Daughters of the New Evangelization: The Irreplaceable Role of Women in the Church

Laura Vazquez Santos considers how women are vital participants in the divine mission of salvation history.

In an age where cultural narratives are loud and unrelenting, the Catholic Church offers a quieter, but no less revolutionary, vision of womanhood. This is as true today as it was in times of the past, despite what many mainstream contrarians may wish to purport. It is a vision that does not reduce women to roles or pit them against men, but instead elevates them as vital participants in the divine mission of salvation history. At the heart of this vision lies a truth both ancient and new: women are essential to the mission of evangelization. 

This truth is not rooted in modern ideology, nor is it a concession to the ever-changing tides of modernism that have seeped into our culture and dominated our zeitgeist throughout history. Rather, it is embedded in the very fabric of the Church’s life, woven into the stories of saints, martyrs, mystics, mothers, and consecrated women who have borne the Gospel to the world not in spite of their femininity, but through it. 

Evangelization and the Feminine Genius 

Saint John Paul II coined the phrase “feminine genius” to describe the unique strengths and sensibilities women bring to the Church and to the world. (Letter to Women, 1995). This genius isn’t measured by corporate success or societal accolades but by the ability to nurture, to cultivate life, to see the person in front of us and to call them to holiness. In short, it is the capacity to love and nurture in a way that transforms.  

The femininity with which God endowed us—crafted in His infinite wisdom and according to His divine design—is not in conflict with the professional or societal roles we may be called to fulfill. Far from being a limitation, this gift of femininity—expressed in our unique capacity to nurture life, whether biologically, emotionally, or spiritually—reflects the very heart of God. Unlike the assertions of modern feminism, which often views such traits as constraints to be overcome, the Church teaches that it is precisely through embracing our feminine nature that we participate most fully in our vocation as women and bear witness to the Gospel in the world. 

And what is evangelization if not that? What is evangelization if not to love another soul enough to desire their eternal good and to accompany them toward Christ? What is evangelization if not to also teach, to encourage, and to inspire—in imitation of Christ, who instructs us through His Word and manifests the depths of divine love through the sacrifice of His Passion—and to follow the example of Our Blessed Mother, whose quiet strength, unwavering faith, and maternal love reveal the perfect model of discipleship and spiritual motherhood. 

Whether in the domestic church of the family or the cloister of a convent, women are uniquely poised to shape saints. As biological mothers, we are often the first to teach our children how to make the Sign of the Cross, how to whisper prayers at bedtime, how to trust in the divine mercy of a God they cannot see but is present. And as spiritual mothers—be they godmothers, religious sisters, teachers, or mentors—women model receptivity, compassion, and fierce strength.  

In both cases, we help awaken souls to the reality of divine love and we shape the new generation of saints. No matter what the world tells you ladies, embracing our faith and values with conviction makes us anything but insignificant and we have a sacred and special role to play in the Body of Christ.  

The Church Needs Her Daughters 

The Church, in her wisdom, has never underestimated the power of women in the work of the Gospel. From the Samaritan woman at the well—who became an evangelist after one encounter with Christ—to Mary Magdalene, the “apostle to the apostles,” women have always stood at the crossroads of redemption and mission. 

Today, the Church continues to call her daughters to rise. To teach, to witness, to write, to serve, to pray, to suffer, and to love. Our maternal vocation, whether lived physically or spiritually, is not sidelined or sentimental — it is central. 

Evangelization begins in the cradle, in the classroom, in the heart of every woman who dares to say “yes” like Mary did. And from there, it ripples outward. 

A Counter-Witness to Modernism and New Wave Feminism  

Modernists and new waves of feminism often assert that for women to be equal, they must become the same as men — measuring success by autonomy, productivity, and the rejection of traditional roles. This vision has led many in recent generations to not only normalize but even celebrate disorderedness, mistaking it for freedom. In contrast, the Christian vision calls us to something far richer: the integration and harmony that come from living according to the values God has written into our very being and aiming to pass on this wisdom to the next generation ultimately nurturing a new generation that is more aligned with God’s likeness, one that is healthier overall. Why wouldn’t we all want our future generations to be healthier and at peace? 

The prophet Isaiah speaks often of the virtues that flow from a life aligned with God: charity, justice, peace, humility, righteousness, faithfulness, and compassion. These are not signs of weakness, but of true strength — strength rooted in communion with God and in service to others. These are the values that build civilizations of love, not cultures of self. And it is precisely in living out these virtues, not abandoning them, that women find their fullest dignity and most powerful witness in the Church and in the world. 

Modernism suggests that the path to fulfillment lies in rejecting the very things that make us women: our capacity to bear life, to serve in hiddenness, to sacrifice for others. But the Gospel offers a different liberation. It frees us not from motherhood or dependence, but from the lie that power and self-assertion are the highest goods. It reveals that true greatness is found in humility, in obedience to God's call, and in pouring ourselves out for the sake of others. 

Where new wave feminism sees motherhood as a limitation, the Church sees it as a vocation. Where the culture prizes self-empowerment, the saints show us the beauty of self-gift. Where the world says, “You do you,” the Church says, “Be who God created you to be — and you will set the world on fire; lead by example and others will follow.”  

Called to Be Saints and to Raise Them 

Our generation is hungry for holiness. And it will be women — anchored in Christ, formed by the Church, and unafraid of the culture — who help to feed that hunger. 

We do this not by shouting over the noise, but by living lives that make the Gospel visible. By loving the people in front of us. By embracing our vocations with courage, conviction, and creativity. By remembering that our place in the Church is not on the sidelines — it is in the very heart of the mission. 

So, to every woman wondering if there is space for her in the Church’s evangelizing mission: there is not only space — there is a desperate need. 

The next generation of saints is watching us and in need of guidance in a world where there is so much noise and conflicting messaging. Ladies: let’s raise them well. 

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Copyright 2025 Laura Vazquez Santos
Images: Canva