..."The pope certainly seemed comfortable around Archbishop Jackelen in Sweden, so perhaps the question is this: for a man who talks so much about women being able to do “many things better than men,” as he did on the papal plane today, why can’t he conceive of one of those things being the priesthood? Pope Francis repeated again today his idea of the “feminine dimension” of the Catholic church being represented by Mary, and also said once again that Mary is “more important” to the spirituality of the church than the apostles on Pentecost.
What the pope is neglecting to acknowledge, however, is that Pentecost would never have happened if Mary Magdelene hadn’t been the first witness to the resurrection; if early church leaders like Priscilla, Chloe, Lydia and Phoebe hadn’t provided finances and safety to the apostles; if women weren’t the majority of lay people still propping up the church today.
The Vatican likes to think that it is built on stone, and any pilgrim walking into Saint Peter’s can look into the depths of its catacombs. But in those same catacombs are depictions of a woman wearing a dalmatic with her hands in the “orans” position used by priests during consecration at mass. Francis and the church’s continuous denial of this history and the shifts occurring all around them means the Catholic church is not a house of stone, it’s a house of cards. And more denial of women’s vocations will only exacerbate the danger of its total collapse."
Donna Rougeux ARCWP in Washington DC demonstrating for Gospel Equality during Pope Francis visit
I passed “Civil Disobedience 101”on Wednesday, September 23,
2015, in Washington D.C., when Pope Francis was visiting the U.S. Along with the
birthdays of my three children, this day was one of the best days of my life. I
was participating in an action for the birth of equality for women in the Roman
Catholic Church and in the world. I was joining the modern day civil rights
movement that says women are rising up to speak truth to power about the
treatment of women in the church and world.
The experiences of my mother and grandmother along with
women of their generations were with me asking Pope Francis to set them free
from the debilitating, patriarchal abuse of authority that imprisoned them for too
many generations. My spirit was soaring as we could tangibly feel Sophia-Spirit’s
presence and guidance in our action while the Pope was talking to the U.S.
Bishops, in The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, in Washington D.C.
My personal life prepared me for this day because I brought
with me a deep understanding of the pain women have experienced due to sexism
and damaging misinterpretations of scripture. I do not have the words to describe
how important it was for me to be dressed in my alb and stole holding a sign that
said “primacy of conscience” as I participated in this phenomenal public action.
I know from the very core of my being that all people must
follow their informed consciences and live the authentic life that God created
them to live. Unfortunately, the culture of the Roman Catholic Church and the
world has actually set up the conditions for women and men to feel compelled to
make choices that go against their consciences. These choices have imprisoned
them to an unauthentic, culture-made, form of existence. Their spirits have not
been free to soar and live fully because they said “yes” to the culture and “no”
to their consciences. As Pope Francis said himself, “Jesus wants us to be free,
and this freedom-where is it found? It is to be found in the inner dialogue
with God in conscience.”
Women suppressing a call to the priesthood, human
trafficking, people suppressing sexual orientation to live culturally approved
lives, are a few examples of the imprisonments people are facing worldwide.
These are all connected to abuse of authority, misinterpretation of scriptures
and domination-subordination structures that we are surrounded by today. We can
be set free when primacy of conscience is upheld.
Women hear the call from God to become priests and must
follow their conscience. God’s call cannot be suppressed just to stay in
compliance with canon law 1024, a law made by men. Does Pope Francis see that
there cannot be equality for women until the church recognizes us as equals? Peace and justice cannot be achieved until the
unjust treatment of women is on the list to be seriously addressed. His strong
support of those who are marginalized must include women who are treated as
second-class citizens right inside the structure of the Roman Catholic Church.
As I laid on the ground with the sign on my chest,
surrounded by the police I wanted women of the past present and future to be
set free from sexism and to be encouraged by the Roman Catholic Church to
follow their informed consciences to live authentic lives. People were watching
us, taking pictures and movies of us, walking past us, giving us a “thumbs up”
and a few “thumbs down.” The tall building beside us had glass windows and we
could see people gathered at the windows looking at us. A helicopter went over
us several times.
We were telling the world with this action that women must rise
up in freedom from misogyny. Most of the people who saw our witness gave us heartwarming
support. The police even seemed to be helping us because I think they
understood what we were doing.
There I was on the corner of the street where The Cathedral
of St. Matthew The Apostle is located, holding my sign, dressed in my priest
attire as Pope Francis left the gathering with the U.S. Bishops. As his vehicle
rounded the corner he was waving at the people and I made
eye contact with him! His expression changed to one of surprise, as it seemed
his mouth dropped a little bit.
