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“Without the generous contribution of many women, the history of Christianity would have developed very differently.”
— Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, Feb. 14, 2007 

This fall, we invite you to join us for Women of Vision, a monthly series that celebrates the lives, gifts, and spiritual contributions of women throughout Catholic history. They shaped the Church and the world around them, building a legacy of resilience, vision, and innovation. They mirror for us our missionary discipleship at the service of the world today.  

Each month, one of our featured presenters will reflect on the lives of three women in the Catholic tradition, highlighting the historical context and the gifts that they expressed through their leadership – gifts that are still needed today.  

Two weeks following each presentation, participants are invited to gather in a Wisdom Circle for a small group experience of prayer and reflection on the presentation. Multiple scheduling options are available. 

Featured Presenters  

September 3, 2025 – Sister Barbara E. Reid, O.P., Ph.D., a Dominican Sister of Grand Rapids, is the President of Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and the Carroll Stuhlmueller Distinguished Professor of New Testament Studies. She is also General Editor for the Wisdom Commentary Series, a new 58-volume feminist commentary on the Bible published by Liturgical Press. Sister Barbara received a Master of Arts from Aquinas College and her Ph.D. from Catholic University of America.  Dr. Reid will guide us through the lives of some of the earliest disciples of Jesus named in the New Testament. 

October 1, 2025 – Bronwen McShea, Ph.D. is a historian, writer, and speaker, and she is the author of three books, including Women of the Church: What Every Catholic Should Know (2024). She writes a column for The Pillar and has contributed reviews and essays to The Wall Street Journal, First Things, America Magazine, and many other periodicals. She has furthermore held research and teaching positions at Loyola University Chicago, Columbia University, the University of Nebraska Omaha, Princeton University, and several other institutions. She holds a Ph.D. in History from Yale University and an M.T.S. in the History of Christianity from Harvard University, where she also completed her undergraduate studies. She is based in New York City, not far from her hometown of Cornwall in the Hudson Valley. Dr. McShea will offer her reflection on the lives of women from the middle ages.  

November 6, 2025 – Dr. Shannen Dee Williams is Associate Professor of History at the University of Dayton. She is an award-winning scholar of the African American experience and Black Catholicism with research and teaching specializations in women’s, religious, and Black freedom movement history. Dr. Williams holds a B.A. in history with magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa honors from Agnes Scott College, a M.A. in Afro-American studies from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and Ph.D. in history from Rutgers University. A lifelong Catholic, Dr. Williams authored the award-winning column, The Griot’s Cross, for the Catholic New Service from 2020 to 2022. Dr. Williams will share her insights on the women religious of the 18th and 19th centuries.  

December 4, 2025 – Patricia Cooney-Hathaway Ph.D. is a professor of spirituality and systematic theology and the chairperson of the licentiate in sacred theology degree committee at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, where she has worked since 1987. She is the author of the award-winning book Weaving Faith and Experience. She also serves as the associate editor of Human Development Magazine. Dr. Cooney-Hathaway will offer her reflections on women of the modern era.  

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Wisdom Circles: A Space for Reflection and Growth 

Two weeks after each presentation, participants are invited to gather in Wisdom Circles. These small group sessions are designed to deepen your experience and offer the space to: 

• Pray together 

• Share insights and personal reflections 

• Explore how the stories of these women illuminate your own God-given gifts 

Multiple scheduling options will be offered each month based on participant interest and availability. Whether you’re seeking spiritual nourishment, community, or discernment, the Wisdom Circles are a place to grow in faith and understanding.  

Facilitators:  

Cami Beecroft-Mann, trauma informed spiritual director and certified grief care specialist.  

Barbara Conklin, marriage preparation coordinator for St. Peter’s parish in Douglas. 

Mary Martin, program coordinator for the CIC Leadership Formation Institute. 

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With Gratitude 

This series is made possible through the generous support of a grant from the Paulist Mission Advancement Office. We are deeply grateful for their commitment to fostering spiritual formation and affirming the leadership of women in the Church today. 

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