Women Priests in the Roman Catholic Church

FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL

“In 2002, on the shore of the Danube River, seven Catholic women broke tradition and sent tremors to the very foundation of the Church. That day, the Danube 7 were ordained as priests — an office not recognized as valid for women parishioners in the Catholic Church.

In doing so, the septet started a movement that adherents say contests for nothing less than spiritual equality in forging a more inclusive church that reflects a 21st-century sensibility.

It’s a fight not without supporters. Two years ago, a Quinnipiac University poll found that at least 60 percent of U.S. Catholics backed female ordination. It’s a controversial movement that touched down in Central Florida in January. At Christ Unity Church in Orlando, the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests ordained octogenarian Rita Lucey a priest.

Supporters of ordaining women, including one of today’s columnists, contend that excluding women from the Roman Catholic priesthood not only is rooted in antiquated sexism, but also comes lacking any convincing biblical justification.
Meanwhile, advocates say the status quo is reliant on faith, not fashion. The whims of changing eras have no bearing on God’s immutable word. And God, as today’s other columnist argues, clearly chose men to deliver his message and minister to his flock.

Pink smoke may never rise from the Vatican. Nevertheless, women like Lucey continue to serve — fiat or no.

Thoughts regarding a renewed Roman Catholic Church… Sibyl Dana Reynolds

(Originally written April 2008, and edited May 2016)

We are called by God to bring forth our spiritual and creative gifts to inspire a spiritual and creative renaissance within the Roman Catholic Church. We are re-imagining the Church from its earliest beginning, deep in the taproot of the teachings of Jesus.

We choose to follow the template of inclusivity and table community that Christ modeled. Everyone is welcome, including those on the margins of society, and those who have been excluded by the Church because of divorce, abortion, and sexual orientation. 

We draw our inspiration from the First Century communities that formed to celebrate and keep alive the Way of Jesus. These were the men and women whose hearts and minds were infused with his teachings. It was a sacred time when women were deacons, priests, and bishops as archaeological evidence demonstrates.

The vision is to once again return the balance of feminine and masculine; working, creating, praying, and celebrating together. We create communities to support the evolution of “Kingdom” into “Kindom,” as kindred relations within the body of Christ. We are the people of God, the human family with all its glorious diversity and complexity. This is the renewed life-giving Church that encourages hope and welcomes possibility for the times we are living in.

A

Renewed   

Church

Welcomes

Possibility

More Beautiful Photos of Memorial Liturgy for Adele Jones

 http://joeltin.smugmug.com/AJ2015

Pope Francis Welcomes Female Lutheran Archbishop, How About Catholic Women Priests?

http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/pope-francis-welcomes-female-archbishop

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/may/12/pope-francis-spare-no-effort-in-defending-life-fam/

Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community Celebrates Mother's Day, Deacon Kathryn Shea ARCWP and Son Seth Read Scripture on Mother's Day , Co-Presider, Mindy Lou Simmons - Music Minister

Is God laughing or crying?

http://godlaughingorcrying.blogspot.com/

Christianity Faces Decline as Americans Become Less Affiliated With Religion

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/05/12/christianity-faces-sharp-decline-as-americans-are-becoming-even-less-affiliated-with-religion/?wprss=rss_homepage

http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/pf_15-05-05_rls2_switchingratios310px/

Religious Switching: “Nones” Make Big Gains, 
Catholics Experience Big Loses

Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests to Ordain 2 Sarasota Women as Priests and 2 Florida Women as Deacons

Release date: May 13, 2015

From: The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests www.arcwp.org

Contact: Janice Sevre-Duszynska, D.Min. (media) 859-684-4247, rhythmsofthedance1@gmail.com

Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan, 703-505-0004, sofiabmm@aol.com

See: bridgetmarys.blogspot.com

On Saturday, May 23 at 2 p.m. (Vigil of Pentecost) the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests will ordain two priests and two deacons. The presiding bishop will be Bridget Mary Meehan of Sarasota. The ceremony will take place at St. Andrew United Church of Christ, 6908 Beneva Road in Sarasota, the home of Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community. All are welcome.

