Hanan
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In her own words
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My name is Hanan, and I am from Syria. I was raised in a family that believes in God, and the Church has always been a living part of my daily life. Amidst the challenges my country has faced, my relationship with God has been my deepest source of strength and inner peace.
My love for the Catholic faith began in childhood, but it deepened over time, especially through study and service. In the Catholic Church, I found the beauty of the sacraments, the richness of spiritual traditions, and the depth of social teaching. Despite its struggles, I felt this Church carries within it the heart of Christ and the hope of His resurrection. I first felt that God was calling me to the priesthood at a young age, while serving in the Church. I vividly remember a homily given by a bishop during Mass. He spoke about witnessing a Eucharistic celebration led by a woman. He said it simply, but it touched me deeply—as if something inside me suddenly awakened, and I began to hear an inner voice saying: "This is possible… and it could be you." I felt a strange joy, something new to me, as if a door had opened onto a path I never knew existed. At first, I didn’t fully understand what that voice meant, but it never left me. It returned every time I stood at the altar, participated in prayer, or served others. Over time, I came to understand that this was a priestly call—a call to be present at the heart of the community, serving the Word, the sacraments, and the people. My vocation to the priesthood has shaped my relationship with God in a deep and radical way. I began to see Him not only as a Father, but as a companion on the journey. I started to speak to Him more honestly, to question Him insistently, and sometimes even to lament—but I always found in Him the faithful friend who never abandons me. This call has made me love people more and serve them with a love that flows from His love for me. In the beginning, I tried to live my vocation by joining a missionary team. We organized gatherings for both adults and children, as well as retreats and spiritual renewal sessions. This environment helped me grow in experience, especially in working with children, and nurtured my sense of service and responsibility. Through this team, I began studying theology at Saint Joseph University (the Jesuit University) in Beirut, where I earned a diploma in theology. During my studies, I was struck by how some professors would repeat the idea that there is no true theological obstacle to the ordination of women, and that in the history of the Church, women were ordained as deacons in the same way men were. These words touched my heart and deepened my sense of vocation. The blessing of this path lies in the deep closeness to God and to people. The call to serve is a call to love and self-giving, and I feel it is a great privilege to be called to accompany others in their spiritual lives. The greatest challenge, however, is facing the entrenched traditions that still reject the ordination of women, and living in the tension between belief in the call and a reality that denies it. My relationship with the institutional Church is complex: it holds a deep love, because it is the home where I was raised in faith—but also sorrow, because of the limitations it places on women. Nevertheless, I still believe the Church is capable of change, and that the Holy Spirit is at work within it, even in its slowness. To be ordained as a priest would mean fulfilling God’s call in its fullness, and becoming a vessel of grace in the world. Ordination, for me, is not about personal glory, but about a deep commitment to carry the cross of service, to walk with people in their joys and sorrows, and to offer the sacraments as a gift of love. What sustains me is the deep certainty that this vocation is not my own, but God’s. My prayer, the companionship of those who believe in me, and the voices of women throughout history who walked this road before me—despite rejection and silence—all give me strength to continue. Hope, to me, is seeing small seeds being planted today, even if I may not see them bear fruit. Hope is the faces of women who learn, pray, and serve despite restrictions. It is the belief that God is not silent but is quietly working in hearts and minds. My advice to women who are called to priesthood is do not give up on your calling. Trust that the God who called you will give you the strength to stand firm and keep going, even when the path seems impossible. Don’t walk alone—seek companions and mentors to journey with you. And above all: remain faithful to the voice within you, for it is the voice of the Spirit. Ordaining women is not just a change in who holds the office, but a deep transformation in the structure and mission of the Church. When a woman is ordained, the Church enters into a fuller relationship with God’s inclusive vision of creation—where every person, male or female, is called to serve according to their gifts and vocation, not their gender. Ordaining women enriches the diversity of spiritual leadership and allows the Church to hear new voices that express different life and spiritual experiences. A woman, through her unique experience as a mother, sister, daughter, and nurturer, brings a different perspective to pastoral care, teaching, and preaching. These voices do not diminish the voice of men, but complete and enhance it. Having women in leadership positions also sets a living example for future generations that the Church is a home for all, and that God does not discriminate in His call. This inspires women to grow in faith and service, and breaks the stereotypes that associate authority and holiness only with masculinity. Furthermore, ordaining women invites the Church to revisit its reading of Scripture with a lens of justice and inclusivity, opening the door to interpretations that focus on liberation, equality, and partnership, rather than hierarchy or domination. Accepting women’s priestly vocation is a step toward a Church that is more honest with itself, and more like the Body of Christ in which "there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). My message is to the Church is this: listen. Listen to the voices of women who love the Church and serve it faithfully. Do not be afraid of change—the Spirit cannot be restrained. The gifts that God plants in women are no less sacred or powerful than those planted in men. The Church of the future will not be built on exclusion, but on partnership. +
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