Formation for Mission department hosted its annual day for women.
Over 30 women gathered at the Church of the Holy Family, in Allestree and part of the St Ralph Sherwin Parish, for a Lenten Women’s Retreat hosted by the Formation for Mission department.
The day of spiritual growth focused on “Great Women of the Old Testament.” Opening the retreat, Catechetical Coordinator for the parish Fran Hazel encouraged participants to “listen to one another and truly let Jesus get in our heart.”
Main speaker Sr Susan Richert, Vicar for Religious, began by inviting the women to reflect on their own journeys, asking: “You are called by name, your name has a meaning... Think about: what woman in my life has had an influence in me for good?”
Through a short group activity, participants found it much easier to recall male biblical figures than female ones. Sr Susan explained this imbalance: “What we remember more naturally are the men. Most of the narrative of the Old Testament focused on men.”
She noted that this reflects the culture of the time, where stories were “often done from the perspective of the men actors in it.”
Despite this lens, Sr Susan highlighted how Scripture constantly shows God’s protection of the vulnerable, recalling the Old Testament command: “You should not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.”
She also urged attendees to look closely at the women in the genealogy of Christ. “The Bible is not a book of moral people who lived perfect lives, it is about you and I,” she said. “The ancestry of Jesus is about broken people and yet God working his way to bring Jesus.”
Sr Susan emphasised that without the bravery of women, salvation history would look very different. Pointing to the women who saved the infant Moses: his mother, his sister Miriam, and two courageous midwives; she noted: “Without these women we wouldn’t have had Moses who brought Israel out of Egypt.”
Concluding the first part of the day, Sr Susan celebrated the Old Testament books centred entirely on female figures: Esther, Ruth, and Judith. Highlighting that Judith is unique to the Catholic Bible, she added: “The Catholic Church says she is important. I always celebrate this.”
Following the morning sessions, parish priest Canon Andrew Cole celebrated a moving service. He expressed his deep gratitude to the attendees, commending the great work women do and the vital roles they play across their parishes.
During Communion, members of the Malawi Catholic Association, with beautiful dresses bearing the image of Our Lady, sang a special hymn for the congregation.
In the afternoon, Sr Susan led a reflective group activity. Each participant received a card bearing the name of an Old Testament woman, though some cards simply referred to women by their relation to a man, such as a "wife" or "daughter," reflecting the reality of the biblical texts.
The women were tasked with finding a partner holding the matching card. Together, the pairs reflected on their assigned figure, writing a summary sentence and a dedicated prayer.
The retreat day then drew to a close with a quiet time of spiritual renewal, offering the group a peaceful opportunity for confessions and Eucharistic adoration.
Susan Brumby, Formation for Mission Assistant, commented on the day:
“I am still feeling the peace from today’s women’s retreat. Spending time watching women connecting with each other and reflecting on Ruth, Judith and all the unnamed women in the Old Testament are inspiring reminders of how God works through every season of our lives, carrying out these lessons with a softer heart and a stronger spirit.”
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