O Antiphon for 20th day of December 2008

/*O Key of David...scepter of the house of Israel,you open and you close without contest.To us who sit in darkness and the shadow of the grave,Come! unlock our prisons and our chains.*/My Dear Sisters and Brothers,Peace be with you this 20th day of December 2008
!It has been written that when God opens a door, no one can close it; and when God closes a door, no one can open it.Thus the Key of David, The Christ, without contest closes and opens doors to shepherd us and free us along our spiritual pathways.Closing the door of complacency and ignorance...Christ leads us instead through the gates of fruitful wisdom.Closing the door of worry and anxiety...Christ leads us instead through the gates of inner peace and trust.Closing the door of self-will...Christ leads us instead though the gates of true obedience, the surrender to Love.Opening the door of the prison of non forgiveness...Christ sends us forth to be reconciled in peace with ourselves and with one another.Opening the door of the prison of isolation...Christ sends us forth to taste communion with self, one another and the Spirit.Opening the door of the prison of fear...Christ sends us forth to love and to be loved without measure.May we with gratitude and thanks accept the closing of doors so that we might discern and discover new directions.May we accept the grace given us to recognize and enter the doors that stand open within the heart of God so that we might know freedom from darkness and walk as Children of the Light.Blessed be God forever!
With love and kind thoughts of you,Olivia of the Western Region - RCWP USA

Catholic Church Moves to Excommuniae Priest-Sexism in the Catholic Church: Letter to Editor by Tom Hill, Olympia

December 18, 2008Catholic Church moves to excommunicate priest (Original title was Sexism in the Catholic Church)
Sexism, like racism, often is right before our eyes and we fail to recognize it or chose to ignore it.Many will not recognize sexism in the case of Father Roy Bourgeois, a Maryknoll priest of more than 36 years who is about to be excommunicated by the Vatican because he gave a homily at the ordination of a woman to the Roman Catholic priesthood last August.Rome is against the ordination of women even though the pope's own Pontifical Biblical Commission could find no scriptural reason for denying women the right to all seven church sacraments. Then in the tradition of men unable to formulate a reasonable theological argument against women's ordination, Catholics have been told the matter is not open for discussion.Most incredible is how quickly Rome reacted to Father Bourgeois' public support of women's ordination. Rome took less than three months to threaten this brave priest with the church's most severe punishment for confronting the sexist position that women are not good enough to serve God's people in an ordained capacity.Only three months! It has taken Rome years to react to predator priests in our church and not one of these criminal priests (or bishops) has been threatened with excommunication.Sexism will continue in the Catholic Church as long as we Catholics ignore what is happening and continue to support this bad behavior.
(Edited out of the original letter: Try sending your weekly tithe to a Catholic reform group and see how long it takes Rome to react to that one!)Tom Hill, Olympia

Roman Catholic Womanpriest, Olivia Doko, shares Third O Antiphon

/*O Root of Jesse...standing as a sign to all the world,

before you ev'ry ruler silent bows,

and to you ev'ry nation will one day return for help.

Come! and save us, we can wait no more!
*/

My Dearly Loved Sisters and Brothers,

Peace this Third O Antiphon Day!

Ringing in the ears of my heart as well as in the ears of my mind is the
word "root". The Christ was and remains deeply rooted in God, inviting
us into a silent awareness of our rootedness in, with and through him,
our beloved brother.

How many false roots of ego, sown in the darkness of our ignorance of
the Light, are we invited to uproot, first of all in ourselves, in order
to stand as the signs to all the world we have been created to be? How
willing are we to return to the taproot, The Christ, for help and
recreation?

So often we are busy saving the world, saving the Church, saving
others. Yet the greatest gift we can give to all, to and with whom we
are called by God, is first to allow ourselves to be saved from our
false selves so that we might come home to our true selves, and thereby
help show others the way.

Indeed, in openness may we pray, "come and save us...we can wait no more!"

