What is the actual history of women preaching, from the early church on? And is there an official Catholic teaching on whether women can preach in churches or not? On this episode of the podcast, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss talk to Rhonda Miska about the scriptures, history, and teachings associated with women preaching.

Catholic Women Preach meets a sacred yearning to have and hear the voices of women in the church through the unique perspective of their own preaching. This book was born out of the good work of organizations like FutureChurch and Catholic Women Preach that answer a call to lift up the voices of women in the church — one of the primary themes emerging from the synod on synodality called forth by Pope Francis. The timing of this is not a coincidence.

None of the homilies are more than six pages in length, yet the power of the stories that are related hit home, touch the heart, and fire the soul.

With nearly half a million views on YouTube for Catholic Women Preach, women's preaching is reaching people — with or without the institutional church's help. And nearly all of them are under 10 minutes.

The new book “Catholic Women Preach” is a collection of content that was previously published on the Catholic Women Preach website, a project of FutureChurch. The collection is a much-needed resource for all Catholics, and especially Black Catholics, longing to hear issues they care about addressed and to know their Catholic faith is still relevant and important today. It is also a way to bring Catholic women's voices to people who do not hear them in the pews.

Looking for inspiration for a Holy Week or Easter homily? Searching for a woman’s perspective on these central events of our Christian faith? Look no further, as a group of Catholic women has launched an innovative website offering regular theological reflections on the readings of the day by leading female scholars and others engaged in many different ministries in countries around the world.

At the 2016 Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice (IFTJ), I witnessed the culmination of over a year’s worth of planning. Right in front of me was a confirmation that Catholic Women Preach is worth every single hour that our steering committee has invested in our dream. We have not created this project for us, but for the entire Church. We are committed to preaching the Gospel as widely as possible.

Last month, FutureChurch launched Catholic Women Preach, a project aimed at highlighting the voices of Catholic women preachers around the world. Dominican Sr. Jamie Phelps, a theologian and social worker who kicked off the project's Advent series, talked to Global Sisters Report about the importance of women theologians for the church and the world.

Betty Anne Donnelly is a member of the Catholic Women Preach steering committee, serving as Preacher Coordinator. She is a former Maryknoll Lay Missioner, and has served on several boards, including Jesuit Volunteers International and Bread for the World, and is a current member of the Ignatian Solidarity Network Board of Directors. Donnelly presented a breakout session at the 2016 Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice with Jocelyn Collen, fellow CWP steering committee member, entitled “Lifting Up Women’s Voices in Proclaiming the Gospel.” ISN spoke with Donnelly about the ways in Catholic Women Preach hopes to give voice to women theologians.

One of the more intriguing questions Pope Francis prompted earlier this year when he announced that a Vatican commission would study whether the early church had women deacons was: How would Catholics react to women preaching? Some Catholic women hope to find out. A new website called Catholic Women Preach will publish videos showing just that, Catholic women preaching. The reflections will draw from the church’s weekly readings. The women backing the project say they hope the videos will help Catholics deepen their faith and become more comfortable with the idea of women preaching.