On April 29^th Pope Francis defended pay equality, calling it “pure scandal” to pay women less than men. But when will the pontiff make women equal in the Church?

Although Francis recently championed for women in more leadership roles in the church, on the issue of women’s ordination the door remains closed.

However, the Good News is that the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests is living Gospel equality now by ordaining women and men to serve inclusive Catholic liturgical communities where all are welcome to receive sacraments.

To be ordained priests:

Sally Brochu, 73, sasb714@gmail.com 941.445.7610 of Nokomis has three children, 11 grandchildren and recently four great-grandchildren from a 32-year marriage. Involved in parish life, Sally was invited to attend the Center for Parish Ministry in Maine, a three-year commitment of learning and preparation for ministry. She earned a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling from Emmanuel College in Boston. After fulfilling Clinical Pastoral Counseling requirements, Sally became a Board Certified Chaplain through the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. She worked as the Director of Pastoral Care for a Catholic Regional Medical System in Maine for 10 years. “I loved working with a compassionate and professional chaplaincy team and our ministry to so many people at their times of need, but I also observed and experienced some of the inner workings of a hierarchical church that has lost its way. It became clear to me that there needed to be another model of church. To find it in ARCWP is remarkable and exciting as we work together to build a new model of Church with Jesus as the center and the Spirit guiding us forward. In Florida gay marriage is now legal. After my priestly ordination I will officiate at a wedding of a gay couple who have lived their faithful commitment to one another for 35 years.”

Kathryn Shea kathshea1950@gmail.com 941.650.6592 of Sarasota is a licensed clinical social worker and President and CEO of The Florida Center for Early Childhood in Sarasota. She is also Chair of the Community Alliance of Sarasota County. She is a mother, a grandmother, and an outspoken advocate for all children with mental health and behavioral disorders and those prenatally exposed to alcohol. Kathryn has worked for and led non-profit organizations in New York and Florida for over 35 years, serving mostly the marginalized, discounted, disenfranchised, and most vulnerable children and their families who have no voice. The Spirit led her to resist our country’s immoral stockpiling of nuclear arms and the invasion of Central America in the 1980s, for which she was arrested and jailed several times. She states, “I consider myself a Spirit-filled, social justice, Holy Shake up woman and now, I continue this life-long passion to serve as a Roman Catholic Woman Priest where I commit to working for social justice as long as I have breath left in me.”

To be ordained deacons:

Lorraine Sharpe Meyer

lorocks@icloud.com 407.580.5448 of Casselberry, FL as a nurse and a chaplain has specialized in care for people with Hansen’s Disease, AIDS and dementia. She has also worked with the homeless in many areas of the U.S. and Thailand. “As a lifelong Catholic, I so often witnessed male priests who, due to lack of proper training, were unable to comfort people requesting sacraments. Then, as a chaplain to people with dementia, I found that I was able to be a ‘real priest’ for them. The beauty of the experience sunk into my soul. When I discovered the Women Priest movement, I knew immediately that I belong to it.” She hopes that as a Catholic priest she will be able to continue to bring those who feel disenfranchised into a welcoming community.

Renee Dubignon ronnie.arcwp@yahoo.com 727.642.2070 of Holiday, FL worked as a detective with the New York City Police Department. In Harlem she developed a youth action unit. She also worked as an instructor in social science, human relations and cultural diversity. Her primary ministry was working with the New York City Police Department to overcome bigoted behaviors. In this context, she designed and implemented a citywide cultural diversity program tailored for each community. She counseled city officials and police officers that faced emotional challenges including paranoia and suicide. “My deep faith in God’s love guided me in the pastoral care of those in need of liberation from the negative effects of crime and evil. I have a calming spirit that aids me in helping others heal. God uses me as a vessel to heal physical and psychological problems. That is my calling.” 

