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September 17, 2025, Adrian, Michigan – The feast of St. Phoebe – declared a saint by the early Church before the canonization process was begun – was celebrated on September 10, 2025, in St. Catherine Chapel at the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ Motherhouse. The Liturgy and an afternoon program on St. Phoebe were organized by the Spirits Rising Mission Group of the Adrian Dominican Sisters.

“I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is [also] a minister of the church at Cenchreae, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the holy ones, and help her in whatever way she may need from you, for she has been a benefactor to many and to me as well.” These words, taken from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans (16:1-2), are never proclaimed from the pulpit as part of the Catholic Church’s lectionary, but they are used by many in the Church to uphold Phoebe as a deacon and minister of the early Church.

During the liturgy at St. Catherine Chapel, Associate Kathryn “Katie” Love offered a reflection on Romans 16:1-2 and the Beatitudes. She noted that St. Paul lifted Phoebe “as an example – a woman whose ministry strengthens the body of Christ” through her leadership, service, and care for God’s people.  

Phoebe’s legacy has been carried on by women throughout the course of Church history, Katie said. “Think of the women who opened their homes as house churches in Paul’s time … the women martyrs who gave their lives for Christ … the women religious who have taught, healed, and cared for the poor across centuries … and the mothers and grandmothers who have passed the faith from one generation to the next.”

She encouraged the assembly to remember Phoebe and to “give thanks for the countless women who have carried the Church on their shoulders – in the early days, in history, and right here among us now.”

Sister Cheryl Liske, OP, delegate of the Spirits Rising Mission Group, led Sisters and Associates in an afternoon program that included input on St. Phoebe and opportunities for small- and large-group discussion. The program explored the role of St. Phoebe and its implications for the role of women in the Catholic Church today.

“Phoebe is the only person directly named as a deacon and benefactor” in Scriptures, said Sister Cheryl, an iconographer who created an icon of St. Phoebe and presented it to the Adrian Dominican Sisters on the Feast of St. Phoebe in 2024. The icon is now on display in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. 

“We recognize and honor her as our sister,” she added. “She used her power for the good of others and for the Gospel. Perhaps we could reflect on how we use whatever social power we have to come to the aid of the needy. If we do that, Phoebe will be proud to have us as her successors.”

Sister Cheryl noted the “ongoing discernment” over women’s ordination to the permanent diaconate, a role distinct from that of the priest. One of the primary documents of Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, describes the role of the deacon. At the disposal of the bishop, the deacon is called to “serve the whole people of God and take care of the sick and the poor.”

Sister Cheryl contrasted the recent 60 Minutes interview in which Pope Francis stated that the issue of women’s ordination was closed with Paragraph 60 of the summary of the Catholic Church’s three-year Synodal Process, which calls for “full implementation of all the opportunities already provided for in Canon Law with regard to the role of women” and requests that the “discernment of diaconal ministry for women remains open.”

Understanding the difference between the 60 Minutes interview and paragraph 60 is one step towards continuing the discernment of women deacons, Sister Cheryl said. She also encouraged participants to sign on to the request that the Feast of St. Phoebe be restored to the Roman calendar and that the reference to St. Phoebe in Romans 16:1-2 be restored to the lectionary. 

The celebration of the Feast of St. Phoebe was in response to a request by Discerning Deacons, an organization whose mission is to “engage Catholics in the active discernment of our Church about women and the diaconate and contribute to the renewal of this ministry for our times.”
 

Caption for above feature photo: Participants in the September 10, 2025, presentation on St. Phoebe engage in small-group discussion.

By Sister Maria Yolanda Manapsal
Chapter Prioress, Our Lady of Remedies Mission Chapter

March 24, 2025, Mining, Angeles City, Philippines – In celebration of Women's Month, the Our Lady of Remedies Mission Chapter and the Dominican School of Angeles City Foundation, Inc., along with social worker Liz Maricarl E. Cordero, came together to address a pressing issue: the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children. 

The presentation was an initiative of the Our Lady of Remedies Mission Chapter, based in the Philippines, in alignment with the Adrian Dominican Congregation’s 2022 Chapter Enactment on Women. The presentation was given to the students in grades 7 to 10 to teach them how to protect themselves against human trafficking, which entraps many children in the area. About 161 people – including student advisors and some Adrian Dominican Sisters – attended the event.

This initiative aims to educate students about the risks of online exploitation and emphasize the importance of open communication regarding Internet safety. Workshops and awareness campaigns can empower parents and children with the knowledge they need to safely navigate the online world.

Liz Maricarl Cordero, a former social worker at the University of the Assumption in San Fernando, Pampanga, spoke on the rights of children delineated by the United Nations, and on the dangers to children of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) serves as a foundational document for children's rights. It emphasizes that every child should be protected from all forms of violence and exploitation. Article 19 states that children have the right to be protected from all forms of violence, including physical, mental, and sexual abuse, and Article 34 states that governments must protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation. This includes protecting them from being forced into sexual activity, prostitution, and pornography. Both articles highlight the need for safeguarding children against abuse, especially in the context of evolving technologies.

As children increasingly engage with the internet for education and social interaction, they become more susceptible to online threats. Predators exploit the anonymity and accessibility of the digital realm, making it essential for parents, educators, and communities to work together to create a safer environment.

Celebrating Women's Month means advocating for the rights of all individuals, especially the most vulnerable among us, our children. Let us commit to fostering a secure community that protects children from online threats, ensuring they can explore, learn, and grow in a safe environment. Together, we can champion the cause of child protection and uphold the principles set forth in the UNCRC, fostering a brighter and safer future for generations to come.

 

Caption for above feature photo: Social worker Liz Maricarl E.Cordero speaks to students at the Dominican School of Angeles City about the dangers of online sexual abuse and exploitation.