Women in the past

with a vocation to the priesthood

We can be sure that there have been many women in the past who had a vocation to the priesthood. But on account of the social and cultural climate of the day, these vocations were nipped in the bud and their record wiped from history.

It is all the more remarkable that the vocation to the priesthood of a few key figures has, to some extent, survived the relentless anti-feminine censorship of history.

Women Priests in the South of Italy and in Sicily 150 – 550	St. Clare of Assisi 1194 – 1253	St. Catherine of Siena 1347 – 1380	Sister Caroline Clément 1825 – 1887	Saint Magdalena Sofia Barat foundress of the Nuns of the Sacred Heart 1779 – 1865	Saint Thérèse of Lisieux 1873-1897
Sister Isabel of Trinidad Spanish mystic 1880-1906	Mother Ignacia Nazaria, foundress of Missionaries of the Papal Crusade 1889 – 1943		Li Tim-oi, first anglican woman ordained priest 1907 – 1992		Gertrud Heinzelmann 1914 – 1999

Sr. Irene McCormack RSJ missionary from Australia 1938 – 1991

Died as a martyr for her people in Peru on 21 May 1991. Sr. Irene was called by her community to preside at the eucharist.

Overview Signs of a Vocation A woman’s journey Steps to take Answering critics Writing your story

Six options for Catholic women who feel called to the priesthood?