St. Mary of Magdala, Patroness of Dominicans,
Honored as Witness and Evangelist
By Cheryl Liske, OP
July 26, Westland, Michigan – St. Mary of Magdala, Patroness of the Dominican Order, was honored as a witness, disciple, partner, and evangelist during a special prayer service held on July 24 at SS. Simon and Jude Catholic Church in Westland, Michigan. St. Mary of Magdala, patron of the Dominican Order was celebrated as “witness,” “disciple,” partner” and “evangelist.”
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Prayer card designed by Sister Cheryl Liske, OP
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St. Mary of Magdala’s Feast Day is July 22, but because that date fell on a Sunday this year, its celebration was superseded by the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
In his welcome to the assembly, Father Gerry Bechard, pastor, expressed his gratitude that his parish had been selected to host the annual St. Mary of Magdala Celebration in the Archdiocese of Detroit.
“At this time in the life of the Church, we also rejoice that many of our sisters and brothers among the laity are heeding a call to follow the path of Mary of Magdala in bearing witness to Jesus, risen and alive among us, and in taking on the task of teaching and preaching and healing in his name,” said Adrian Dominican Sister Carol Johannes during her reflection that evening. “The ‘cloud of witnesses’ that religious and laity comprise today are neither hierarchy nor clergy. We are simply friends and followers of Jesus, as was Mary of Magdala. May we meet one another in the garden on Easter, or in the upper room, or walking the road to Emmaus, and in each place encounter the Risen One who will send us to ‘tell the others’ and to announce in our own voices, ‘I have seen the Lord!’”
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Sister Nancyann Turner addresses the congregation in SS. Simon and Jude Church during the prayer service.
Photo by Geri Pleva, Associate
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We do “rejoice that many of our sisters and brothers among the laity are heeding a call to follow the path of Mary of Magdala in bearing witness to Jesus, risen and alive among us” – and this Magdala celebration saw nearly 200 rejoicing in claiming their own voice. Indeed, one member of SS. Simon and Jude Parish expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the Magdala service because it celebrated her own experience of finding her own voice after having been raised as a “pay, pray and obey” Catholic.
A number of SS. Simon and Jude parishioners joined the celebration and fed the multitude in the “celebration” after the celebration.
Dominican Members of the planning Committee were Sisters Nancyann Turner, OP; Anneliese Sinnott, OP; Cheryl Liske, OP; and Sue Schrieber, OP. Adrian Dominican Associate Geri Pleva assisted as sound technician. Marianne Bernard and IHM Associate Therese Terns rounded out the planning team.