Joy is erupting even amid the economic austerity in Aotearoa and Australia. It rolled in on a tide of women athletes here for the FIFA Womens’ World Cup. Most often when international competitions are held in this country, our teams are favoured to lift the trophy. That’s not the case for this World Cup. Women’s soccer here does not have the profile of women’s rugby, but just as in the Rugby World Cup, the athletes and their supporters are creating a spirit of enthusiasm for their sport. Our low-ranked football team stunned us by playing out of their skins to win the opening game of the tournament. They claimed that the support from the stands lifted them and kept them focused on everything they’d practised in the months of their buildup. It was such a sweet win!

The women players are open in sharing their delight at winning, their disappointment at losing and their acknowledgement of the winning side’s prowess. And they behave generously — as if they like one another. We’re being treated to another show of women’s capability — and another challenge to the inequality of the resources allotted to the men’s and the women’s codes. It’s “time” for even-handedness because it symbolises the value of respect and it undoes the erroneous but entrenched belief that men are more important than women.

From around the world, too, we’re hearing women asking the Synod on Synodality to take seriously their concerns at the ways the Church devalues them — this from women of many cultures and of every continent, socioeconomic reality, educational level and age group. Their concerns call for an examination of the Church’s theological and Scriptural interpretations that entrench the belief that male superiority is somehow God’s design. Pope Francis spoke of the world facing a “change of era”. Women are reminding the rest of the Church that the change of era is for the Church, too. We have to discern the Gospel’s challenge and guidance for living in this world now. We have to discern which riches of tradition will continue to focus us on the Spirit’s action now, and which we will leave aside because they distract, exclude, inhibit or stonewall our participating in God’s mission at this time.

This examination is critical in a change of era. If we’re unconvinced, we have only to compare the number of families enrolled in Catholic schools with their involvement in parish to understand that the Church — not the Gospel — is becoming irrelevant in daily life for many. It requires more than fiddling, like reintroducing holy hours, dedications to Our Lady and dressing the “high altar” in medieval pomp as if Vatican II never happened. This is to be a hopeful, enthusiastic, commitment to the full inclusion of women in Christ’s Church.

We thank all of our contributors whose research, thoughtfulness, faith, artistry and craft make this issue one that the late founding editor Michael Hil IC would be proud of.

And as is our custom, our last word is of blessing and encouragement.

Tui Motu Magazine. Issue 284 August 2023: 2