Adele Jones Memorial Liturgy/Music at Offertory: Offertory #1: Panis Angelicus, Cesar Frank Alex Chavarria, Baritone Shearon Horton, piano

“What Mom Keeps in Her Back Pocket” May 10, 2015 Deacon Annie Watson, ARCWP

Bloomington Inclusive Catholic Community

Today we are observing the secular holiday known as Mothers’ Day. What’s this day all about?

Most of us love Mothers’ Day either because we are a mom or we have—or had—a mom that we love or loved. Obviously, for those who didn’t grow up with a mom, or didn’t have a mom they loved or a mom that loved them, this can be a very difficult day to endure.

As followers of Jesus, this day is not so much difficult to endure as it is uncomfortable because Jesus was not exactly a “family man.” He may have developed a good relationship with his mother by the end of his life, but early on in his ministry he may have been in conflict with his mother and his siblings.

Mark’s Gospel suggests that his mother and siblings doubted his sanity, so he verbally replaces his biological family with his family of faith. For that reason alone, Mothers’ Day should make us feel a little uncomfortable.

Nevertheless, other than the fact that the flower companies and card companies are making a lot of money today, this is a day that has become very important for many people.

It is so much a part of our social fabric that we would do well to just “go with the flow” and keep celebrating it, although the Mothers’ Day of today looks very different from the original intent of Mothers’ Day.

Originally, it was not a sentimental day of taking mom out for dinner and calling her to say how much you love her. Originally, it was socially important.

It all started in the 1850s, when a West Virginia women’s organizer named Ann Reeves Jarvis, held Mother’s Day work clubs to improve sanitary conditions. Their intent was to lower infant mortality by fighting disease and curbing milk contamination. Later, during the Civil War, these Mothers’ Day work clubs also tended to wounded soldiers from both sides of the conflict.

In the postwar years, Jarvis and other women organized Mothers’ Friendship Day picnics and other events as a way to unite former Civil War foes. One of these women, Julia Ward Howe, best known as the composer of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” issued a widely read “Mothers’ Day Proclamation” in 1870, calling for women to take an active political role in promoting a lasting peace.

Around the same time, Ann Jarvis initiated a Mothers’ Friendship Day for Union and Confederate loyalists across her state.

But it was her daughter, Anna, who was most responsible for what we call Mothers’ Day—and who would spend most of her later life fighting the sentimentalism of what Mothers’ Day has become.

Well, that was a losing battle! There is no way to avoid sentimentalism where motherhood is concerned. There is no way to detach ourselves from the emotions that are part of the institution of motherhood.

Even the fact that some people hate their mothers suggests that there is an emotional tie between mothers and their children, which lasts from the womb to the tomb. You can only hate what you can also love.

I am a mom. I have three children and three step-children. I have two granddaughters and three step-granddaughters. I love the emotional connection I have with all of them, even when it feels more like a “love-hate” relationship.

Whether my relationships with my children are good or strained, I know that I always have something I can pull out of my back pocket. And I’m not talking about my cell phone. I’m talking about a card—actually two cards.

Like most moms I enjoy getting Mothers’ Day cards from my children—when they remember to send them. And yet there are two cards that I carry in my back pocket at all times and do not have to rely on anyone remembering to send them to me.

I’m talking about the proverbial Love Card and Guidance Card. Mothers (and fathers) are born with these cards in their back pockets. They are always there when needed.

Of course, it might seem to my children like I play the Guidance Card more than the Love Card. That’s probably because, on balance, they often need more guidance than love. By the way, guidance often looks like “discipline.” Some might even use the word “punishment,” although that word makes me cringe.

I am convinced, however, that most parents play the Guidance Card with the Love Card. Together. At the same time. A good parent never tells her children what to do—she never commands them—without also assuring them that she loves them.

This reminds me of the “Love Commandment” that we find in John’s Gospel. Jesus commands his “children” to love one another. This was his version of a Love Card, and if he had had proverbial pockets in his robes and tunics, he would have pulled out the Love Card from his back pocket on many occasions.

