An Evening Of Faith

Deanna Goossens, President of the St. Philip Parish Ladies Club, said a combination of the call for New Evangelization and a Prayer of the Discipleship of Pope Francis prompted her idea for the Women’s Evening of Faith Dinner, which was held April 23 at St. Philip Parish.

More than 170 women from St. Philip and Corpus Christi parishes came together for an evening of social time and dinner, and to hear their pastor, Father Dusty Burns, speak on “Women’s Vital Role in the Church.”

Goossens said the women of St. Philip and Corpus Christi parishes share sisterhood, faith, shepherds, family blood and German roots. Although they see each other at Sunday Mass, many who attended agreed that the event was the ideal opportunity to socialize, share a meal and enrich their faith. 

“We were thrilled when we heard about this event,” said St. Philip parishioner Shannon Hoehn, who  attended with her mother, Sherri Scott, and grandmother, Beverly Toelle – also St. Philip parishioners. “When you do things like this, it eases concerns about … the parishes linking. Now we can use our limited resources to the maximum benefits by combining our parishes, groups and efforts. The St. Philip’s Ladies Club is generally attended by a small group of ladies; but this event clearly drew a large number of women of all ages from both parishes.”

 “It’s an important aspect for women to come together for support and faith,” Corpus Christi parishioner Vernette Weis said, “and I see quite a few ladies from Corpus Christi as well as a mixture of ages.”

“I am very proud to be here with all of you tonight,” Father Burns told the women. “This is the beginning of our linked parishes, our first big event, and you women are leading the way!”

During his talk, Father Burns reflected on several key points when explaining women’s vital role in the church – and why women can’t be priests. The idea of men being priests came from Jesus as He selected His 12 apostles, although His mother Mary was actually the first disciple to say yes to God.  God chose Jesus to arrive in the world through the gateway of Mary. Mary provided blood and flesh for Jesus, but her strength and gifts of love and nurturing also were necessary to bring Jesus into the world.

Mary nurtured Jesus, just as the church nurtures each of us,” Father Burns said. Mary was at Jesus’ crucifixion. Even when the apostles abandoned Jesus, Mary was there. Father Burns mentioned great women saints like St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Clare, St. Faustina and St. Monica, and how their deep faith and strength were so important in their lives and in the role of the Church. 

“Without women,” Father Burns said, “the Church would have been pretty lost. Women flock to spiritual events, such as the Evening of Faith. It’s the strength that comes from womanhood that is necessary to nurture and fortify vocations. Women have a strong role in the church to ‘stir things into action.’ At this first annual Night of Faith, I believe that women do have a vital role in the church. I appreciate the women in my life, and thank them for being who they are.”