Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests:Links to 3 Movies and Vision Statement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEEKn7PAGNs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Apn6RnMwYrs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvKwNsViyk4&feature=related

ASSOCIATION OF ROMAN CATHOLIC WOMEN PRIESTS

“A NEW MODEL OF ORDAINED MINISTRY

IN A RENEWED ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

We believe:

1. Women and men are created equal by God and equally represent Christ. We therefore seek justice for women in the church including ordination.

2. Jesus offered an example of inclusiveness and respect of persons that led, in the early Church, to the practice of ordaining the baptized from all states of life as deacons, priests, and bishops;

3. We affirm that no intrinsic connection exists between priesthood and mandatory celibacy;

4. We are called by the Holy Spirit from within our communities to follow Jesus as our model of empowerment and generous service. We support a climate of validation and affirmation, rejecting all forms of domination and control;

5. We recognize the injustices of class, race, sexual orientation, and mental and physical challenges as well as gender. We therefore, affirm the social justice tradition of the church and seek justice for all, especially the economically poor and the marginalized.

6. We are called to live as a community of equals, inclusive and respectful of differences;

7. We are called to transform hierarchical structures into non-hierarchical, community-based structures;

8. We are called to work for structural change and systemic justice with and for the exploited and oppressed throughout the world.

9. We are called to work for an end to sexism and its domination/subordination paradigm and to work for justice for all.

10. We are each called to exercise our responsibility to discern and express our thoughts and to reach consensus. Voting on serious issues using a majority vote would be a last resort in the absence of consensus.

11. We are called to a model of ministerial priesthood that is grounded in our common Baptism, standing in and claiming the prophetic tradition of the Church, and teaching authority based on Scripture and Tradition, and in "reading the signs of the times";

12. We are called to renew theology, liturgy, and pastoral practice to better reflect the spirit and teachings of the Second Vatican Council as expressed in Gaudium et Spes and in contemporary theology including feminist and liberation theology.

We envision the ARCWP initiative as a transitional renewal movement within the Roman Catholic Church whose goal is to achieve full equality for all within a renewed Church.

We envision ARCWP as a communion of individuals and localities whose common purpose is to promote the ordination of women in full Apostolic Succession as a matter of justice and faithfulness to the Gospel.

Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests-Vision and Mission -New Video

Deacon Ordination April,2011,
Sarasota, Florida

Historic Latin America Ordination of Martha Soto on right, Bridget Mary Meehan, Judy Lee, Olga Alvarado on left

http://youtu.be/IvKwNsViyk4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvKwNsViyk4&feature=youtu.be

Austrian Priests To Disobey Pope

http://www.news24.com/World/News/Austrian-priests-to-disobey-pope-20110629

"More than 250 Catholic priests in Austria are ready to disobey the pope and allow women to preach, the head of a progressive clergy platform confirmed on Wednesday.Helmut Schueller said the Priests' Initiative he leads has been pushing for admitting women and married men into the clergy for years, without results."

Bridget Mary's Reflection:
Kudos to the courageous 250 priests in Austria who are in solidarity with the Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement for justice and equality for women in the church.
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests
sofiabmm@aol.com

"Catholic Hierachs Lose Marriage Battle to Catholic Laity" by Jamie L. Manson NCR/ Social Justice Issue

http://ncronline.org/blogs/grace-margins/catholic-hierarchs-lose-marriage-battle-catholic-laity

"One wonders whether Dolan’s depression and DiMarzio’s mania was less a reaction to New York’s eroding moral fabric than it was a realization of the twilight of their once formidable power over New York politics.The bishops refuse to see that these officials were actually honoring the Catholic social justice tradition in their motivation for passing the marriage bill. They approached the issue as a cause for civil rights. From health care proxies and medical benefits to tax laws, same sex couples will now enjoy thousands of rights previously available only to married heterosexuals."

Bridget Mary's Reflection

Catholics get that the gay marriage issue is a human rights and social justice issue. The bishops, once again, don't get it! Archbishop Dolan's spontaneous apology to the gay community is a first step.

