Looking ahead to the fall, the Association of Pittsburgh Priests invites you to put the dates of this year’s Fall Speakers’ Series on your calendars now. You won’t want to miss hearing any of them.

The first speaker this year is Megan McKenna, Ph.D. on Monday, September 17 at 7 PM at the Kearns Spirituality Center, 9000 Babcock Blvd. in Allison Park. Her topic will be “Beloved Friends of God: Women as Servants, Preachers, and Prophets”.

“Remember Jesus’ words!” is Dr. Megan McKenna’s passionate refrain. Throughout her prolific writings (including more than 50 books) and in her extensive international presentations, she challenges readers and listeners to “really hear and live the Gospel.” On September 17, Dr. McKenna will issue her challenge by focusing on Jesus’ words to women in Scripture. Citing, for one example, Jesus’ instruction, “Woman, go in peace, your faith has saved you,” she comments: “With such praise and commands, Jesus gives us glimpses and intimations of what women are called to be as disciples of Jesus, as well as how they are to use the powers of the Spirit they are given to bless the church, minister to the world and boldly be the presence of the Risen Lord. It is high time we remembered Jesus words and obey them!”

For over 40 years, this renowned theologian and internationally recognized storyteller has shone the light of her Biblical insights on the role of the Gospels in the contemporary church. Her book This Will Be Remembered of Her: Stories of Women Re-shaping the World won a Catholic Press Award. Daniel Berrigan, S.J. was an ardent fan. Commenting on McKenna’s book And Morning Came, he wrote: “Shall we proclaim Resurrection even as creation is threatened with going under? Yes! …and morning came…birth, re-birth wins out over death. Thank you, Megan.”

Dr. McKenna was an Ambassador of Peace for Pax Christi in 2002. Currently, she resides in Albuquerque, NM, where she is working with indigenous groups.

On Monday, Oct. 15: Barbara Reid, OP, PhD will speak on “Reading the Scriptures with the Mind, Eyes, and Heart of a Woman.” A Dominican Sister of Grand Rapids, Dr. Reid is Vice President, Academic Dean, and Professor of New Testament Studies at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago. She is also the author of many books, including such titles as Parables for Preachers and Choosing the Better Part? Women in the Gospel of Luke.

On Wednesday, Nov. 7: Rev. Tony Flannery, CSsR will reflect on “Christian Teaching: New Images and Language for Contemporary Believers.” Father Flannery, a Redemptorist priest born in County Galway, Ireland, was silenced by the Vatican in April 2012 for expressing his views on women’s ordination, homosexuality, and contraception.

The fee for the upcoming talks is $20 each. Participants can register at the door the evening of the talks. For more information/questions, contact Fr. John Oesterle at 412-232-7512 or johnoesterle2@gmail.com You are also invited to visit http://www.associationofpittsburghpriests.com. Pre-registrations can be made to the Association of Pittsburgh Priests, P.O. Box 2106, Pittsburgh, PA 15230. The Association of Pittsburgh Priests is a diocesan-wide organization of ordained and non-ordained women and men who act on our baptismal call to be priests and prophets. Its mission, rooted in the Gospel and the Spirit of Vatican II, is to carry out a ministry of justice and renewal in ourselves, the Church and the world.