With love at Advent and always,
Olivia of the Western Region - RCWP-USA

Roman Catholic Womanpriest Olvia Doko shares O Antiphon for Dec. 17th, 2008

(Olivia Doko with husband Slavo)

(Olivia Doko on the left and Juanita Cordero on the right)

*O Adonai...and tender of the house of Israel,appearing as a fire in the bush,who from the mountain top has handed down the Holy Law,Come! and hold us in redemption's arms! */My Much Loved Sisters and Brothers...Moses saw a flaming bush and recognized Whose Spirit was in that bush...and so he removed his sandals...and, grounded on the earth and its energy, opened his heart and his intellect to receive that which the Spirit would give...give not only for Moses, but for all humankind.We, too have seen a burning bush, sent to instill in each of us the vision for a renewing Church where all can know the healing of their lives' journeys, be welcomed at table, and be empowered to serve one another and the world...even the cosmos. How can we do other than to sing a hymn of gratitude and praise!As we sing, may the fire of Adonai burn with strength in our hearts so that we become living, flaming burning epistles through whom the Good News, which fulfilled the law, is preached with our every breath.

Olivia Doko

RCWP - Western Region - USA

Women Religious Raise their voices to "Break the Silence" on women's ordination

Fr. Roy holding chalice, Bishop Dana Reynolds, Janice Sevre-Duszynska holding bread, left Kathy Reddig, Bridget Mary Meehan and on far right Ree Hudson

Interview Transcript with Fr. Roy on CNN on Dec. 14th, 2008
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0812/14/sm.01.html


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 16, 2008

MEDIA CONTACT: Erin Saiz Hanna, office: +1 (202) 675-1006
ehanna@womensordination.org

Women religious raise their voices to "Break the Silence" on women's ordination

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, over 100 women religious go public in their support of women's ordination and Roy Bourgeois, the Maryknoll priest who was informed by the Vatican that he would be excommunicated if he did not recant his support of women's ordination within 30 days. He did not recant, and no further communication has been received. In collaboration with the campaign spearheaded by the Women's Ordination Conference (WOC), titled "Break the Silence. Shatter the Stained-Glass Ceiling." the National Coalition of American Nuns (NCAN) wrote the letter addressed to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The 113 signatures add to the over 200 women religious that signed two petitions in conjunction with the "Break the Silence" campaign since November 11, when WOC opened the first petition. "Catholic women religious are among the most prophetic people within our Church," stated Aisha Taylor, executive director of WOC. "The Vatican has intentionally created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, and the women who signed the letter and our petitions add their voices to the thousands of WOC members who, for over 30 years, have called for women's full inclusion in the Roman Catholic Church. Many of the signers have been members of WOC since the first conference in 1975." Among the signers are Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB, who defied the Vatican in 2001 and spoke at the first Women's Ordination Worldwide conference in Dublin; Sr. Theresa Kane, RSM, who made national headlines when she publicly requested, with Pope John Paul II sitting near-by, that he ordain women; Sr. Ivone Gebara, CND, one of Latin Americas leading theologians. Bourgeois' threat of excommunication is the second attempt this year in silencing the voice of women and men religious who prophetically stand in support of women's justice and equality in the church. On June 26, Sr. Louise Lears, a Sister of Charity who dedicated her entire life to serving the Church, was penalized by Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis for attending the ordination of two Roman Catholic women. The Pontifical Biblical Commission found in 1976 that there is no scriptural reason to prohibit the ordination of women. The Bible describes how women were prominent leaders in Jesus' ministry and early Christianity. In all four gospels, Mary Magdalene was the primary witness to the central event of Christianity-Christ's resurrection.

"It is long overdue for the Vatican to respond to the church's need for an inclusive clergy, which embraces women--all of whom are created equal and can be called by God to serve as priests in an accountable and inclusive Catholic Church," Taylor concluded.

###


NATIONAL COALITION OF AMERICAN NUNS
FOUNDED TO STUDY AND SPEAK OUT ON ISSUES OF JUSTICE
IN CHURCH AND SOCIETY12434 Klinger St., Detroit, MI 48212, 313-891-2192
Via FAX: 06.69.88.34.09

