Gloria Ulterino

“During my years as Parish Pastoral Associate, Temporary Pastoral Administrator and head of the diocesan Office on Women in Church and Society, I came to see the enormous need for women… past and present.. to claim their voices.  Now I am keeping a promise made in 1995 to Prisca, Junia and Phoebe (Romans 16:1-7) during my Master of Divinity studies (completed since then) to get the word out on them… and so many others.“

 

Richie Smith

“Wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother from Canandaigua.  Being part of Women of the Well lets me exercise my love of writing and acting and, with others, give voice to forgotten women in our heritage.”

 

Deni Mack

 

A very ill priest invited me to accompany him back to seminary for psychology courses in 1972.  Enthusiasm for bible study soared as our Spirit-filled church implemented the teachings of the second Vatican Council compelling me to matriculate in the very same seminary that prepared our priests.  I devoured every scripture course while raising our four children and working full time as director of faith formation at a parish with 1000 children.  Pastors invited me to preach and serve as pastoral associate since I had three masters degrees (education, biblical theology and divinity) and a doctorate in ministry (concentration in spiritual theology).  Since 1998 Women of the Well have researched, written about and portrayed gallant women of scripture, tradition and contemporary times at retreat centers, universities, colleges, mother houses and churches near and far.  These gifted, faith-filled women are not afraid of the difficult passages in scripture or history.  We’re resilient, resourceful, prayerful and eager to tell the stories that heal and challenge all to not only catch glimpses of the sacred but to be who our baptism calls and gifts us to be:  priestly, prophetic and royal sharers in Jesus’ ministries.

Penny Gardner

“I first experienced Women of the Well at my parish in their presentation of “Miriam’s Well.” I was drawn deeply into the story through their words, song and dance, and scripture came alive in a way I had never
experienced. I thought “Someday I would love to be a part of this.” That someday has come, and what a blessing for me to share in Spirit’s creative movement with these faith-filled women! It is an honor to break open God’s living word through drama, song, movement and prayer, and to use my gifts to invite others to be drawn deeply into stories of women throughout history who have much to teach us all about faithfulness on our journey to our loving God.“

Marilyn Catherine

“It’s playacting, and it’s prayer..for we tell the stories not just to recollect the wonderful deeds God has done in our past; but to make real and alive God’s marvelous works in the present.  To remind ourselves that at any moment, right here and now, in our presence, God could work a miracle again.”

 

Lorraine Fusare

“My involvement with Women of the Well came through Gloria Ulterino’s thoughtful involvement of our parishioners in the developing a message she would prepare for a Sunday Worship service. Through her I heard about the storytelling group and was intrigued that I might be able to learn about storytelling……to children, so I thought. After seeing the first presentation of Certain Women, I knew that this was a true learning journey I hoped to have…..to be involved with the powerful women of that group. Through them and with them, I have learned and experienced the Power of the Word and the need and importance of women carrying the message to all who will listen.”