Of course, Jesus must have had two pockets in his garb because he was never short on offering guidance either. If I read him correctly, Jesus played two cards in his ministry: A Love Card and a Guidance Card, and he always played them at the same time.

Therefore, I believe what Jesus and other biblical writers are telling us is that everything we do must be accompanied by love. Even our efforts at guidance (which often looks like discipline), must be accompanied by love.

If we attempt to guide, discipline, or even (God forbid) punish without love, then, as the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:1, we just sound like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. Guidance without love is harsh, and it is unlikely that a child, or anyone else, will respond very well if all they get from their parents or role models is “do this” and “don’t do that.”

On the other hand, expressions of love without some guidance are not beneficial for one’s offspring either. Showing love, but never offering guidance, advice, direction, or even discipline is not really very loving. Expressing love without ever informing a child what they should or should not do is, best case scenario, “spoiling,” and worst case scenario, negligence.

Like an American Express Card, we should never leave home without a Love Card and a Guidance Card. To paraphrase another famous commercial, “What’s in your back pocket?”

Whether you are a mom or not, you have been dealt two cards—a Love Card and a Guidance Card. Use both of them, and use both of them together. That’s what Mothers’ Day is all about.

The Community of Christ Sophia in Louisville, KY.

The Story Behind the Catholic Liturgy for Adele Jones, ARCWP -Attempt to Block Women Priests' Led Mass at Villa De San Antonio in San Antonio and Beautiful Memorial Liturgy on May 9, 2015

On May 9th, 2015  the family, friends, and two women priests (Dotty Shugrue and Bridget Mary Meehan) gathered to celebrate the life of  our beloved Sister Priest Adele Jones, who had died peacefully in her sleep in April. 

Her son Rick played classical music on the piano. Alex, whom Adele called her adopted son, sang Panis Angelicus and Ave Maria.  See liturgy below for specfic music selections and prayers.  As relatives and friends embraced, they shared words of  deep appreciation for one another's presence and they expressed their fondness for dearest Adele. Some had come from as far away as New York and California. One small child, looked up at Adele's photo draped with a priestly stole and said to his Dad, "is this heaven?" Amidst laughter and tears, her sons, Rick, Randy, Alex, and many others shared stories of deep love and gratitude for Adele. 

However, there is a story behind the scenes of the drama that unfolded with a unnamed "Monsignor" in the  Diocese of San Antonio. So what could the Monsignor be upset about?
I bet you guessed it!

 Adele was a Roman Catholic Woman Priest with the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests. 

When her son, Rick, made arrangements to have her Memorial Mass in the Chapel at the Villa de St. Antonio in San Antonio, Texas, he received a call from an administrator that there had been complaints that Roman Catholic Women Priests were  going to celebrate a Mass in the chapel. These complaints had gone all the way to to the top, to an unnamed Monsignor.

 So the word from on high was that there could not be Mass with Women Priests presiding.  Rick made it clear  in his communication with the Villa's administrator that since the Villa de St. Antonio is no longer owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese (It had been administered by the Franciscans.) It could not discriminate against anyone. 

So, we have a happy ending to this story!

Here we are -two women priests, Dotty Shugrue and myself, Bridget Mary Meehan with our sign "women priests are here" --- affirming our right gently and lovingly to celebrate the Catholic Funeral Rite for our Sister Priest Adele in the beautiful "Catholic" chapel. As evidence, I point out that this non-denominational chapel's  sacristy even has a confessional setup in the back corner! 

When I visited Adele two years ago, she showed me this lovely chapel  and pointed out the stained glass window depicting St. Francis of Assisi. She loved the fact that this Assisted Living facility had a "Catholic" Chapel. The Franciscans had left it, but it was a spiritual sacred place for her. 

At the Memorial Liturgy, the staff at the Vila was most gracious and welcoming to all who came to the funeral liturgy and reception. We were even given access to the sacristy, when we had been informed before that we would not be able to use the sacristy. We always bring our own liturgical supplies, but we appreciated the change of mind and kind gesture. However, we found it interesting that the sign announcing Adele's Memorial Mass  stated twice that Adele Jones' funeral was a "private service". 

