These are the words of Sr. Donna Markham at the LCWR gathering in Dallas a week ago and they certainly pertain to all of us in Roman Catholic
Women Priests and our participation at the Parliament of World Religions this past week:
"I am no longer afraid of what may become of me in speaking truth or doing what I know to be right. I know you understand this and live it with me.
We will allow absolutely nothing to prevent us from reaching out in compassion. This is the gift and the hope I believe we women religious leaders
offer to our broken, angry world today."
"Support Roman Catholic Womenpriests" our banner at Booth 418 said at the 2023 Parliament of World Religions held in Chicago these past few days.and that is exactly what people did as they passed us in the hallways and on the walkway bridge in the McCormick Place Convention Center
and the Hyatt Regency.
We are talking about 1000's of participants of all faiths from Sikhs, Rabbis, Unity Ministers, 1Spiriit Interfaith Ministers, Buddhists, Methodists
and Lutherans, Baptists and several other Christian Ministers, Hindus, and many Meditation-new age Spiritual Ministers, Franciscans, Paulists, Wiccans, Pagans as well as a good number of young persons in theology or religious studies
and a significant number of others coming up to us and saying: "I used to be Catholic"---all who now know
more about womenpriests.
We were able to explain who we are as the Roman Catholic Women Priests movement, show them on the map where we are located and refer
everyone to the website for more information, give contact information on a number of us from the USA, ARCWP, Canada and other countries-- as to where they could find one of us or a worshiping community--- i.e. people would ask about---to name a few---Alaska, or Kansas or Austria or Washington or Boston or Chicago, Taiwan, New York, San Diego, South Africa, South America etc.
They all received a colorful ballpoint pen with the website info printed on it which as you know also has links to ARCWP and Canada.
Others took handouts with more info, bookmarks, WOC's "Ordain Women" buttons (we ran out of those),
bracelets with a "Womenpriests Are Here" statement, brochures regarding Canada's members and communities and our history booklets.
We rationed the booklets and only handed those to persons who seemed more interested in us---i.e. potential candidates,
and professors at university programs.
We were able to get the history booklet, Here I Am, in the hands of several others and as I said in an earlier email including Cardinal Cupich, Richard Rohr, and Matthew Fox all took the booklet.
We also gave one to Ven. Chao Hwei Shih Professor at Hsuan Chuang University whose interpreter brought her over to
the booth as Juanita had talked to him earlier. (Ven. Chao-hwei Shih serves as both a professor
and as dean of the Department of Religion and Culture at Hsuan-Tzang University.
She was the university’s head of Humanities until stepping down to make more time for her research, which has focused on
Buddhist philosophy and ethics. She has published more than two dozen books and many more research papers.)
Juanita spent much energy with her smile and loving manner reviewing our history to a good number of people,
explaining the Danube 7, and Patricia Fresen's story which most people obviously were fascinated with and moved
to hear all about our roots. She also blessed and counseled several people who had experienced difficult encounters
within the Church.
We were so positively supported and accepted with many asking "How can we help you?" or "It is about time!" etc. or
"I remember you from the last Parliament in Toronto--- How are things going for you?"
and several coming up to us from Protestant denominations asking "How can we support you?"
If we had a dollar for every time someone smiled or gave us a thumbs up---we would have had a great fundraiser!
We only had one person be negative---a young man from France who used the word heresy---otherwise all positive---we have support out there globally and now if only the Vatican would wake up---which so many could not understand
why they don't ordain women.
A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO ATTENDED AND ESPECIALLY HELPED JUANITA AND ME WITH THE BOOTH....THANKS GOES
TO Jane and Felix Kryzanowski who helped us along with Roberta Fuller from Canada and Irene Senn from the MIdwest as well as
Mary Grace Crowley-Koch from Holy Margins and Amy Bruner also from the Midwest.
Joanne Truelson and Victoria Rue (Holy Margins) were also present to others as as they attended program sessions and
Victoria shared her latest play in a session on Wed. evening. Even Kate McElwee from WOC sat in the booth one morning
and brought us the purple Ordain Women buttons which as I said we ran out of almost immediately.
I have attached some pictures (which are not in any order) to give you some visuals as to all of the above as it was a graced week to represent
and present all 294 of us to the world. (I am sorry but we seem to be missing a photo of Jane and Felix K. and Roberta who somehow escaped the camera.)
Peace and Blessings to each of you and thank you for trusting us to represent the movement--- even with our collars.
Suz and Juanita
p.s. Be sure and check out the 4th picture which is of Juanita and Dan Frachey (Dan was ordained a deacon today in Great Waters) and be sure and see the last attached picture where
Mary Grace and Irene slipped out of their comfort zones and let the Sikhs wrap them in turbans.
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