Honestly, the hierarchy have caused deep pain and alienation by their sinful label of gays as "defective". The institutional church should change their defective teaching and acknowledge marriage equality as a fundamental human right. Catholics in growing numbers are following their consciences on this issue and in this case, Catholic leaders are demonstrating a more compassionate, just church in action by their support of marriage equality.

By our baptism, we are all equals in Christ. There should be no discrimination based on race, culture, gender, sexual orientation or for any other reason. Jesus embraced all whom he encountered as the beloved of God, so should the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. See Galations 3;28.

Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP

Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests

www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org

"Ohio Catholic Bishops Against Race for the Cure"/ Why Not Cut off Bishops Funding to Stem Pedophile Payouts?

"The Catholic Bishops of Ohio have instructed Church members and organizations not to support the world's largest organisation against breast cancer -- the Susan G. Komen Foundation -- because it is not explicitly opposed to embryonic stem cell research, which the hierarchy condemns. The foundation is famous four its "Race for the Cure" series of 5K fundraising races all over the world. "

"As best we can determine, at present the Komen Foundation does not fund cancer research that employs embryonic stem cells. However, their policy does not exclude that possibility," wrote Bishop Leonard Blair of Toledo in a letter to people his diocese (below). He said the organisation also contributes to Planned Parenthood, which he cited as the "largest provider" of abortions in the United States."

Bridget Mary's Reflection:
Oh, my, the Ohio bishops are clueless! More proof that women priests and women bishops are needed urgently in the Catholic Church. The Ohio bishops demonstrate that the RC hierarchy does not understand or heed the voices of and experiences of women. This judgment by the hierarchy is guilt by association.
One could reason that Catholics should stop giving to the institutional church because such gifts could be used to pay off the legal bills for the pedophile crisis!
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests
www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org

Bridget Mary Meehan, RCWP

.

"Gay Marriage, Bishops and Crisis Leadership", NCR Article: Let's Embrace Equal Rights for All

http://ncronline.org/news/gay-marriage-bishops-and-crisis-leadership

"The vote approving same-sex marriage in New York is the latest and most glaring confirmation of some gloomy news for the Catholic church in the United States, and it’s not that gays have achieved the right to marry.

Rather, affirmed in the recent vote is the disturbing reality that the Catholic hierarchy has lost most of its credibility with the wider culture on matters of sexuality and personal morality, just as it has lost its authority within the Catholic community on the same issues."

Bridget Mary's Reflection:

I agree completely that the U.S. bishops have lost their credibility and moral authority on this issue and many others too. More and more Catholics are following their consciences on moral and spiritual issues today. No one is defective, each person is a beloved image of God! The glory of God is present in our beings which includes our sexuality and sexual orientation. This is basic theology 101. When will the hierarchy wake up and embrace all God's people as equals and therefore deserving of equal rights in all areas of civic and religious life, including the right to marry?
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP

French Woman Sues Opus Dei, Claims Brainwashing

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.901f10405411aeeb8554b48d4d3a7341.2e1
"She said she was forced to take vows and made to work as a domestic servant for virtually no pay. A French woman claiming to have been brainwashed by the secretive Catholic society Opus Dei is suing it for allegedly keeping her illegally as a domestic servant, she told AFP Tuesday..."

Late Nite Catechism: A Hoot! Sister is Back!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jrh_uuPmd0&feature=player_detailpage

Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests Living Justice and Equality Now- Movie/Ave Maria Instrumental

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Apn6RnMwYrs
(A Visual Meditation with Ave Maria instrumental music)

MARY, MOTHER OF JESUS, FIRST WOMAN PRIEST, PRAY FOR US AS WE OFFER THE GIFT OF A RENEWED PRIESTLY MINISTRY TO OUR BELOVED CHURCH..