Below you will see the Memorial liturgy and lovely photos of her son, Rick seated at the piano, and other family members and friends as well as Dotty Shugrue and myself, Bridget Mary Meehan, who represented our entire Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests who could not be physically, but were present in spirit. May our dear Adele sing and dance forever with the angels and saints! 

Adele's legacy of wisdom and joy will live on forever in the hearts of all who loved her, Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP, www.arcwp.org

Made for Joy”: Memorial Service for Adele Jones, ARCWP

Opening Song: Prelude:

Notturno, form Lyric Pieces, Opus 54, Edvard Grieg

Derek Jones, piano

Gathering Prayer:

Loving God, we gather to remember Adele who has died. We give thanks for the many blessings that our Sister brought to us. May your loving presence comfort her family, friends, and  our  women priests’ community in their grief for her loss. In this liturgy we comfort one another as we share God’s love and remember our dear Adele who was” made for joy.”

First Reading: Philippians 4:4-9

 King James Version (We used this translation of Adele's favorite scripture because her grandmother used to pray these scripture verses with Adele as a child. It is our practice to use inclusive language in our services. However, our Sister Adele's wishes were of utmost importance to us and love always trumps everything else. Two months ago, Adele planned this inspiring Memorial liturgy with me over the phone, and when Dotty and I visited her in late March we reflected together on the entire service. Adele is an inspiration to us all. Bridget Mary. We will hold her in our hearts forever.)

 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. The Word of God. Thanks be to God.

Psalm 23:  God is my shepherd, I shall not want.

All: God   is   my  shepherd,  I  shall  not  want.

God, you are my shepherd. I want nothing more. You let me lie down in green meadows.

You

lead me beside restful waters. Your refresh my soul.

All: God is my shepherd, I shall not want.

You guide me to lush pastures for the sake of your Name. Even if l'm surrounded by shadows of

death, I fear no danger, for you are with me.

All: God is my shepherd, I shall not want.

Your rod and your staff: They give me courage. You spread a table for me in the presence of my enemies, and you anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.

All: God is my shepherd, I shall not want.

Only goodness and Jove will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in your house, God, for days without end.

All: God is my shepherd, I shall not want.

Gospel: John 14:1-3:


Don't let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God;


In God's house there are many dwelling places;


Otherwise, how could I have told you that I was going to prepare a place for you? I am indeed going to prepare a place for you


And then I will come back to take you, that where I am, there you may be as well.

Shared Homily: Tribute –we light a candle as we remember our dear Adele and share stories of her joy, faith, and wisdom that has touched our lives and blessed our world.

After each sharing, we pray:

All: Loving God, we will carry Adele in our hearts forever.

Music at Offertory: Offertory #1: Panis Angelicus, Cesar Frank

Alex Chavarria, Baritone    Shearon Horton, piano

PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS

Presider:  Blessed are you, God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer to you, fruit of the earth and work of human hands. It will become for us the bread of life.

All: Blessed by God for ever.

Presider: Blessed are you, God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you, fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.

All Blessed be God for ever.  

Presider: Pray my brothers and sisters that our offerings may give praise to God.

All: May God accept our gifts for the praise and glory of God and for our good and for the good of our church.

Presider:  God is with you, proclaiming love.

ALL:  and also with you. 

Presider:  Lift up your hearts that Jesus proclaims healing, justice and peace for all people. 

ALL:  We lift them up to God. 

Presider:  Let us give thanks to our God.

ALL:  It is right to give God thanks and praise.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

Presider 1:  Lifegiving Love, You have called us to be radiant reflections of your holy presence on earth. United with You, we are one with all beings in the community of creation  we join the angels and saints as we say: 

ALL: Holy, Holy Holy, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is the One who comes in the name of our God. Hosanna in the highest.