I hope Pope Francis will know how important that brief
exchange was. Will he put it all together and see our call to him? We want him
to use his authority as the peace and justice Pope to make changes in the Roman
Catholic Church to free women from the destruction of their souls that takes
place when they are marginalized in the church. The world is watching what he
is doing and is already being changed in a significant Christ-like way because
of his messages. We ask Pope Francis the same question he asks the people: What
about you Pope Francis? Will you end sexism in the Roman Catholic Church?
While Pope Francis says the ban on women priests is likely to endure, our non-clerical and egalitarian international Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement that began on the Danube continues to grow. We are 235 strong with 200 priests, including 180 in the U.S. serving more than 65 liturgical communities.
Like Mary of Magdala and Junia who were apostles in the New Testament, Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan, a bishop serving the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests said, 'women priests are ready, we are serving, and we will never give up!”
Everyone is welcome at our Eucharistic celebrations. We are living Jesus' example of inclusiveness as we serve the excluded and marginalized and all who are seeking a spiritual home. Sadly, Pope Francis' statement that women priests will never happen, undermines Jesus who called women as disciples and treated them as equals.
We women priests have studied theology and have backgrounds as teachers, lawyers, nurses, counselors, chaplains, etc. We are married, we are mothers, single, divorced, nuns or former nuns, straight or GLBTIQ.
Our Church needs the wisdom, experiences and loving service of women as priests to heal and transform our church into a more open, compassionate and just community that makes the connections between discrimination against women at the altar and poverty, abuse and violence toward women in the world.
Sexism like racism is a sin and, and injustice toward women in the church is connected to injustice toward women in our world.
My Response to Pope Francis on Women Priests: "Ready and Serving Now" by Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP, www.arcwp.org sofiabmm@aol.com
Bishop Braschi lays hand on Dagmar Celeste in historic RCWP Ordination of Danube 7 in 2002The internationl Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement that began with the ordination of seven women on the Danube is leading the way toward the full equality of women in the Roman Catholic Church today.
Pope Francis says "never" but, the Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement is ready and serving now! We are living our call to serve God's people in the Catholic Community now in a non-clerical, egalitarian "discipleship of equals."
Danube Ordination of seven Roman CatholicWomen in June 2002
On July 31, 2006, twelve women were ordained in the United States. i was one of eight women ordained a priest at this ordination in Pittsburgh, PA. Four were ordained deacons.
July 31, 2006, first U.S. ordination of Roman Catholic Women Priests
Several hundred laid hands on the ordinands at the first USA RCWP Ordination on the Majestic River Boat on the Three Rivers, Pittsburgh, PA, July 31, 2006
We are changing the church now as we live the vision of Jesus who called women and men to be disciples and equals. We gather around the table to celebrate the sacred meal in remembrance of Jesus. Everyone joins in praying the prayers of consecration, we have dialogue homilies to honor the voice of God speaking through the Body of Christ.
Bridget Mary and Lee Breyer, co-presiders at Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community Sarasota, Florida
Like Mary of Magdala, apostle to the apostles, who shared the good news of her encounter with the Risen Christ, we proclaim joyfully that gender justice, mutuality and partnership is rising up in the Catholic Church, one inclusive community at a time.
Upper Room Inclusive Catholic Community celebrates liturgy in Albany, New York
As we ordain priests to serve grassroots communities where all are welcome and all are invited to celebrate sacraments, a renewed model of ministry is emerging that honors the gifts of the people of God and their diverse gifts.
Kathryn Shea ARCWP and Lee Breyer co-preside at MMOJ litugy in Sarasota Florida in 2016
Pope Francis, the ban on ordination of women priests is an example of sexism in our church, that fails to affirm women who are called to serve by faith communities today. More than ever the The Roman Catholic Church needs the wisdom, experiences and loving service of women as priests and in all ministries to heal and transform our church into a more open, compassionate and just community that makes the connection between discrimination against women at the altar and poverty, abuse and violence toward women in the world.
Right to left Janice Sevre Duszynska ARCWP and Christina Moreira ARCWP with petitions that supported women priests, they delivered to Vatican official in Curia to give to Pope Francis
I believe that the full equality of women in the church and world is the voice of God and the people of God in our times. Pope Francis, my prayer is that you will open the doors to dialogue with our international Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement! Like Mary of Magdala and Junia who were apostles in the New Testament, we are ready, We are serving, and we will never give up!
"The Roman Catholic Church’s teaching that women cannot be ordained as priests is likely to last forever, Pope Francis said on Tuesday as he flew back to Rome from Sweden.