ASSOCIATION OF ROMAN CATHOLIC WOMEN Priests are currently located throughout the United States and in South America. We use equal rites to promote equal rights to achieve justice for women in the Roman Catholic Church that has long denied women the sacrament of holy orders. Our specific charism within the broader RCWP movement is to live Gospel equality and justice for all in the church and in society now. We work in solidarity with the poor and marginalized for transformative justice in partnership with all believers. We view such justice as constitutive of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our vision is to live as a community of equals in decision making as an organization and within all our faith communities. We advocate the renewal of the vision of Jesus in the Gospel in our church and in the world. WWW.ASSOCIATIONOFROMANCATHOLICWOMENPRIESTS.ORG CONTACT- SOFIABMM@AOL.COM

Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests Rock Church- New Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEEKn7PAGNs&feature=youtube_gdata

The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests is a part of the international Roman Catholic Women Priests movement within the Roman Catholic Church that began on the Danube River in 2002 with the ordination of seven women. We are currently located throughout the United States and in South America. We prepare and ordain women to serve the people of God in inclusive communities where all are welcome. We use equal rites to promote equal rights to achieve justice and equality for women in the Roman Catholic Church . We work in solidarity with the poor and marginalized for justice in partnership with all believers. Our motto is justice for all, justice for the poor, justice for women, justice for women in the Roman Catholic Church, including ordination. Contact us at Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests
www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org
contact: Bridget Mary Meehan,ARCWP
sofiabmm@aol.com

Sunday Worship-Rest From Your Burdens and Independence Day- from Pastor Judy Lee, ARCWP

Here are some of the people who remained after our Sunday Worship on July 34,2011. This was a joyous celebration of the body of Christ. Our format is worship, a communal lunch, then fellowship and Sunday School. Many people remained throughout today as we are now on a biweekly summer schedule to permit for the Vacation Bible School and they were eager to get back together. During the homily,there were many "Amen's" and a moving reflection on the text of the day: Come to me all you who labor and are overburdened and I will give you rest." This group of people whose labor has often been expolited know well the need for rest. They also know the need for rest from the burdens of ill health, family problems, economic problems and the problems of discrimination and stereotypes. As burdens were named and given to Jesus one woman said,"Oh yes, I have all those burdens to give him and more". A distinct comfort was the Scriptural concept,lived in this community , of bearing each other's burdens. And, the Zechariah text about the gentle humble leader riding on a donkey and not riding in the Hummer or Lexus of the day was, for them about the Jesus they knew. The children showed their pictures of Jesus riding on a donkey on Palm Sunday and also talked about the gentle donkey and foal they saw at the petting zoo. We prayed for our Nation to be more like Jesus and enact peace and not power and war on its Birthday. This place where Jesus is so real you can reach out and touch the Christ, is a place of great joy.The abundant homecooked meal was brought by Eileen Wickeri a Lamb of God member, who always stays and has fellowship with us. Pearl, a Good Shepherd member who is originally from the West Coast of Africa, then unveiled a beautiful cake decorated with blueberries ,whipped cream and strawberries to portray the American flag. Today our members came from two Carribbean countries, one South American country, Africa,Italy and Lebanon as well a majority of those Americans born African American into a segregated society that lasted until the 1970's here in Florida. While,many here live below the poverty lines and only five in attendance were upper educated, the depth of theological understanding shared in the reflections on the homily and lived every day is profound. How blessed are we to be church together!

Judy Lee, ARCWP

Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests

http://www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org/

"Peace - Flowing Like the Sea", Vacation Bible School, Ft. Myers, Florida /A Reflection by Pastor Judy Lee, ARCWP

On this beautiful afternoon their great discovery was that tiny clams live by the side of the sea.


They marvelled at this show of God's amazing creation and were very careful to let things unfold so they could see the creature's inside without prying them open.



They were gentle and in awe!


How beautiful it is to share the joys of God's miraculous creation with 'city' children!

Fellini's Roma - Catholic Church Fashion Show /Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYzRL9YIswQ

Devotion To Mary, Mother of Jesus, as Priest -Read Documentation from Women Priests Scholarship Cite

Image is on a stole
given to me by Martha Soto
first woman priest
ordained in South America.

