Service and spiritual formation propel local women-led ministry
Members of the Sodality at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Washington D.C. gather for a general meeting following 10 a.m. mass on July 28. The discussion focused on women’s leadership in the Catholic church and how the Sodality shines its light within the church community. (Sydney Clark/The Black Explosion)
Hymns of Mary and prayer intentions begin each gathering of the Sodality at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Washington D.C.
At St. Augustine, the “Mother Church of African American Catholics in the Nation’s Capital,” the 127-year-old Sodality serves as the church’s oldest society of women and men.
Women, however, have always outnumbered men, according to Sodality Co-Chair Cynthia Morris.
This is not coincidental, for the Sodality operates with a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Within Roman Catholicism, Mary is recognized as the “Mother of the Son of God” and mother of humanity, Franciscan priest Don Miller wrote in a May 2018 Franciscan Media article.
Donna G. Pasteur, the Sodality prefect, expressed that Mary is the path to Jesus, and her essence embodies the church’s foundation.
“Without Mary, we would not have Jesus,” Pasteur said. “Women fill the essential role of nurturing, of being faithful, faith-filled, supporting others... all the attributes Mary has shown us that our Sodality believes in and seats her as our role model. There’s no church without women.”
Some Sodality members believe the Catholic church’s hierarchy has impacted the inadequacy of female representation.
“We got the pope, we got all the cardinals, the priests, and the women are not in any of those roles. Just by the hierarchy itself, we’re kind of on the sidelines,” said Priscilla S. Jamison, Sodality treasurer.
Jamison also mentioned that women’s ongoing dedication to promoting female leadership in the Catholic church has contributed to the larger role women now have. Specifically, black female leaders have special responsibilities and gifts to offer their communities, according to Morris.
“We should be the first responders to our people’s needs. We are always present in the church and doing whatever needs to be done,” Morris said. “They preach, they teach, they evangelize, they nurture, they do what needs to be done in the community, in the parish, wherever they’re called to minister to without having that role of being a priest.”
Sodality Prefect, Donna Pasteur leads the Sodality general meeting in the school cafeteria of St. Augustine Catholic Church on July 28 in Washington D.C. Pasteur leads the Sodality, a long-standing ministry at the church. (Sydney Clark/The Black Explosion)
With roughly 150 members, the Sodality’s presence at St. Augustine is evident because members are heavily engaged with other ministries. Pasteur mentioned that sodalists serve as liturgical ministers, choir members, pastoral council members and more.
“You’re not just a sodalist. Serving others and sharing the faith extend beyond this group,” Pasteur said. “We are the mission in motion in our church.”
Therefore, the Sodality values inclusivity and meeting people where they are.
“We are a group for all people,” said Greta Elliott-Meredith, Sodality vice prefect. “I knew nothing about how to pray the rosary before I came here. I learned so much, and it’s almost like I can’t exist without being connected to the Sodality. We provide a real support system for everyone.”
Male sodalist Von Martin acknowledged the Sodality as the heartbeat and soul of St. Augustine and praised the leadership efforts of the women and acknowledged the shortfall of involvement from the men.
“Sometimes it hurts me that I don’t see sufficient men as active as they should be. Men are just not there. The women are the ones carrying the flag doing everything,” Martin said.
Morris added, “I’ve always been taught that the church is us. It’s not the priests, not the bishops, the cardinals, it’s us. Without us, there is no church.”
To learn more about the Sodality at St. Augustine Catholic Church, visit the church’s website.