Francis had traveled to Sweden for a historic ceremony commemorating the year leading up to the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. He was embraced at an ecumenical church service by the primate of the Church of Sweden, Archbishop Antje Jackelen, who is a woman.
Francis has said before that the Catholic Church’s ban on ordaining women as priests is a closed matter. But questions arose about his intentions after he established a commission to study whether women could be ordained as deacons. (Members of the commission were named in August.)
In a news conference aboard the pope’s plane, a Swedish journalist referred to Archbishop Jackelen and asked whether it was realistic to think that there might be female priests in the next few decades.
According to reporters who were on the plane, Francis responded, “On the ordination of women in the Catholic Church, the last word is clear.”
He cited the apostolic letter, Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, written in 1994 by Pope John Paul II, who has since been canonized. The letter said that ordaining women was not possible because Jesus chose only men as his apostles.
“It was given by St. John Paul II, and this remains,” Francis said.
“Really?” the Swedish journalist asked. “Never?”
“If we read carefully the declaration made by St. John Paul II, it goes in this direction,” Francis replied. “But women can do many other things better than men,” he added, noting that Mary, the mother of Jesus, is of great importance in the church’s theology and spirituality."
Happy All Saints Day! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wd8iT1__zhs Let us rejoice that we are saints-in-the-making. Tomorrow is All Souls Day. We remember our family and friends who have crossed over into God's eternal embrace. They are with us each day 'cheer-leading" us to live as the face of God, full of kindness and compassion in our world. Below are two clips of my dear Dad, Jack Meehan, playing "when the saints go marching in" with members of the Ballyroan Band in Ballinkill, County Laois and with an Irish band in Tullamore, Ireland at his grandniece, Elaine Duff's wedding. Dad began his 75 year professional musical career as a young child with the Ballyroan Band in County Laois, Ireland. He continued to play this lively Dixieland favorite at the end of each liturgy at our Mary Mother Of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community in Sarasota, Florida until shortly before he died. Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP, www.arcwp.org
On Saturday, October
29, the Upper Room Inclusive Catholic Community accompanied Kim Panaro, ARCWP,
as she and her family celebrated the life of their mother, Terry Panaro
Wardrop. In August, Kim and Kathie Ryan, ARCWP, flew to Florida to bring Kim’s
mom home to Albany for her final days on this side of the thin veil.While here, in Albany, Kim and her
extended family and friends surrounded Terry with the love and care she needed
to transition peacefully to life beyond life as we know it. Terry’s celebration
of life was held in the sanctuary of the New Covenant Presbyterian Church at
916 Western Avenue in Albany, NY (the new home for the Upper Room).
A Celebration of Life
Terry Panaro Wardrop
12/18/1939 - 10/22/2016
"May the angels lead you into paradise!”
Upper Room Inclusive Catholic Community
916 Western Avenue
Albany, NY 12203
October 29, 2016
2:00 p.m.
Welcome
Opening song: Holy
Angels by Sara Thomsen
Opening Prayer
Presider 2: O Holy
One, we gather to remember and celebrate Terry’s life. We believe that she is
now at peace with you and we believe that she continues to walk with us as one
of our guardians. We are grateful for her life with us. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: A
Reflection by Michael Morwood
Adapted and read by
Mary Theresa Streck
Terry's death speaks to us of the wonder of being human
in a universe so vast and so
magnificent and of our existence within a mystery and a power that we cannot
understand or put into words.
In a very real sense, this vast and magnificent universe of ours came alive and
becameaware in Terry. She gave God a
way of coming to expression, here in our lives, here ina way that reached out and touched us, as a mother, a
grandmother, and a loyal friend. She livedand loved in God, God lived and
loved in her, and in death she lives on in God and in us.
Sung Alleluia
Second Reading:
Philippians 3:12-14
read by Debra Trees
It's
not that I have reached it yet, or have already finished my course; but I'm
running the race in order to grab hold of the prize if possible, since Christ
Jesus has grabbed hold of me. Sisters and brothers, I don't think of myself as
having reached the finish line. I give no thought to what lies behind, but I
push on to what is ahead. My entire attention is on the finish line as I run
toward the prize – the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Reflection: Kathleen
Ryan
These two readings that we just heard and Kim
so prayerfully chose bring us to a new understanding of the mystery of life.
Did you notice that the first reading from
Philippians is written in the present tense. We heard: It’s
not that I have reached it yet, or have already finished my course; but I’m
running the race….I give no thought to what lies behind, but I push on to what
is ahead. Many of us only got to know Terry in the last few months of her
life. She modeled for all of us
how to keep running the race, she looked forward, laughing and loving as she
ran.