"Throughout the centuries the faithful have felt a devotion to Mary as priest."

http://www.womenpriests.org/mrpriest/m_gen.asp

"The devotion to Mary as Priest can be documented in many ways:

1. It consisted in the strong belief that Mary was, indeed, a priest. Tradition indicates four main reasons: Mary belonged to a priestly family, Mary exercised priestly functions, Mary gave us the Eucharist and Mary procures forgiveness of sins.
2. Tradition stressed especially Mary’s role as a sacrificial priest.
   Mary’s role as Sacrificial Priest is seen particularly in her offering Jesus during the Presentation in the Temple and during his crucifixion on Calvary.
3. Devotion to Mary Priest blossomed greatly among ordained ministers.
   Mary was seen to have a special relationship to priests, not least in the celebration of the Eucharist.
4. The devotion to Mary Priest has been present throughout the history of the Church.
   Read the witness of theologians and spiritual writers, with references to extensive quotations.
5. The devotion to Mary Priest was also expressed in religious art. Visit our gallery of images of Mary Priest. "
   

The art work depicting Mary, Mother of Jesus, as priest is stunning.Enjoy!

Thanks to Women Priests Website for its excellent scholarship and for the contribution they have made to our movement by their intellectual presentation from sources in scripture, tradition, and contemporary theologians.

Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP

Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests

www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org

God Is Not Three Guys In The Sky

http://godisnot3guyscom-jeanette.blogspot.com/

Inspired by women ordained

"The Community of Mary Magdalene, First Apostle, based in St. Cloud, MN, supports and plans liturgies with Catholic womenpriests. Kelly Doss, one of our group, witnessed a Womenpriest Ordination for the first time on June 26 and wrote this: As the procession began, I remember my eyes welling up with tears. I thought, “I cannot believe I get to be part of this! This is really happening before my eyes—a woman being ordained...” (written by Kelly)

"Hipocrisy" by John Chuchman/Translation of Lord's Prayer in Aramaic/ "O Birther, Mother/ Father of the Cosmos"

Hypocrisy

Jesus does not say,

Our Father . . . Who art in heaven . . .

Jesus says,

Abwoon dibashmaya

(Aramaic)

O Birther,

Mother/Father

of the Cosmos . . .

Jesus knows that

The Divine,

The Creator,

The Source of Life,

The Sustainer of the Universe

is NOT Male only,

but rather the Fullness

of both Masculine and Feminine Essences.

Jesus knows that

God is BOTH Mother and Father,

a loving, birthing energy

who is constantly

a mothering and fathering source of life

for us all.

All of the masculine names for God

and all the corresponding masculine pronouns

that fill the Bible

are only there because

the translators of the Roman Catholic Church

choose to make God masculine.

This is their basis for establishing

a male-dominated church

that leaves women out in the cold

when it comes to church authority.

They define God

in a way that serves their control.

No other organization on the planet

is more hypocritical towards women,

exalting Mary on one hand,

while keeping priests celibate from women

(at least publically)

and powerless in the church on the other hand.

Honoring Mary is important, but

Honoring Women as Equals is Divine.

To ban women from ordination and positions of leadership,

denying them a meaningful voice in the Church

is diabolical.

This is the worst kind of Hypocrisy.

Is pedophilia more honorable

than sexual relations with women?

I have learned more about relationships,

more about presence,

more about compassion and empathy

from the women I have known

than from any man.

To claim,

directly or indirectly through language,

that the Divine Creator

is solely masculine

is damnable.

Making God strictly male

makes males gods.

Jesus knows that when He says,

Abwoon . . .

Love, John Chuchman

Bridget Mary's Reflection

God is not male and to use only male language in official worship implies that God is male which is idolatry. God is beyond all names and images and certainly can be named and imaged with feminine metaphors as well as male metaphors.The real issue is honoring women as equal images of the divine in everything and that means women can and should preside at Eucharist. Excellent work, John!

Thanks for this powerful reflection.

Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP

Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests

www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org

Monique Venne Was Ordained a Priest in Minneapolis, Miinnesota

"One Burnsville woman took a leap of faith this past Sunday"

http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2011/06/29/news/cw/bv30womanpriest.txt

"Monique Venne was ordained June 26 as a priest at Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Ave. in Minneapolis. This ceremony was the third public Roman Catholic Womanpriest ordination in the Twin Cities. Bishop Regina Nicolosi ordained Venne a priest...Now, she is a co-pastor of the Compassion of Christ Catholic Community with three other womanpriests. Their church rents space from Prospect Park United Methodist Church in Minneapolis, and holds a 5 p.m. service on the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month..."


