Where Women Sit: An Insider’s Reflection on the Synod on Synodality

Editor’s note: Tricia C. Bruce, Ph.D., is an IACS Affiliated Research Scholar and sociologist of religion with expertise in organizational, attitudinal, and generational change. She was appointed by Pope Francis as a consultor to the General Secretariat of the Synod, a body of bishops and other appointees helping prepare and implement themes identified within the Synod on Synodality — the multi-year, global conversation discerning future directions in the global Catholic Church. Her reflection below is the second in a four-part series. Read Part One: “All in the Hall.”

Growing up, my mom was the Catholic Church and the Catholic Church was my Mom. She —named Mary, of course — was prayers before meals, kneeling at bedtime, rosary in hand, invoking St. Anthony when something was lost. Church was Mom buttoning my dainty little dresses, pulling my hair into a barrette, getting us to Mass no matter the weather or vacation or language of locale where Dad’s military moves took us.

The Catholic Church is full of Marys: Marys sitting by their kids in pews, Marys singing in the choir, Marys teaching catechism, Marys serving as lectors, greeters, Eucharistic ministers, and youth chaperones. Marys who are mothers. Marys who are sisters. Marys who are saints.

I’ve listened to and learned from a lot of Marys as a sociologist of religion. They’re the lifeblood of parishes, where women fill the overwhelming majority of lay ministry positions. They believe; belong; endure.

I’ve heard throughout my career, too, many a Mary lament. Among them, Marys who felt called to preach or baptize. Marys whose priest or bishop gatekept their input and service. Marys trained as chaplains turning to universities, prisons, and hospitals to call them as such when the Church would not. Marys who, like my Mom, didn’t always have answers for why only the boys stood up front wearing special vestments to celebrate Mass.

Catholics learn and internalize that there are things Marys can do and things Marys cannot.

Marys could participate in the Synod on Synodality. Marys could vote. (Sixteen of the 54 voting women delegates were in fact named Mary or Maria). Their presence marked a historic shift for a Church long accustomed to relying upon only bishops to represent itself and all the Marys. Dozens more non-voting Marys in the Synod Hall facilitated, advised, and consulted.

That’s not to say that the Hall wasn’t still a sea of men in black – 272 bishops (and another 42 non-bishop men) far outnumbered semi-siloed pockets of Mary-solidarity, pops of color in the Hall. Everyone saw the Marys. The Marys found each other.

The Catholic Church is full of Marys

Synod participants were told early on that dialogue and deliberation around women’s roles – including the diaconate, specifically – would be confined to a “study group.” The Hall would not be the place to offer interventions regarding women’s participation in the Church.

This felt puzzling but palatable until the day when scores of us convened to learn more about what was happening with the study group and were met with neither answers nor information nor even the names of who was involved in the high-stakes deliberation. It felt misaligned with a synodal emphasis on communion, participation, and mission. Yet another Mary lament.

Walking back to my Roman residence that evening – a wet and drizzly night – I fell. Hard. I didn’t want to talk to anyone, even the Marys. Cried a little. Slept.

A day and half later, all women involved with the Synod came together for a private audience with Pope Francis. It was amazing and surreal, but I was bruised and hurt and wondered again what difference any of it would make.

In the days thereafter, the study group leader apologized and reconvened with Synod participants — this time on the record — to listen, receive, and respond. And to articulate that, per the Holy Father, “the issue of the female diaconate is not mature” and, thus, not to be “entertain[ed].” Few Marys spoke. I’m unsure how many Marys were heard.

The final document of the Synod, “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission,” speaks of expanding possibilities for participation and co-responsibility for women in the Catholic Church. “Inequality between women and men is not part of God’s design,” it asserts. It names enduring obstacles to women’s charism, vocation, and place. What comes from the Holy Spirit cannot be stopped, it reads.

Marys rally; Marys endure.

Still sore from my fall, I ran Rome’s half marathon before returning home.

I brought along with me, for my mom – Mary – a rosary. She loved it so much that she told me it would be my Christmas gift to her. She wrapped it and put it under the tree the next month with a gift tag labeled, “Mary.”

Stay tuned for the third post in this four-part series. To learn more about Dr. Bruce and her work, visit: https://triciabruce.com/