December 12, 2008Cardinal William Joseph LevadaCongregation for the Doctrine of FaithPiazza del S. Uffizio 1100193 Roma, ItalyDear Cardinal Levada:
The Vatican's threatened excommunication of Fr. Roy Bourgeois because of his belief in the priestly ordination of women has diminished our Church.
As women religious who love our Church and who have served the People of God for decades, we support our brother Roy. As a Maryknoll priest for 36 years, he has followed the Gospel of Jesus in his ministry for peace and justice by speaking out against the war in Iraq and against the torture of countless human beings, aided and abetted by the U.S. government's School of the Americas. He has been a prophetic voice for thousands in our society.
Roy is now a prophetic voice in our church because of his support for women's equality in all Church ministries. Excommunications depend not on edicts or laws, but on compliance. We do not believe Roy is outside the community and we embrace him wholeheartedly. Like Roy, we know women who testify that they are called to priesthood. We know that Jesus did not discriminate in calling both women and men to ministry. And we know that our church needs the gifts of everyone called.
So we join Fr. Roy Bourgeois and the majority of U.S. Catholics, who believe that women are called to priestly ordination in the Catholic Church. We look forward to the day when Catholic women, following in the footsteps of Mary Magdalene who announced the Resurrection to the male Apostles, will minister as full equals in our church.


Sincerely,
Jean Ackerman, OP
Louise Akers, SC
Alice Baker, IHM
Barbara Battista, SP
Barbara Beesley, IHM
Marlene Bertke, OSB
Ruth Bockenstette, SC
Mary A. Bodde, SC
Mary E. Boesen, SL
Mary Ellen Brody, RSM
Julie Brown, RSM
Mary Peter Bruce, SL
Jeri Cashman, OP
Joan Chicoine, IHM
Joan Chittister, OSB
Benita Coffey, OSB
Carol Coston, OP
Mary Ann Coyle, SLMary Ann Cunningham, SL
Beth Davies, CND
Marie Cyril Delisi, IHM
Kathleen Desautels, SP
Jo Ann Dold, OP
Maria S. Dowhaniuk, SFCC
Suzanne Dunn, SFCC
Gwen Farry, BVM
Maureen Fenlon, OP
Sheila Ferraz, SC
Maureen Fiedler, SL
Mary Kay Finneran, SC
Arlene Flaherty, OP
Victoria Marie Forde, SC
Susan Fortier, OSB
Ivone Gebara, CND
Rita Clare Gerardot, SP
Marian Gibbons, OP
Joan Glisky, IHM
Paula Gonzalez, SC
Jeannine Gramick, SL
Joan Groff, SC
Katrinka Gunn, SC
Patricia A. Haire, CSJ
Ann Halloran, OP
Doris Hamerl, CSC
Mary Harvey, RSM
Eileen Haugh, OSF
Joan Henehan, CSJ
Grace A. Hogan, OP
Margaret Hughes, IHM
Ruth Hunt, SC
Marion Irvine, OP
Florence Izzo, SC
Therese Jilk, OSF
Deidre G. Jordy, SP
Elizabeth Joyce, SP
Theresa Kane, RSM
Connie Kelly, SC
Esther Kennedy, OP
Betty Kenny, OSF
Pamela S. Kobasic, IHM
Kathy Komarek, OP
Anna Koop, SL
Linda Kors, CSC
Janet Kramer, SOSF
Marie LaBollita, SC
Cita Lamb, SND
Jean Ann Ledwell, OSU
Janet Lemon, IHM
Rose Annette Liddell, SL
Denise Lonergan, SFCC
Lystra Long, OP
Marian McAvoy, SL
Anne McCarthy, OSB
Kathleen McClelland, RSM
Bridget Mary Meehan, SFCC
Virginia Miller, SP
Mary M. Miner, RSM
Kate Moriarty, RSM
Maureen Murray, RSHM
Patricia Nagle, IHM
Betty Olley, OPMichele Olley, OP
Madonna Oswald, IHM
Patricia Otillio, RSM
Elizabeth Pardo, IHMClaudine Picard, RSM
Katharine Pinto, SC
Helen Marie Plourde, SSND
Marie-Anne Quenneville, OSU
Meg Quinlan, RSM
Donna Quinn, OP
Susan Rakoczy IHM
Diane Rapozo, BVM
Marie Regine Redig, SSND
Roberta Richmond, IHM
Carol L. Ries, SNJM
Marie Romejko, SND
Dolores Russo, SCH
Christine Seghetti, RSM
Gerry Sellman, SCMM
Ann Shaw, CSC
Maureen Sinnott, OSF
Julie Slowik, IHM
Rita Specht, RSM
Florence Speth, SC
Mary Sugrue, SC
Lenore Sullivan, IBVM
Maureen Tobin, OSB
Susan Vickers, RSM
Jacquie Wetherholt, CSJRebecca White, OSU
Alice Zachmann, SSND
Joanne Marie Zavadsky, SSND