"Before co-pastoring at her own church, Venne was a highly active member at the Church of St. Edward in Bloomington. She interned at the church while she was in seminary and credited Father Mike Tegeder for being helpful and supportive of her journey...In his own church, Tegeder said women participate in ways that are equivalent to a man who has been ordained, participating as directors of faith and liturgists."I hope our Church leaders reflect on this," Tegeder said. "We have to open our minds to new possibilities."

Bridget Mary's Reflection:
Congratulations, Monique and blessings on your ministry as a priest serving The Compassion of Christ Catholic Community. What a beautiful name that reflects the love of Christ for all.
I also commend Fr. Tegeder for his positive affirmation of your ministry.
It seems to me that we may be approaching a tipping point on the issue of Roman Catholic Women Priests.

Maryknoll priest Fr. Roy Bourgeois led the way by attending the ordination of Janice Sevre-Duszynska., and never stopped speaking out on this issue across the United States. Now there are male priests in Austria, Ireland and theologians in Germany, Austria and Switzerland who are speaking out for women priests. Even a Cardinal from Portugal, a bishop from Switzerland, and Australia are joining the groundswell that has been growing in recent years. What is the Vatican going to do now?
The Sense of the Faithful is speaking loudly and clearly! A holy shakeup has begin, a revolution for justice for women in the church is on the move! Let us rejoice that the Holy Spirit is birthing a renewed church now in our midst!
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org
sofiabmm@aol.com

300 Austrian Parish Priests Call For Reform and Disobedience to Institutional Church

John Wijngaards points to some exciting news from Austria where 300 parish priests are openly refusing to comply because of the Church's lack of reform. They call for 'disobedience' in seven key areas. See: http://www.pfarrer-initiative.at/

The seven points are: (John has translated & summarised from the German text):

· In every Church service they will say a public prayer for Church reform.

· They will not refuse communion to well-meaning Christians. These may include divorced and remarried, members of other Churches, at times people who have left the Church.

· They will avoid saying multiple masses in many centres. They will prefer services conducted by people themselves to artificial supply services.

· From now on they will call a service of the word with distribution of holy communion a 'eucharistic celebration without a priest'. This will fulfil the Sunday duty.

· They will ignore the preaching prohibition imposed on competent lay people.

· They will see to it that each parish has a lay chairperson: a man or woman, married or not. This to counter the joining up of parishes and of projecting a new priestly image.

· They will use every opportunity to publicly promote the admission of women and married men and women to the priestly ministry -- seeing in both men and women welcome colleagues in our pastoral ministry.

‘Not only is another world possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.’ Arundhati Roy

The Catholic Diocese of One Spirit - a Statement to Establish the Communities of Tomorrow by Bishop Jim Burch

Bishop Jim Burch resides in N.VA. Please respond to him directly if you are interested in reading the other parts of this presentation. Also, respond to him with your feedback. He is looking forward to the conversation.
Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP
Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests
www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org

PART 5 - The Catholic Diocese of One Spirit - a Statement to Establish the Communities of Tomorrow

But none of what we have talked aboutdoing to make the church more vibrant and responsive to the needs of people today will "reconstitute," in new form, the parish/local church as it exists today. That structure is in its death throes, and will not last in its present form. The "parish" of the future will be remarkably different from what is taken as a given today.

A couple of years ago I had lunch with a Roman Catholic pastor of a large suburban parish, himself very conservative and a member of Opus Dei. After we warmed up, he admitted something to me that I never expected. This was a man who had started a suburban parish from scratch, had a new $5 million plant, had 3,000 - 4,000 parishioners, and who took in $25,000 - $35,000 per week. By "objective" standards he was a huge "success." Yet he told me, "We (and I knew he meant other Opus Dei, conservative RC pastors) know that this is all over." The "this" he was referring to was the parish as it exists today. "50 years from now, parishes won't be anything like this at all," he said. So - a shock - even our conservative friends know it, but won't usually say it out loud.

Pick the best and the biggest parish (Catholic) or local church (Protestant) you can think of. Usually, the big ones are 4,000 -6,000 parishioners. At most, they will have about 25,000 members. Yet they will draw on a population of 500,000 or more! So even the "best" (i.e., "biggest") of the local churches will only attract a minority of the population from their market area. There is abundant evidence that even the most "successful" of churches only can get a small sliver of the people they try to attract. In the early 21^st Century, an estimated 20% of Protestants and an estimated 25% of Catholics are actually in church on any given Sunday. This structure is over.

