About

The Catholic Women's Preaching Circle (CWPC) is an initiative to support Catholic women desiring to grow in the skill of breaking open the Word of God. This peer-led space offers the opportunity to create and deliver a preaching and practice giving and receiving feedback. Each CWPC cohort is made up of six or seven participants, and one or two conveners. The CWPC meets on Zoom for 90 minutes each week for ten consecutive weeks.  Each gathering consists of a check-in, shared silent prayer, preaching and sharing of feedback, and closes with a prayer led by one of the members. 

The CWPC was inspired by co-convener Rhonda Miska's experience at the Collaborative Dominican Novitiate while in discernment of religious life with the Order of Preachers. The regular experience women preaching at Sunday vespers and sharing feedback revealed both women's preaching gifts as well as the benefit of peer-led communities of support for Catholic women preachers. 

The CWPC was conceived through the Discern, Dream, Scheme online retreat in 2020 and the first cohort gathering in winter/spring of 2021. 

The CWPC is informed by restorative justice circle practice with the intention of creating a safe, brave, honest, and life-giving space for all members. At the first gathering, members create collective agreements that guide how members journey together as disciples. 

After participating in a ten-week cohort, the circle closes with a blessing and commissioning. Members are warmly invited to periodic "all call" gatherings on Zoom to continue to grow in relationship, support one another in prayer, hone preaching skills, and share preaching and ministry resources.

In August 2024, the Catholic Women's Preaching Circle was highlighted as one of FutureChurch's Pentecost Projects. Click here to read Martha Ligas' article that includes reflections by CWPC members.

If you have questions about the Catholic Women's Preaching Circle, contact catholicwomenspreachingcircle@gmail.com.