Presider 2:  Gracious God, you set the banquet table and invite all to the feast that celebrates your boundless love in the universe.  As midwives of grace we are Your hands, lifting up those who suffer, the vulnerable and excluded in our world today.

Presider 1: We especially thank you, Holy One, for Jesus, the Compassion of God, who came to show us a new vision of community where every person is loved and all relate with mutual respect. We welcome all God’s family into the Circle of Life at the Banquet of Love.

Presider 2: Jesus we remember our beloved Sister, Adele Jones, who is now in your eternal embrace in heaven.  We give thanks for her joyful witness to the Gospel during her life.  May we be blessed by her wisdom and inspired by her kindness as we celebrate our oneness with her in the communion of the saints.

All: (please all extend hands as we recite the consecration together)

Let your Spirit come upon these gifts as we pray:

On the night before he died, Jesus took bread into his hands and said:

This is my body, he said. Take and eat. Do this in in memory of me.

At the end of the meal Jesus took a cup of wine, raised it in thanksgiving to you, and said:

Take and drink of the covenant of my love poured out for you. Do this in memory of me.

Presider1:  Now then, let us proclaim the mystery of the Christ Presence made new again through you:  

ALL:  In every creature that has ever breathed, Christ has lived; in every living being that has passed on before us, Christ has died;  in everything yet to be, Christ will come again! 

Presider 2:  We honor the holy women and men who have revealed your compassion and justice in our world.  We thank you for people in our lives who show us how to love tenderly and have revealed the heart of our God, especially our dear  Adele

Presider 1: And so, liberating God, we hold our religious ministers and political leaders in the light of Christ Sophia, Holy Wisdom.  We pray for Pope Francis, for our bishops, for the young and the elders, and for all God’s holy people.

Presider 2:  We remember those who are sick and suffering.  May they be healed and comforted.  We remember Mary, mother of Jesus, Mary Magdala, Peter, Paul, and all the angels and saints who surround us with loving prayer each day.  We remember our dearly beloved Adele and all who have died that they may experience the fullness of life in the embrace of our compassionate God forever.

ALL:  Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, all praise and glory are yours, Holy God, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

THE PRAYER OF JESUS: Our Father and Mother

THE SIGN OF PEACE

 LITANY FOR THE BREAKING OF BREAD

ALL:  Loving God, You call us to speak truth to power, we will do so.

Loving God, You call us to live the Gospel of peace and justice, we will do so.

Loving God, You call us to live as Your presence in the world.  We will do so.

Presider1:  This is the Bread of Life.  All are invited to partake of this sacred banquet of love.  All: We are the Body of Christ, the family of God.

Communion: Music:

Nocturne, Opus 9, #1, Frederic Chopin

Derek Jones, piano

Communion #2 

Ave Maria, Franz Schubert

Alex Chavarria, Baritone    Shearon Horton, piano

Final Blessing:  

Presiders: May God bless us as we go forth.

May the angels lead you into paradise, Adele,

May the martyrs come to welcome you and take you to the holy city,

The new and eternal Jerusalem. May choirs of angels welcome you and lead you into the heart of God.

All: Eternal rest, grant unto her O God, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul and all the souls of the faithfully departed rest in peace. Amen

Recessional :When the Saints Go Marching In

“When the Saints Go Marching in”

Chorus: Oh when the Saints go marching in
When the Saints go marching in
O Lord, I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in

We are traveling in the footsteps
Of those who've gone before
But we'll all be reunited (but if we stand reunited)
On a new and sunlit shore (then a new world is in store)

Oh when the Saints go marching in
When the Saints go marching in
O Lord, I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in

And when the sun begins to shine
And when the sun begins to shine
O Lord, I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in

When the moon turns red with blood
When the moon turns red with blood
O Lord, I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in
On that hallelujah day
On that hallelujah day
O Lord, I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in

O when the trumpet sounds the call
O when the trumpet sounds the call
O Lord, I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in

Some say this world of trouble
Is the only one we need
But I'm waiting for that morning
When the new world is revealed