Here is what the spiritual community of the future will look like, I think. I am MOST interested in your ideas, suggestions, additions, corrections, prognosticating, vision. Let's get busy working on this now.

1. Very few annual large liturgies will be held for the general population ... perhaps Christmas, Good Friday and Easter, Pentecost and Thanksgiving. Sunday services will not be as large as they are today, for fewer and fewer people will attend. The large special services will be held in the existing churches of today, in new multi-purpose buildings, or in public rented venues. People of mixed Christian/Catholic denominations will gather together, irrespective of minor differences. Because these will be relatively e rare and voluntary, and because they will be prepared well and not so often available as today's every-Sunday-liturgy, they will be well attended, if fact, bulging at the seams. Pastors will also have learned that they have to do it well or they will lose out to those who do.

2. Parish real estate that survives (and much will) will re-form itself as a community focal point, with functions to help and encourage those within its reach, no matter what faith they might be. Through newly-emerged social media will they effectively begin reaching those they always sought to reach

3. Small Communities of Faith will still exist, but they will remain almost as rare as today, and not too much more popular than today. As today, they will comprise from 5 to 20 people usually (50 on major holidays will be considered a big achievement), and top out at the rare community of 100 people. Those who attend will be strong in their attachment, but natural attrition will occur and replacements hard to find on a constant basis.

4. Home Eucharists will be everywhere. Very short and informal liturgies, in the colloquialisms and language of the people present, will be used widely by Christians at almost every meal where "two or three" or more gather. There will be the breaking of the bread and the blessing of the wine, and the sharing to remember Jesus present. Families and their guests will grow comfortable with this spiritual remembrance, and there will be various paragraph-or-two "lessons" available from many sources to make each short liturgy interesting, new and meaningful. The head(s) of the household will lead these Eucharists. The larger parish, which will only see most of these people on rare large feasts (described above), will encourage these family/friend gatherings through email and blog contact. These gatherings will feel a part of the larger parish in this way, if at all.

5. Reading of the Scriptures in Small Home/Friendship Groups. This will occur, particularly when the New New Testament gets rolling (more on this in the future). The New Testament was written to be read out loud in a group and discussed. This will happen, because the New New Testament speaks more clearly and powerfully than even its beautiful predecessor.

6. Special Occasion Excursions will be organized by the parish ministry. Parish ministry may or may not be associated with a building. There will be gatherings at parks for specific age groups, at pools in the summer, along walking trails, picnics at beautiful locations, ski trips, weekends at the ocean or the lake, group meditations waist-deep in the surf, visits to national public monuments and discussions to follow, and a myriad of experiences organized by leaders of children's groups, teen groups, young singles, married couples with and without children, older people, retirees, etc. These will be organized for the fun and the learning and the opportunity to talk together about some spiritual-related topic, carefully thought out and presented by the ministerial organizers. These will be fun and they will be enriching at the same time. It this way, a great majority of people will greatly be attracted to them.

I remember a year or so ago, one of the large churches in Washington, DC - probably worth $10 million in replacement value - decided they wanted to invigorate their church. Much needed it was, as there was no congregation, a board of three members, and they stayed alive by renting out for weddings and yoga classes. They started an informal conversation with me and would call from time to time to test their ideas. One time they called and said they had a great idea: they were going to begin Vespers every Sunday at 5 pm. When there was a deadly silence on my end, they asked what I thought. I said it would never work. "What would you do?" they asked. "Call it Happy Hour" I responded. (I meant it.)

7. Special Occasion Liturgies will be a constant, as long as they are done well (most are not now) and not straight-jacketed by imposed rituals from afar: weddings, funerals and baptisms. These may or may not be in the church building. No matter. These are the occasions people want to celebrate the spiritual reality of their momentous life passage. They will come for joyful and meaningful celebrations, but not for lifeless rituals overlaid by rules and regulations. The parish or other organized structure for ministerial staff will have to be ready for lots of these milestone-type liturgies once this structure becomes more accepted.

