Listen to the inspired voices of 3 biblical women — Miriam, Huldah, and Esther — who built bridges of life across frightening chasms of oppression. Some might name these women as enemies; some might proclaim that their voices never were spoken; some might even express hope for a 21st century configuration of these women’s voices, as they mentor possible resolutions to current oppressive dominations & injustices.
It is important to note that each of these biblical women had other women helping her at other times and in other places beyond her spoken words and actions and even stretches of silence.
- Miriam had Jochebed, Bithiah, Shiphrah & Puah, and Zipporah.
- Huldah had Deborah and numerous unnamed female prophets.
- Esther had Vashti and numerous wives having experienced patriarchal disregard for women, as well as the larger oppression of total cultural annihilation.
Where would you place yourself on this listening spectrum of women helping other women?
Join us for this six-night retreat, as we listen deeply to these women’s voices, whose words live in the spaces between us. Sr. Mary Ellen will provide retreatants with a “Listen to Their Voices” handbook in anticipation of sharing our “listenings” with one another. Guided by Sr. Mary Ellen O’Dea.
Check-in begins at 4pm. There will be a brief welcome session at 5:30pm, followed by dinner at 6pm. The retreat begins after dinner at 7pm on Friday and concludes before lunch on Thursday. Mass will be available Sunday-Thursday for those who wish to attend.
Sr. Mary Ellen O’Dea is a Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa and a life-long student of the scriptures. Her ministries have included teacher, principal, director of religious education, founder of family faith programs, coordinator of small faith communities in parishes and at universities, creator of feminist biblical interpretation studies, university campus chaplain, founder of The Magdala Project (a hands-on preaching empowerment process), spirituality coordinator, preacher, and retreat facilitator in feminist biblical interpretation mode throughout the United States. Sr. Mary Ellen holds master’s degrees in Religious Education, in Adult Christian Community Development, in University Ministry, and in Biblical Spirituality.