Press Release

For more information, contact:

Lauren Santerre
Brigids Place

March 3, 2015
lauren@brigidsplace.org
713.428.1051

Brigids Place Celebrates Womens Voices at The Cross

This Easter
HOUSTON The Last Supper with the disciples. Judas betrayal. Peters denial. The
thieves redemption. Most of the celebrated and familiar stories of the Easter tradition
cast males in the supporting roles.
But women were there. And now, Brigids Place brings its original music and script back
to Christ Church Cathedral to celebrate the voices of the women who loved Jesus-- Mary
the Mother, the woman at the well, the woman with the nard, Mary of Bethany and Mary
Magdalene. Come hear their voices this Easter.
On April 4 from 4 to 5 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Avenue, five
professional singers from the Houston Chamber Choir perform Easter in Memory of
Her, an innovative blend of music and meditation imagining the thoughts and prayers of
the women surrounding Jesus. This year the production will be dedicated to Mrs. Carolyn
Grant Fay, a long time supporter of Brigids Place.
April D. DeConick, the Isla Carroll and Percy E. Turner Professor of Biblical Studies at
Rice University wrote the one-hour production with Betty C. Adam, resident Canon
Theologian at Christ Church Cathedral.
Much of my research and teaching is devoted to understanding how marginalized,
forbidden, and forgotten people and communities illuminate the central issues and
historical features of religious traditions, noted DeConick, whose Holy Misogyny: Why
the Sex and Gender Conflicts in the Early Church Still Matter was released in 2011.
Women certainly fall into that category.

The story of women recorded in the ancient sources simply cannot be understood at face
value since the texts were written by male leaders in emerging churches who had their
own interests to front and authority to assert and maintain. So it must be reconstructed
and reimagined carefully from what the ancient sources tell us and from what they don't."
As spiritual director of Brigids Place, which focuses on womens spiritual and personal
transformation, Adam agrees. Ive sought for years to shine the spotlight on the women
surrounding Jesus. Celebrating their stories is overdue, so Im glad we can bring a
presentation of such depth and beauty to the Houston area, and especially pleased to offer
it the day prior to Easter.
Brigids Places new Executive Director Lauren Santerre says, For those like me who
may struggle to with the complex meaning of the cross, Easter in Memory of Her draws
us into the universal experiences of all women such as love, loss, sorrow, identity,
meaning, longing, and ultimately hope. If you want to experience a different kind of
Easter, come join us at the cross this year for Easter in Memory of Her.
Becky Baxter, both a harpist and organist, and mezzo soprano Sonja Bruzauskas
composed the music and will provide accompaniment to the singers from the Houston
Chamber Choir.
The performance is free to the public. However, there are several opportunities to sponsor
the program and more information is available at
www.brigidsplace.org/easterinmemoryofher.
Brigid's Place is a 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Non-Profit Organization. Brigid's Place
provides education, dialogue and celebrations to foster women's spiritual and personal
transformation.
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