Washington, D.C. A ground breaking eight –volume series on women’s spirituality entitled: Called to Holiness will be unveiled October 7th in the nation’s capital at the Woodstock Center for Theology.
The project is the result of an unprecedented partnership of FADICA, an association of Catholic donors and foundations, Fairfield University, and St. Anthony Messenger Press.
The series grew out of a January, 2005 discussion sponsored by FADICA exploring ways to support and encourage the participation of women in leadership roles within Catholicism. At that gathering theologian and writer Dr. Elizabeth A. Dreyer, of Fairfield University, one of ten women who spoke to the assembly of philanthropists, underscored the need for more spiritual theology resources for today’s Catholic women.
Following that FADICA conversation, ten members of the funding association banded together to encourage Professor Dreyer to move forward with a proposal and later assisted her university in underwriting the costs of the project. St. Anthony Messenger Press, a major publisher, joined Fairfield some months later to assist in preparing the series for a popular audience.
“We are delighted with the outcome of this collaboration”, said Francis J. Butler, FADICA’s president. “The superb skill of the writers and the fresh and poignant portrayal of how God works in and through the talent and hearts of women of faith is a gift for the whole church”, he said. “We are especially proud of the collaborative way in which this superb resource was undertaken.”
Writers for the series include: Elizabeth A. Dreyer Making Sense of God; Dolores R. Leckey Grieving with Grace; Joan Mueller Living a Spirituality of Action; Michelle A. Gonzalez; Embracing Latina Spirituality; Clare Wagner Awakening to Prayer; Sidney Callahan Creating New Life; Patricia Cooney Weaving Faith and Experience and Beth M. Knobbe Finding My Voice: A Young Adult Woman’s Perspective.
A special website explains the scope of the Called to Holiness series and provides a range of resources available (http://www.calledtoholiness.org/)
The series also includes a two CD set of inspirational music compiled by composer, David Haas.