8. Connection of the Community by email and blog. This will be the way a self-realized group stays connected with each other. These groups/parishes of the future may or may not be geographic. They can be organized around current churches, new building-less churches, neighborhood associations, senior clubs, sports clubs, travel clubs, even large families or other natural groupings. They will be local groups, and they will be widespread, based on similar interests.

9. Spiritual Television and radio shows will become more available in entertaining and educational format. Not the piety and overlaid sauce of EWTN, but in positive, contemporary theology, dressed up in song, staging, inter-active participation, Q&A and other traits of what society does in this contemporary world. This, I believe, will be the way most people in the times to come, get their spiritual "classes," how they learn about their faith. Obviously, theological slicing and dicing will not move the masses. Only thoughtfully presented, least-common-denominator presentations will work. This is not a criticism of the process to come. It will not be "watered-down." Presentations that actually sink into people, which motivate them to be better and to change their lives toward becoming their best selves, are the presentations that are life-changing, not theological weed-whacking. What are we about here with this Christ-life, after all?

This is the formula for saving a lot of existing parishes/local churches, which are very quickly becoming anachronisms.

However, you may also notice that a community of the sort described above does NOT NEED a physical building. In fact, it may find the going a lot easier without that baggage. Large annual liturgical celebrations can take place in beautiful rented buildings, manor homes, hotels, parks or any appropriate place. In the summer warm months, they could be under roofed-pavilions at local parks. The priest pastor would encourage small communities of faith and vouch for their choices for ordination. He or she would likewise encourage home Eucharists and organize the exploratory trips sponsored by the parish leadership ministries. He or she would be the main point of contact for weddings, funerals and baptisms. The community would be joined through the parish blog and emails.

Such communities would belong to a diocese, not necessarily geographic, perhaps of like-minded people of similar spiritual persuasion (as is the Catholic Diocese of One Spirit today). Liturgies can be sent out by the diocese for use or alteration by the communities through the priest who serves them.

This is a model for community NOW. Through the Catholic Diocese of One Spirit, it is not a structure that has to be waited for. We want to implement this as a model immediately, and encourage any who want to be a part of a church like this.

I ask for your input: shall we add this to our agenda of our diocese? It would not replace anything, but would be in addition to what we are already doing. Should other organizations also use a model like this?

PLEASE GET BACK TO ME AND GIVE YOU YOUR THOUGHTS - WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE, WHAT ADDITIONS OR OBSERVATIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THIS IS QUITE IMPORTANT. LET'S MAKE IT A DIOCESEAN-WIDE DELIBERATION! IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER OF OUR DIOCESE, PLEASE ALSO JOIN IN. THIS IS NOT JUST FOR US. WHAT MODEL(S) SHALL WE HAVE READY FOR THE DAWN OF THE NEW CHRISTIAN ERA FORMING AS WE READ?

Part 1 previously observed that - other than for a minority of people - the historical structure of "church" is collapsing all around us. Part 2 then observed that the new face of the Church is all about us.

Part 3 recorded that several important theologians have believed that the Vatican is in schism for dismantling the Second Vatican Council ("ecumenical councils trump popes").

Part 4 built on the first three sections and looked at where we are now in this new phase of opening the Church to its new dawn.

Many blessings,

Jim

Bishop James H. Burch

The Catholic Diocese of One Spirit

703-818-8080

Jim@JamesHBurch.com

BishopJim@OneSpiritCatholic.org

www.OneSpiritCatholic.org

Cardinal Sees 'No Theological Obstacle' to Women Priests/ A Cardinal Breaks Ranks with Vatican on Women Priests- A Hopeful Sign

http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/cardinal-sees-no-theological-obstacle-women-priests

By John L Allen Jr

Created Jun 27, 2011

"Cardinal José da Cruz Policarpo of Lisbon, Portugal, a veteran European prelate at one point considered a contender for the papacy, reportedly has said there’s “no fundamental theological obstacle” to the ordination of women as priests in the Catholic church.According to the text of an interview with a legal publication in Portugal called Oa, Policarpo said that women’s ordination will happen only “when God wants it,” ...

“There’s a fundamental equality among all the members of the church,” the cardinal said. “The problem lies in a strong tradition, which comes from Jesus and from the fact that the churches of the Reformation conceded the priesthood to women.”

