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 The Mary Magdalene Award was established in 2007. It is named after Mary Magdalene, who according to early Church fathers was the "apostle to the apostles," the female follower of Jesus who has been misrepresented and whose pivotal role in the early church was marginalized  since the sixth century. For these reasons, Mary Magdalene is considered by many to be the patron of women, particularly those claiming their rightful places, in the Roman Catholic Church.

The award is presented annually on Holy Thursday as part of the annual SEPAWOC prayer witness for women’s ordination in front of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.The award is presented annually on Holy Thursday as part of the annual SEPAWOC prayer witness for women’s ordination in front of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.The first year (2007) the theme of Holy Thursday was "Be Not Afraid--Honoring and Celebrating People of Courage" and the award went toJohanna Berrigan, Jim Callan, Joan Chittister, OSB, Carroll Clay, Bernadette Cronin-Geller, Eileen DiFranco, Denise Donato, Jeanine Gramick, SL, Judy Heffernan, Mary Ellen Norpel, Methodist Minister Karen Onesti, Methodist Minister Beth Stroud, Medical Mission Sister Mary Margaret McKenna, Mary Ramerman, Janice Sevre-Duszynska, Liz Walz and Sister Falakah Fattah.

Since 2007, past recipients include:

 

2008    Arlene Swidler, MA, ABD 

2009    Fr. Roy Bourgeois, MM    School of the Americas Watch

   Aisha Taylor    Women's Ordination Conference

2010     Karen Lentz    Philadelphia Catholic Worker

2012    Sr. Theresa Kane, RSM

2013   Dr. Gaile Pohlhaus

2014    Cecelia Johnson    Women's Ordination Conference

2015   Dr. Virginia Ratigan

   Dr. Regina Bannan

Br. Bart Schlacter, FSC

Erin Saiz Hanna    National Women's Ordination Conference

Kate McElwee    National Women's Ordination Conference

2016    Rev. Robin Hynicka    Arch Street United Methodist Church

2017    Judith A. Heffernan, M. Div.    Community of the Christian Spirit

2018       Darlene Ketterer, Margarite Groves and Patricia Walsh    Women's Ordination Conference

      James Clay,    Dignity

2019    Dr. Marian Ronan

2020    Dr. Shannon Dee Williams

2021   Marianne and Tom Tucker  website: Tuckersmusic.com

2023  Mary Hunt and Diann Neu

2024  Marguerite Hermann Sexton

The following is a prayer from the 2007 award ceremony and witness for women's equality in Philadelphia.

Honoring the Courage of Mary Magdalene

We pray:  As we honor the courage of Mary Magdalene, let us remember that she was no different from us; that she was flesh and blood and fully subject to the tensions and conflicts of her own time. Let us likewise recognize, as she did, the persistent voice of the Holy Spirit who calls us out of our silence. May we listen closely to that voice, follow its commands, and surrender ourselves to God’s will, recklessly abandoning our self-concern, and joyfully embracing the challenge of a sometimes difficult road. We ask for the blessing of courage through the intercession of Mary Magdalene.  Amen. 

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