When the revelation comes
When the revelation comes
O Lord, I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in

When the rich go out and work
When the rich go out and work
O Lord, I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in

When the air is pure and clean
When the air is pure and clean
O Lord, I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in

When we all have food to eat
When we all have food to eat
O Lord, I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in

When our leaders learn to cry
When our leaders learn to cry
O Lord, I want to be in that number
When the Saints go marching in

(Songwriters: Traditional

When The Saints Go Marching In lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group)

Homily for Holy Spirit Catholic Community, Easter 6B, May 10th by Beverly Bingle, RCWP

All three readings today carry the same message,
and the scholars tell us that the teaching
definitely goes back to Jesus:
Love one another.
_____________________________________________
By the time the first letter of John was written,
the struggle between the synagogue leaders and the Jews
was no longer an issue.
But another struggle
threatened to split the fledgling Johannine community,
a struggle that Scripture scholar Raymond Brown
describes as “sparked by different views of Jesus.”
_____________________________________________
The reading from Acts of the Apostles
gives us a picture of another rift,
this time the one that led to the permanent separation
between Christianity and Judaism.
It involved, again according to Raymond Brown,
Peter’s defending the baptism of Cornelius and his household
even though Cornelius is not Jewish.
Peter explains why he did it
by telling about a heavenly vision he experienced,
in which God declared all foods clean.
Author Garry Wills points out that Cornelius,
as the Roman prefect at Caesarea,
would have had a large and very diverse household
including adults, children, slaves,
and military personnel attached to Cornelius’ headquarters.
As a result, Wills sees a second Pentecost
in the final verses of today’s passage from Acts.
In the first Pentecost,
the wonder is that Jews from all over the world
hear the message in their own language.
In this second Pentecost,
the wonder is that people from very different backgrounds
all are inspired by the Spirit to speak
in language that Peter and his companions can understand.
Wills concludes that this miracle happens
in order to make the circumcised Christian Jews
accept the non-circumcised Gentiles as Christians.
That leads to the solution for Peter and the Christian Jews,
echoed in John’s Gospel and the First Letter of John:
to remember that all are equal in God’s eyes,
so we must love one another as God loves us all.
____________________________________________
In the passage from John’s Gospel
we are presented with another piece
of Jesus’ Last Supper discourse.
While the language and the scene are created by John,
scholars agree that the message to love one another,
the message that all are equal in God’s eyes,
is undeniably the message of Jesus.
It’s a radical message, and it is clear:
All live in God’s love.
The Jews are a Chosen People, but God shows no partiality—
God chooses everyone else, too.
Love one another:
the teaching comes from the historical Jesus,
rephrased and applied to the current situations
in the language of the scripture writers.
Love one another:
it’s not easy!
________________________________________
Our world today needs to listen to Jesus’ message once more.
When we watch the evening news
and see the violence and hatred
around the world and right here at home,
it seems that people must think
that some lives are more important than others.
The latest escapade of a movie star
‘ gets more air time than 7,000 people
killed by the Nepal earthquake.
A new cellphone ap
crowds out the story of genocide against the Yazidis.
Our local paper spills more page-one ink
when a police officer shoots a dog in the leg
than when a policeman shoots an unarmed black man
in the back.
In the midst of this barrage of skewed news headlines
we hear Jesus' command to love one another—
an order to consider each life as important as every other life.
Love one another in Baltimore.
Love one another in Nepal.
Love one another in Toledo.
All lives matter.
_______________________________________
But what can we do?
How can we possibly make a difference
against all the hate and war and violence in the world?
We can show up for one of TUSA’s Nehemiah Actions,
and we can send a check to Catholic Relief Services for Nepal,
and we can join a Dialogue-to-Change anti-racism group,
and we can stand on a street corner
with the Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition,
and we can plant a tree,
or we can convince someone else to plant a tree.
All these things are good,
and we do them out of love for God and neighbor.
But it all seems so little,
compared to the great need in our world.
____________________________________________
I take heart from that old story
where a man on horseback comes along
and sees a chicken in the middle of the road,
lying on its back with its feet in the air.
He stops, hops off his horse,
and asks the chicken what she’s doing.
The chicken replies,
“I heard that the sky is about to fall, so I’m going to hold it up.”
The horseman laughs at her,
“Silly chicken,
you expect to hold up the sky with your spindly little bird legs!”
The little chicken looks up at him and says,
“One does what one can.”
_________________________________________________
Each of us can do something.
So we do what we can, just like that chicken,
holding up our little piece of the sky
as we love one another the way Jesus taught us to.