Bridget Mary's Reflection:

Wow! Who is this Cardinal who breaks ranks with the Vatican on women priests? What a blessing it is to hear a prominent theologian and leader of the church speak out for justice and equality for women in our church!

Imagine the panic in the CDF (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, formerly the Office of the Holy Inquistion)! What can the Vatican do to punish Cardinal Policarpo -- take his red hat away and throw it in the Tiber?

In the past several years anyone who supports women priests - like religious orders, for example --find themselves under investigation and in big trouble with the Vatican. Even bishops lose their jobs if they even think about women priests as a solution to the priest shortage. Bishop Morris wrote a pastoral letter that raised the possibility of women's ordination and several years later, he was "sacked" by the Pope. The Vatican is pushing the Maryknoll Order to dismiss Fr. Roy Bourgeois for his attendance at Janice Sevre-Duszynska's ordination and for his ongoing support for women's ordination. Apparently excommunicating Fr. Roy was not enough!

(Remember no pedophile has been excommunciated, no bishop who covered-up these crimes has been excommunicated. But Roman Catholic Women Priests have been excommunicated. Although after one of my ordinations in Florida, the Vatican announced on All Headline News that all those who attended the ordination would be excommunicated, but if they confessed their sin to a priest, they would be forgiven!)

The fact that Fr. Roy has given talks in support of women priests to thousands of people in the U.S. and that he appears in the new documentary film "Pink Smoke Over the Vatican" has irked Vatican officials to try this risky strategy. The result proves my theory that the Vatican is the gift that keeps on giving. Thousands of people are supporting women priests and expressing their support for Fr. Roy.

Thank you Cardinal Policarpo for affirming Gospel equality for women in the church!!

I hope there will be women priests soon in Portugal!

Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP

Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests

http://www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org

sofiabmm@aol.com

703-505-0004

Pastoral Ministry With Children and Adolescents: Judy Lee Shares Reflection from Vacation Bible School/ Ft. Myers, FL.

While I do wish I had a youth worker so I could do more, working with these kids is exhilirating because they are learning the Gospel so well in word and deed, and because they are fun to be with. The eagerness and excitement they expressed at making a garden and planting vegetables was a joy to share.
.

There are so many surprises: their joy at collecting sea shells and
seeing sea birds, and being in the water of any sort-but especially the Gulf.


Their awe at feeding baby goats at the petting zoo. Their abilities at sports and eagerness to learn about our loving God. Their recall of past Sunday lessons and their connecting to present lessons: Jakeriya is a small 9 year old girl- you have seen her dance at our Ordinations. When we were reflecting on Jesus’ love she said: I remember the time Jesus healed ten lepers, and no one wanted to go near them. But only one said thank you-we should say thank you to God for Jesus healing people like us. !!!!!!!

And TyJae,15, said in response to another group member who wanted to go to a skating rink for a group trip: no, I don’t think we should go just anywhere, we are learning about what God did to give us a beautiful world we should go find the world the way God created it, like we did at the beach, or at the zoo. We can deal with what people made anytime! !!!!!!!!!!!! Or Jolinda a strikingly beautiful ebony teenage girl who painted her new identity on her TeeShirt: ChurchGirl!!!!!


Or Marcella our Italian American 9 year old once so shy she couldn’t speak who was the only one who could define what chaos meant and then said-and God put order in all that mixed up jumble! She also painted a beautiful circle in gold on her Tee shirt and surrounded it with concentric broken circles and bright rays with a cross discecting the concentric circles. It was a piece of art worthy of any adult artist. She said “I don’t know what it means, but God is in the middle of it”.!!!!!!!!!! And, finally, Joelle our four year old simply makes everyone laugh and feel joy because she is so happy to be at Bible school and her zest for life is filled with grace. All of the kids love her, when she was a bit late to the first class her Mom apologized as she had to hurry from her morning job, but, she said, Joelle told her that God and her friends at church are waiting for her so they had to hurry! And to hear them sing fervently”Thank you God, Thank you God, we just want to thank you God” would make you weep-happy tears.


Thank you God…. Judy Lee+ ARCWP