"Mary Magdalene in the Ministry of Jesus: Seeking and Proclaiming Resurrection"
Paintings by Artist Laura James, commissioned by Rita L. Houlihan/FutureChurch
March 14 – May 11, 2025
April 5 – An introduction and Q&A with Rita L. Houlihan and Laura James
1:15 – 2:15 p.m. followed by a “Meet and Greet” reception from 2:15 – 4 p.m.
"Traveling Ministry" - work in progress
The Risen Jesus chose Mary Magdalene as the first witness and proclaimer of his resurrection. Why? Laura James’s glorious art helps answer that question. It brings us the real Mary Magdalene whom Jesus trusted, the faithful disciple who never abandoned him - the Mary Magdalene of scripture, not false legends.
Come, meet Mary Magdalene. Follow her as she travels and ministers with Jesus, as she hears him predict his death and rising. Come seek with her as she weeps and peers into the tomb, as she meets Jesus in the garden and receives his holy order: “Go, tell my brothers and sisters that I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” (John 20:17). This is the first time Jesus offers us a path to a direct relationship with God, “the Father” and Mary Magdalene has the “singular honor … of carrying [this] electrifying message to the others.”1 She proclaims, “I have seen the Lord,” (John 20:18) revealing “… a life transforming experience.”2 We hope you will also encounter the Risen Jesus here and find your own life transforming experience with this art.
Yet, a simple internet search reveals that the demeaning, false “penitent, sexual sinner” legends still persist in art, as well as in song, movies, and literature. The Catholic Sunday lectionary continues to omit many of her important Gospel scenes creating the false impression that she, and other women were not significant disciples. New art is a critical and effective tool for filling the gaps and replacing the false images with Gospel truth.
The art in this exhibit began with Rita L. Houlihan’s urgent mission to bring the Mary Magdalene of scripture to the public’s attention. To make this vision real, Rita turned to Laura James and her rich talent for creating compelling images of quiet, joyful, and sometimes, loud spiritual experiences. We are grateful that Mercy by the Sea has opened their space to bring these paintings together, as a complete series for the first time.
We hope you will enjoy this art, with its colors, patterns, and striking compositions. We hope you will spread the word about this art and about the Gospel memories it preserves. We hope this art will touch the public’s imagination – regardless of religion – and carry the powerful memories of Mary Magdalene that our 1st century ancestors carried. These ancestors knew her as the disciple who traveled and ministered with Jesus, as the disciple who first brought the Good News of Resurrection – the foundational teaching of Christianity - to all. We hope you will hold these Gospel memories in your hearts and take them with you wherever you may go.
1 Scott Lewis, The Gospel According to John (Liturgical Press, 2005.100).
2 Lewis, 101.
About Rita and Laura
Rita L. Houlihan is committed to bringing Mary Magdalene, as she appears in scripture, and all Biblical women
leaders to the public’s attention. She has studied the question: “Why do so many still believe the false, “penitent
sinner” legend begun in 591 CE by Pope Gregory I?” Answers are found in beliefs about women from the Roman
Empire that crept into Christian belief, exclusion of Mary Magdalene from the Catholic Sunday readings, and
thousands of demeaning misrepresentations of her in art, movies, novels, plays, and songs (e.g., “I Don’t Know How
to Love Him”).
The distortion of Mary Magdalene’s image represents a wider distortion in the understanding of the Christian
woman and man (M. Boucher, BC Lecture 2009). To reclaim Mary Magdalene from these distortions, Rita has
commissioned art based on the insights of Biblical scholars such as Sandra Schneiders, Mary Coloe, Carla Ricci, and
Francis Moloney. (Examples: the “Mary Magdalene and the Risen Jesus” series by Laura James, 2021, the expanded
“Stations of the Resurrection According to John”, L. James 2024 and “Mary Magdalene Proclaims the Resurrection”,
M. Beaudette, SC, 2014.)
She works to expand education with scripture and art programs such as, “What We Gain by Reading John 20:1-18”
for middle and high school. She presented the history of Mary Magdalene on multiple podcasts, in a reflection for
Catholic Women Preach (CWP), and a class on “Social Invisibility of Women in the Catholic Lectionary” - part of
FutureChurch’s “Expanding Our Lectionary - Mary Magdalene Goes to the Synod”. (Links below). More work is
needed to restore Mary Magdalene and all Biblical women leaders to their rightful places in our liturgies and
spiritual lives.
Rita had a 32+ year career at IBM, in sales and Change Strategy Consulting and 3 years as an educator. She has a BA
in Psychology and Philosophy (Newton College of the Sacred Heart, now BC) and an MA in Educational Psychology
(NYU). She is a member of Ascension parish in New York City, teaches Confirmation, and is on FutureChurch’s Board
of Directors.
To learn more of Rita’s advocacy visit the FutureChurch “Expanding the Lectionary” homepage:
https://futurechurch.org/expanding-the-lectionary-a-synodal-dialogue-discernment/
Laura James is a self-taught painter and illustrator whose work transcends boundaries between the sacred and the
everyday. Born in Brooklyn and of Antiguan heritage, Laura has spent over three decades developing a visual
language that unites vibrant storytelling with themes deeply rooted in identity, culture, and spirituality. Her art,
celebrated for its fusion of Ethiopian Christian iconography with scenes from the Bible and contemporary life, invites
viewers to engage with both the familiar and the divine, fostering a space for introspection and connection.
In her religious work, Laura often explores themes of inclusivity and universal humanity. One of her best known
contributions is her collection of illustrations in The Book of the Gospels, which has been used worldwide by various
Christian communities since its 2001 publication by Liturgy Training Publications. In this book, now in its 2nd
printing, Laura reimagines traditional Christian iconography, infusing it with diverse representations that resonate
with people across cultures. Inspired by the richly symbolic, narrative tradition of Ethiopian Christian art, her
interpretations invite new, contemporary perspectives.
In her “Mary Magdalene and the Risen Jesus – Stations of the Resurrection According to John” (2021, 2024) and her
new, “Traveling Ministries of Mary Magdalene According to Luke” (2025), Laura brings us Gospel events centered on
the women disciples. These disciples and their stories are critical to our full understanding of Salvation History, but
they are not well known as they are rarely included in our Sunday readings, preaching, Children’s Bibles, hymns,
movies, storytelling, etc. The radical nature of Jesus’s inclusive ministry is made clear in these new paintings; they
challenge us to follow his example.
In all her work, Laura’s philosophy revolves around accessibility and inclusivity. She believes in the power of art to
create spaces where people feel seen and understood, regardless of their background. This commitment extends
beyond her paintings; Laura is an active advocate for artists and her community. As the founder of BX200: Bronx
Visual Artists Directory, she has established an online platform dedicated to showcasing Bronx-based artists,
fostering visibility and support for local talent. Her commitment to community-building continues through her work
on her local community board and garden. In all her endeavors, she believes that art should serve as a bridge,
connecting individuals and uplifting underrepresented voices.
To see more of Laura’s Art visit her website at https://www.laurajamesart.com/