whipped but their punishments in our penal system are more severe than their white counterparts. Justice is far from a reliable expectation. We still have a long way to go. The book uses the sewing of a story quilt to emphasize the importance of telling and hearing stories. Truth heals and inspires. Those listening find strength and courage in knowing others’ struggles. While reality might not change immediately, telling stories keeps hope alive for a better future.
One way the voices are being heard today is through drama. The 8th Day Center in Chicago is sponsoring an original play the lifts up the true stories of Catholic women who have followed their conscience: the still small voice that speaks from our essence and guides our lives. It is called The Conscience Monologues. It will be held Thursday, July 23, 2015, 7:00pm at the home of a friend of 8th Day: 806 W. Castlewood Terrace, Chicago, IL 60640-4217. There will be wine and refreshments at 6:00pm., and the evening will conclude with an informal discussion after the one-hour performance.
The suggested donation of $10-$50 covers payment to actresses and a donation to 8th Day Center in order to continue bringing this performance to life. Reservations are required due to a 50-person space limit. Contact Joellen McCarthy at 312-641-5151 x109 or joellen@8thdaycenter.org.
Just two days after that, there is another opportunity to raise the voices of women. It is to attend the forum, Women in a Catholic Church: What Francis Needs to Know at Chicago Theological Seminary on July 25, 2015, from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call To Action, Catholics for Choice and CORPUS are sponsoring this day-long forum. It will be an exciting and engaging event designed to inspire, educate and inform participants about the role of women in the church today, and why women are largely missing from the new tone and trends in the church. This free event will focus on what Pope Francis needs to know about women in the church and map a way forward to ensure women’s voices are heard on the issues that matter to each and every one of us. For more information or to register: http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5132/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=76618
