"Called to Be Disciples," remembering women's discipleship in the ministry of Jesus, will be the subject of a spiritual day for women and men, set Feb. 23 in Springfield. The day will include prayer, Scripture, music, dance and presentations. The event, which is presented by Women at the Well - Springfield, will be held at the Chiara Center at the Franciscan Motherhouse, 4875 La Verna Road, on the far northeast side of Springfield. It will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end with a Mass at 5 p.m. The cost, which includes two meals and snacks, is $35, if paid prior to Feb. 1, $45 thereafter.
Presenters include Father Richard Chiola, local pastor and former theology professor at Yale Divinity School; Kathy Coffee, national conference presenter and author of Hidden Women of the Gospels, Women of Mercy; Betsey Beckman, nationally-known liturgical dancer; and Father Michael Sparough, SJ, retreat master and storyteller. Sisters of the "Son," a contemporary Christian female vocal trio, will provide music for the day, accompanied by The Brothers of Soul, a five-piece instrumental ensemble.
Women at the Well is a group of eight women from the Springfield area who have gathered monthly since 2005 to share faith through prayer and fellowship.
"Out of our common prayer came a vision to celebrate the many gifts of today's women, gifts similar to those experienced by the women of the Bible and throughout the history of our Christian heritage and tradition," said Madonna Jones, one of its members. Others in the group include: JoLynn Adams, Claire Call, Shelly Heideman, Ellen Kuntzi, Kathy Pearson, Sharon Anderson Renier and Susie Waggoner.
"Participants in this prayer day can expect a multi-sensory experience as they remember and explore the stories of the spiritual sages in our faith history," said Jones. "The day will remember women of deep faith who have left us with an understanding of a holy life. In our heritage is great spiritual power."
The name for the prayer day, as well as the name for their prayer group was chosen because of the Gospel reading for the Third Sunday of Lent, Year A, about the Samaritan woman at the well, said Jones. "The powerful story of the Samaritan woman is a story for every age," said Jones. "It is a story of boundary breaking, of destroying the walls of imagined difference, not only between Jew and Samaritan, but also between male and female. It is a story of inclusive discipleship, of the least likely serving as the vessel of mission. The Samaritan woman extended to her people the classic call to discipleship - ‘come and see' and ‘many of the Samaritans in the city believed in Him because of the woman's testimony.'"
"I'm delighted I was asked to be a speaker because the story of the Samitaran woman who met Jesus at the well gives me an opportunity to talk to the women and men present for this conference about discipleship," said Father Chiola. "To be a disciple of Jesus is an invitation to share his ministry and the ministry of Jesus is to bring people into a life-giving relationship with God who sent him. I think that anyone who participates in this day will have a new sense of their call and their mission."
To register for the event, send a check for $35 made payable to Women at the Well - Springfield, to Ellen Kuntzi, #29 Iroquois Dr., Springfield, IL, 62711. For more information, visit http://womenatthewell-springfield.com on the Web, or call (217) 787-7176.
Sponsors of the event are: Carol Jo Vecchie Women's Services at St. John's Hospital, The Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, Heartland Credit Union, Sikich Group, St. Joseph the Worker Church in Chatham, the Ursuline Sisters, Knights of Columbus #4175, Knights of Columbus-St. Jude's, Rochester, Butler Funeral Homes, Bonnie Flynn, Mary Elizabeth Staudt, Carlene Hippen - Benefits Administration, and Cindy Groeninger Jordan, NCTMB.