"My name is Patrick. I am an Irish Dominican priest living in Rome. I just wanted to write to you to say thank you for the great work you do and for the website.
I first heard of Women of Grace a few years ago. Some female friends of mine in Dublin, Ireland, were involved or in contact with your group to varying degrees. I remember thinking at the time how wonderful and necessary such a movement within the Church is. I often have conversations with people about different roles in the Church, male, female, equality, etc… I think you at Women of Grace have a lot to contribute to the debate, providing a forum for such conversations to happen.
There is much confusion today with regards to questions of personhood, sexuality, gender. We see it being played out in the media each day and even in the civil courts. It is a hot political topic. These notions however do not always map exactly on to the truth of what God has revealed to us about the dignity of the human person. Even in the Church, many false, worldly notions abound.
It is so refreshing to see a group like yours taking up this very important task, championing authentic femininity within the heart of the Church… You have a love for the Mystical Body of Christ and a love for the uniqueness and beauty of the feminine contribution to the building up of the Kingdom of God. It is wonderful to see.
I had conversation recently with a lady here in Rome. She is a very educated lady, a catechist in her local parish. She has great love for God. Our conversation was centered on the place of women in the Church, priesthood, etc. It was conducted very cordially and respectfully... I just felt though that no matter how much I tried to affirm the beauty of all vocations in the Church, it was difficult. I believe it with all my heart but I just realized the importance of a group like yours, a group of female disciples, bearing witness to our sisters on these types of questions.
Anyway, I just want to say thanks. Thank you for the work you do, for championing authentic femininity, for upholding the truth about man and woman and for living your vocation fully in the heart of the Church, our Mother. It is wonderful to see. It brings me such joy to see people flourishing in their relationship with God. I feel you all have a very important mission in the New Evangelization and that together we can proclaim the glory of God to all nations."
-Patrick
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