September 16-17, 2021
The Women of John’s Gospel as Models for Ministry in Our Time
Participation Options
- In-person at Christ the King Retreat Center in Buffalo, MN
- Online participation through Zoom
All in-person attendees must review and sign a “Participant Release Form” prior to admittance to the Retreat Center. While onsite, attendees must adhere to all guidelines set forth in the Release.
The presentation portions of this event will be recorded. By registering to participate in the event you are consenting to being recorded.
Summary of Sessions
The Gospel of John is unique among the New Testament gospels in both content and style. Its beautifully poetic prologue invites the reader to dig deeply into the significance of its characters and their symbolic meaning for the gospel and for our own lives. After a brief introduction to the literary features of John’s gospel, we will focus on its female characters to examine how the Johannine author’s portrayal of their lives, their discipleship, and their ministry might inform the ministry and spiritual growth of healthcare chaplains. Truly effective ministry comes from the heart. How might the women of John’s gospel orient our hearts toward a deeper understanding of our vocation of healing and effect the ways we encounter those in need of our care?
Speaker Information
Dr. Catherine Cory is an associate professor of New Testament at the University of Saint Thomas in St. Paul, MN. She received her M.A. from the St. John’s University in Collegeville and her Ph.D. in Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity from the University of Notre Dame. Her areas of specialization are the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation. She has taught biblical studies at the graduate and undergraduate levels for many years, but her favorite venues are in parishes and adult education settings. In addition to more academic publications, Cathy has written for Bible Today, the “At Home with the Word” series and the “Workbook for Lectors, Gospel Readers and Proclaimers of the Word” series.
Objectives of Sessions
Session One: The mother of Jesus appears near the beginning of John’s gospel and again near the end in stories that are not found in the other gospels. We will examine how the Johannine author presents her as a minister of empathy, even in mundane things, and as an example of how we can allow ourselves to grieve over loss.
Session Two: The Samaritan woman is unique to John’s gospel and is presented in juxtaposition to Nicodemus, who is described as a “leader of the Jews.” Thus, she represents the “other,” both in gender and faith tradition, but her meeting with Jesus makes her a witness to the value of encountering those who are different from ourselves.
Session Three: John’s gospel presents Mary and Martha differently from Luke’s gospel. Here they are well-to-do women and sisters of Lazarus, who is described as the one Jesus loved. In this session, we will journey with them toward belief in life even in the face of death.
Session Four: The story of Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, anointing Jesus’ feet is also unique to John’s gospel. We will examine how this woman, who likely had many servants to do this menial task of hospitality, becomes the model of service beyond necessity and convenience, even before Jesus instructs his male disciples to do the same.
Session Five: Christian traditions often present Mary Magdalene as the repentant sinner. However, the gospels’ portrait of Mary of Magdala is much more complex than the stereotype that the tradition has created over time. In John’s gospel, her intimate relationship with Jesus impels her to accept his calling to become the first apostle of the resurrection.
In each session, we will have time to reflect on how these women can become models of ministry in our own time.
Conference Schedule
Note that all times listed below are in Central Time. View the Detailed Schedule for times listed in other time zones.
Thursday, September 16
1:00-1:45 pm Registration
2:00 pm Welcome and Prayer (the start for online participants)
2:30 pm Session One
4:00 pm Break
4:15 pm Session Two
5:45 pm Break
6:00 pm Dinner (included in conference registration )
7:00 pm Session Three (ending at 8:30 pm)
Friday, September 17
8:00 am Breakfast (included for overnight guests only)
9:00 am Vacate sleep rooms
9:15 am Morning Prayer (optional, the start for online participants)
9:30 am Session Four
11:00 am Break
11:15 am Education Committee Discussion
11:45 am Break
12:00 pm Lunch (included in conference registration)
1:00 pm Session Five
2:30 pm Closing Prayer/Evaluations
8.00 Continuing Education Hours have been granted by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains
NACC Certification Competencies Covered by the Conference: ITP2, PIC1, PIC3.1, and PIC3.2
Registration Deadlines
In-person Registration: August 31, 2021
Online Participation: September 10, 2021
~ Registration is not considered complete until payment is received. ~
Registration Rates
*Shared room is available ONLY to those living within the same household.
**Student rate is available to CPE Students, Graduate Students, and NACC Student members.
All in-person and online attendees will have access to the recordings of the event.
In-person Overnight Registration Rates
- Full registration with private room ($190) ~ includes conference fee, private room accommodation (Thursday), and three conference meals (Thursday dinner, Friday breakfast, Friday lunch)
- Full registration with shared room* ($170) ~ available ONLY to those living within the same household; includes conference fee, shared room accommodation (Thursday), and three conference meals (Thursday dinner, Friday breakfast, Friday lunch)
- Student** registration with private room ($155) ~ includes conference fee, private room accommodation (Thursday), and three conference meals (Thursday dinner, Friday breakfast, Friday lunch)
- Extra night accommodation ($66) ~ includes private room accommodation (Wednesday) and two meals (Thursday breakfast and lunch).
In-person Commuter Registration Rates
- Full registration for commuters ($130) ~ includes conference fee and two conference meals (Thursday dinner and Friday lunch)
- Full registration for student commuters ($95) ~ includes conference fee and two conference meals (Thursday dinner and Friday lunch)
Online Registration Rates
- Full registration for online participation ($120) ~ includes conference fee for online participation
- Full registration for online student* participation ($60) ~ includes conference fee for online participation
How to Register
Register online and pay using your Visa, MasterCard, or Discover Card OR if you prefer to send a check, register online and select “bill me later” and then send a check payable to the NACC to the NACC National Office, 4915 S Howell Avenue, Suite 501, Milwaukee WI 53207.
Navigate to the online registration system.
Conference Materials
Click here to access the Materials page. Note that it is password-protected. Registrants will receive the password.
For more program information, please contact:
Brent Derowitsch 952-892-2725 (work) or bderowi1@fairview.org
