Exploring the Presence: More Faith Patches is the passionate, rich and honest spiritual journey of a woman who left her church after awakening to the Divine Feminine. In her sequel to Faith Evolving, Trish McBride honours the Presence of the Holy One who permeates All that Is, however we may name Her / Him, in an authentic expression of women's spirituality.
The diversity of prose and poetic pieces of writing is 'quilted' together with a clear and concise voice. It is challenging and provocative in places, but also mellow and joyous, conveying the darkness and the light of the spiritual path. It claims continuity with the essence of the Catholic Christian tradition while exploring far and wide beyond. There is a sharing of the intimate details of a spiritual journey, attention to the texture of place, time and Spirit, an ability to convey the 'feel' of experiences and travels, and delight in the company of others on the Way.
Trish's honesty, integrity and ability to reflect on her own experiences make this book a good read, either as a whole, or a piece at a time. Readers interested in the contribution to faith of 'mind' as well as 'heart' will find this a rich resource. All of life is sacred!
Read together, these three books (Faith Evolving, Exploring the Presence and A Love Quilt) document Trish's 75-year life and faith journey from childhood to her 80s - a unique longitudinal record of women's spirituality and thinking. They are both spiritual biography and contextual theology.
Along the way, Trish moves from a traditional Catholic faith to embracing feminist theology and on into a post-denominational, inclusive, integrated Gospel-centred spirituality. She has used a patchwork metaphor across all three books, connecting writings of many colours, shapes and textures. Her purpose in all three has been to encourage others to ponder and record their own faith journeys.
McBride, Trish: - Trish McBride was born in Lancaster, England and came to Aotearoa New Zealand in 1952. For most of her life she was deeply involved in the Catholic Church. She has subsequently spent times with ExAlt, a women's spirituality group, a Progressive Presbyterian parish, and the Religious Society of Friends, and now identifies as post-denominational. Now retired, Trish has been a spiritual director, chaplain in various contexts, counsellor and supervisor. She is mother to 7 and delighted grandmother to 23, some acquired, and is now (2024) happily settled in a retirement village.A high point in her writing career was as a prize-winner in a 1994 international competition for religious journalism awarded by The Tablet, London. Others have been contributing chapters to five Aotearoa Catholic-based theology books, (The God Book, A Thinkers Guide to Sin, Journeying into Prayer, But is it Fair? and Living in the Planet Earth), publication of two academic papers in USA, and completing her own unintended trilogy: Faith Evolving, Exploring the Presence and A Love Quilt.Many of the articles and poems in her books have previously appeared in a variety of publications. Formal studies included MA (Hons) in Classics, Diploma in Pastoral Ministry and Recognition as an Associate in Christian Ministry (interdenominational).Involvements include family, social justice, nurturing friendships, quilting, reading, swimming, walking and occasional painting.