--
Holy Spirit Catholic Community
Saturdays at 4:30 p.m.
Sundays at 5:30 p.m.
at 3925 West Central Avenue (Washington Church)

www.holyspirittoledo.org

Rev. Dr. Bev Bingle, Pastor
Mailing address: 3156 Doyle Street, Toledo, OH 43608-2006

Pope Francis Orders a Jubilee Year of Mercy and Pardon/How About Lifting Excommunication Against Women Priests and Our Supporters?

https://judyabl.wordpress.com/2015/05/07/pope-francis-orders-a-jubilee-year-of-mercy-and-pardon/

Bridget Mary's Response:  I hope that Pope Francis continues to reach out and lift excommunications against women priests and our supporters as well as all those who have been marginalized for following their consciences in the Catholic Church.  Now that would be a year of mercy we would never forget! Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP, www.arcwp.org

sofiabmm@aol.com

This article is from the dailymail.com.co.uk/news

BY Hannah Roberts

Pope Francis has ordered Roman Catholic priests to bestow a full pardon on women who have committed a mortal sin by having an abortion.

Next year, both women who have had abortions, and doctors that have performed them, will be able to seek absolution, as part of a special Holy Year of Mercy decreed by the pope.

In the Catholic Church, abortion is considered one of the gravest sins and results in automatic excommunication. It can only be forgiven in certain special circumstances, by high-ranking clergy or by making a pilgrimage to Rome during a Holy Year.

 Pope Francis is handed a child to bless on his first official trip outside Rome since taking the Papacy

But in a gesture of reconciliation the pope is for the first time to send ordinary priests as ‘missionaries of mercy’ all over the world with special powers to forgive even the most serious sins.

One of the organisers of the Jubilee Year Monsignor Rino Fisichella told a press conference that this included also abortion.

He said the pope meant the gesture ‘as a concrete sign that a priest must be a man of mercy and close to all.’

Those priests who apply to be missionaries must be especially skilled and ‘good confessors’, he said.

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The theme of the Holy Year, which begins on December 8th, has been widely interpreted as a signal by Francis that the church should be less judgmental.

In a document known as a ‘bull of indiction’ explaining how he wants Catholic to celebrate the Jubilee year, the pope said that ‘the church must be ‘an oasis of mercy’.

It went on: ‘The Church’s very credibility is seen in how she shows merciful and compassionate love.’

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The Pope pauses to bless a young child in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican after a Palm Sunday service

The charismatic Pope Francis is proving popular, expressing a more progressive view on many Catholic beliefs that are seen as outdated and out of touch, such as those on contraception and abortion

The United Nations has previously condemned the Vatican for excommunicating the mother and doctor of a nine-year-old girl who had an abortion in Brazil in 2009 after she was raped by her stepfather and became pregnant with twins.

But the move is not likely to be approved universally. Italian cardinal Velasio De Paolis said it could cause ‘confusion’ among the faithful. He said: ‘Regardless of this decision by the pope, the church will continue to consider abortion a sin.

‘I hope it does not cause confusion.’

He told La Nazione: ‘He is the pope of mercy and wants to show the benevolence of the church towards sinners. This does not cancel the sin of abortion.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3070327/The-Pope-orders-Catholic-priests-bestow-pardon-women-abortion-doctors-performed-them.html#ixzz3ZT0wBfHy
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