Omnibus News - Diocese of Nottingham

omnibus 4
nbcw
Tell everyone Jesus and women in the gospels
Familiar events and stories can be read in
different ways when seen from a different
perspective. Feminist analysis identifies
strategies that women as marginal figures
use to articulate knowledge which
remains invisible to a dominant reading.
Such strategies assert the authority and
social value of that lived-experience.
Jesus’ defiance of convention is particularly
sustained in his public verbal and physical
dialogue with women, since all such
interaction is socially taboo. These marginal
encounters have little initial effect
on the dominant authority groups
(Romans and Jews). Yet they disturb and
challenge Jesus’ immediate local group (
as voiced by the apostles). Women are
also an important part of his teaching
strategy; indeed it seems to me that Jesus
actively invites and enjoys critical theological
debate with them, in a way that
does not happen with men, even the
apostles. His exchange with women like
Mary his mother, Mary and Martha of
Bethany, the Samaritan and Syro-
Phoenician woman, and Mary of Magdala
is enquiring, egalitarian and open to
mutual discovery of knowledge and
insight about faith and theology. Martha’s
faith statement ( ‘I believe that you are the
Christ, the son of God, the one who was
to come into this world’) is at least as
important as Peter’s (‘You are the Christ,
the son of the living God’). Mary
Magdalen is commissioned as ‘apostle to
the apostles’ and entrusted with the resurrection
story. In this way, Jesus demonstrates
a valuing of intellect, wisdom and
groundedness of women and ‘women’s
work’, and makes use of what is commonly
seen (and later condemned by
Paul, and the Church Fathers) as one of
women’s ‘weaknesses’. While men such
as the leper who returns to thanks him,
and the man cured of blindness, are asked
to keep quiet, Jesus urges women ( Mary
Magdalen, the Samaritan at the well) to
go out and talk – tell everyone about him.
Is this because he has tested their theology
and faith - understanding and affirms
the women as authorities
( Verena Wright, Maid in God’ Image
(p17-18). Darton Longman and Todd)
The lay vocation of a remarkable women.
Jaqueline Simpson was the daughter of
Geoffrey Simpson and Henrietta Marie-
Therese, born Princess de Linge of
Belgium. She was educated bilingually,
being fluent in French, and during the
Second World War Jacquie was seconded
by the Foreign Office to Naval Intelligence
and was responsible for activities in French
speaking regions.
In 1955 she married Giacomo Stuyt, a
Dutch architect and diplomat. They settled
in Paris where Giacomo died at the age of
46 in October 1955. Jacquie has been a
widow for over 50 years.
Jaquie was dedicated and committed to
her faith and to improving the lives of others.
She devoted her talents to numberous
roles in the life of the laity and represented
Catholic women at the highest levels,
nationally and internationally, including
being appointed by the Vatican Secretariat
of State as the only woman and lay person
on the Catholic team on the Commission
on the Theology of Marriage 1971 – 76.
She was International Secretary of the
National Board of Catholic Women, Vice
President General of the World Union of
Catholic Women’s Organisations and Chair
of its Commission for Ecumenism. She was
involved in the founding and development
of the National Council for the Lay
Apostolate, of which she was the first
Woman President. She was instrumental in
joining the European Forum of the Laity.
She was also very much involved in the
forming of the Ecumenical Forum for
European Christian Women.
Amongst those most closely connected
with UCM, she was WUCWO Board
member form 1957 – 1970 and as
described in the lead article, introduced
Family Fast Day to England in 1959.
In 1968 she received the Papal award,
Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, and her contribution
to society was also recognised by the
Queen when she was appointed a
Member of the Order of the British Empire
in 1980.
In 1995 she became the England’s first
Dame of St Gregory.
Those fortunate enough to have known
her, speak of her generosity of spirit, and
her grace and dignity which was always
leavened by self deprecating humour. She
was a life member of the UCM National
Council.
Jaquie died on May 6, 2008.
Reproduced with kind permission of The
Union of Catholic Mothers.
The National Board of Catholic Women
and the World Union of Catholic Women
are grateful beneficiaries of Jackie Stuyt’s
will.
Page 4 April 2010