For more information,
please visit
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001ojXaxiLLmLyyWt4WwqkctuyR6kisZol8wO_gqTpcl9sQGwWpOJAcalDt4pXTRGtDFKnlPmAY9Rjk1b_tDM31qDK5VXBI7hj7qaEbD_kRFV4V02xkusuNv_XnUtdTOLp-
Founded in 1975, the Women's Ordination Conference is the oldest and largest national organization that works to ordain women as priests, deacons and bishops into an inclusive and accountable Catholic church. WOC represents the 63-70 percent of US Catholics that support women's ordination. WOC also promotes new perspectives on ordination that call for more accountability and less separation between the clergy and laity.

Roman Catholic Womenpriests return to Liturgical Celebration of the Early Church

Judy Lee, rcwp, presiding at Good Shepherd Community Liturgy/Ft. Myers, FL.

Bridget Meehan, rcwp, and Lee Breyer,married priest sitting next to Carol, his wife(couch from left to right) preside at liturgy/Mary, Mother of Jesus House Church in Sarasota, Fl.

Roman Catholic Womenpriests , in grassroots communities, are embracing the liturgical celebration of the early church that John Chuchman describes in the following reflection:

A Return to Liturgical Celebration of the early Church

During the years following the ascension of Jesus,
the model of community worship by the early Christians
was that of the house Church.
The followers of Christ would gather in small groups
in the home of one of the Christian believers
and celebrate a memorial service of Our Lord's last supper.
The community of believers would call forth one of its members
to preside at this memorial service.
This person could be either man or woman, married or single.
This person was a baptized member of the early Christian community
with no special designation except being chosen or called forth
to leadership by the community.
Priesthood in the house churches of the early Christian community
did not come into existence until after the year 200 A.D.
For most of Christianity's first two hundred years
there was no perceived need for a formal clerical hierarchy,
or a centralized organization to define and enforce orthodoxy.
Each gathering of Christians was nearly autonomous,
and the various communities elected one (or several) of their members
to act as spiritual leader(s) in ministering the locally interpreted teachings of Jesus.
The Eucharistic celebration that the early Christian community celebrated
was a memorial service of the last supper.
The celebration of the presence of Christ in the Eucharist
was the result of the presence of Christ in the Community.
The community members were the concelebrants
and the leader was the presider.
It was the conscious expression of the faith by the whole community
that brought about the presence of Christ in the elements of the Eucharist.
Speaking the words of consecration was not the exclusive right of anyone
but rather belonged to the whole congregation.
The presence of Christ in the community
precedes the presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
Karl Rahner has said that the presence of Christ in the community gathered
precedes the possibility of the presence of Christ in the Eucharistic elements.
Only after we probe the presence of Christ in the community
will we find the deepest meaning of the real presence in the sacred elements.
Edward Schillebeeckx stresses the importance of seeing Christ's presence
as ultimately directed not toward the bread and wine,
but toward the community.
If participants want to understand the Eucharist as sacrament,
they should understand themselves first as the Body of Christ.
The bottom line and conclusion of all this
is that in the house church of the first two hundred years
it was first in the Christian Community
where the presence of Christ was to be found
and it was the Christian Community
that brought the presence of Christ into the Eucharistic Celebration.
In view of the many closing of parish communities because of the lack of celibate priests,
the lesson for the Christian community or house churches of the 21st century
is that as Our Lord has told us:
Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am present among you.
Like the house church of the first two hundred years,
it is the community of believers who can concelebrate
and bring about the presence of Christ in the Eucharistic Celebration.
Let us embark on the journey as a community of believers
in the modern day house Church.
Let us be true Traditionalists.
John Chuchman

poetman@torchlake.com

http://www.torchlake.com/poetman/main.html

Pink Smoke Over the Vatican/New documentary film on Roman Catholic Womenpriests

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6uUC0zGShk&feature=related

Jules Harts, a documentary producer from California, has spent 3 years working on this new documentary film.
The trailer is now up on youtube.
Go up and check it out and write your comments on youtube.
Bridget Mary