DANCE AMID STRUGGLE
Stories and Songs of Hope
Edited by Wendy Kroeker & Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdes

© 1998 AWIT Publications

Women have always wanted to sing songs that spring from the inner recesses of their hearts. Songs of pain . . . of agony . . . of struggle . . . of hope. When they did, many turned deaf ears, especially those who felt threatened by the reverberation of those songs. But many there were who listened and came away touched . . . angered . . . challenged . . . inspired.

How, they wondered, could they hang on to the message of those songs as the last quaver got lost in the din of the workaday world? How could the melodies sustain a fermata so that these songs would continue to strike a vibrant note in their hearts? How could the songs move other co-sufferers so that they could affirm themselves as empowered women of God and, thus strengthened, go forth to claim what is rightfully theirs?

Buoyed by these searching questions, some AWIT members started to dream and work in order for those dreams to see fruition. Their efforts are now being rewarded by the publication of this book. It is a modest contribution of the Association of Women in Theology (AWIT) to the continuing process of making things new for women. Someday, when the state of affairs shall have been transformed . . . when society shall have become more friendly and kind to women, AWIT will be remembered as a venue where women worked with other women in enhancing their humanity. It will be remembered as a group that collectively endeavoured to challenge the patriarchal structures in society to the end that a community of equals may replace the heirarchical and bureaucratic social system . . . that the wholeness of creation may be restored . . . and that the poor may truly inherit the earth.

CONTENTS: Mary Magdalene: The Victory Singer Liza Lamis; Solidarity and Spirituality: A Theology of Life Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdes; Dancing with Miriam Wendy Kroeker; Ruth: Struggle against Patriarchy Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdes; Appreciated Labor Liza Lamis; Of Midwives and Mothers... and the Call to Build a Community of Hope Muriel Orevillo-Montenegro; Mary, the Mother of Jesus Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdes; Sisterhood: A Model of Partnership in Keeping and Healing Creation Muriel Orevillo-Montenegro; Judith: A Woman's Steadfastness Hope Antone; Working Together for the Wholeness of Creation Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdes; Healed by Her Faith Hope Antone; Asian Women Doing Theology: The Challenge of Feminism for Theologizing Elizabeth S. Tapia; Remembering the Gifts. . . A Liturgy and Song Geraldine Villaluz