In the second reading we heard “death speaks
to us of the wonder of being human within a mystery that we can not understand
or put into words.
So what is this mystery? What could this
mystery of life mean? Perhaps the
real mystery is how can it be that we are made in the image and likeness of God. In the opening of Genesis we are told
that each of us is made in the image of God. Being made in the image and likeness of someone usually
means we have similar qualities. For example, people will say look Walter has
his mother’s eyes, Tommy has his mother’s sense of humor, Kim has her mother’s
smile.
So what are the qualities of God that we each
have…we know we try to love one another as God loves us, we know we don’t
always succeed but we keep trying.
We do not stop we keep
running the race. But there is one quality of God’s that
we each have and we are absolutely guaranteed success, we can not fail.
We don’t even have to try we just have to
believe…the quality that is exactly like God is the ability to live forever. God is eternal and so are we. We live forever…we live eternally …we
cross over from this life into the arms of God. Sure it is another mystery not knowing exactly what it is
like…but we know this to be true because we are made in the image and likeness
of God. We live forever.
We can only imagine how wonderful eternal
life is, we know Terry and so many others that we
love live eternally, and we know we too, just like Terry, will cross over into
the arms of God but for now we live in the present tense, laughing and loving,
running the race, pushing on to what lies ahead.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Presider 2: During
our liturgy, it is traditional at the Upper Room to bring to our friendship
table blessings, cares and concerns. Today, I bring to the table all who loved
Terry deeply, especially Walter, Tommy,
Kim, Nicole, Matthew and, Sam.
…and for all who
tenderly cared for and loved Terry, we speak words of gratitude. Amen.
Presider 1: Great
Mystery enfolding us, you have been called by many names by many people in the
centuries of our planet’s life. Yet, no name truly defines you or describes
you. We celebrate you as the
marvelous, loving energy of life who caused us and our world to be. We
celebrate you as the Source of light and life and love, and we celebrate your
presence and all-ways care.
Presider 2: Your
wisdom moves among us like the wind, and we are blessed. Your presence
transforms every ordinary moment of ours into a sacred place where you dwell.
You are the stirring in our hearts and you beckon us to join in your divine
dance of life-giving love. Joined with you and with all companions on this
journey, we sing a song of praise:
Holy, Holy, Holy by
Karen Drucker
Presider 1: Please
join in praying our Eucharistic Prayer:
O Holy One, we are
grateful for those who have come among us pointing to your wisdom, those who
have come as our mirrors, our advocates, our friends.
We are grateful for
Jesus, our brother, who taught us about you and your great love. Through him we
find our truest selves and our way back home.
Before he walked
towards his greatest challenge, Jesus called friends together around a table.
Unfinished, unsure, uncommitted, they gathered with him, as he reminded them of
their oneness with you and the fullness of life.
Presider 2: Please
extend your hands in blessing:
On the night before
he faced his own death and for the sake of living fully, Jesus sat at the Seder
supper with his companions and friends.
He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory
clearly within them, be bent down and washed their feet.
(pause as Presider 1
lifts bread)
When he returned to
his place at the table, he lifted the Passover bread, spoke the blessing, broke
the bread and offered it to them saying:
Take and eat; this is
my very self.
(pause as Presider 2
lifts the cup)
He then raised high
the cup of blessing, spoke the grace, and offered them the wine saying:
Take and drink of the
covenant made new again through my life,
for you and for
everyone,
for liberation from
every oppression.
Whenever you do this,
Re-member me!
(pause)
Holy One, your
transforming energy is always moving within us and working through us.
Like Jesus, we will open up wide all that has been closed about us, and our
small circles. Like Jesus, we will live compassionate lives.
For it is through
learning to live as he lived,
And why he lived,
And for whom he
lived,
That we awaken to
your Spirit within,
Moving us to worship
you truly,
Life-giving God,
At this time and all
time and in all ways.
And we say yes to
You!
Presider 1: Let us
pray together the prayer of Jesus:
Source of all Life,
you are within, around and among us.
We celebrate your many names.
Your wisdom come; your will be done,
unfolding from the depths within us.
Each day you give us all that we need.
You remind us of our limits and we let go.
You support us in our power, and we act with courage.
For you are the dwelling place within us,
the empowerment around us,
and the celebration among us,
now and forever, Amen.
Adapted by Miriam Therese Winter
Sign of Peace
Presider 1: May the
peace of the Holy One be with you always.
Please offer each
other a sign of peace
Song: May the
Longtime Sun
by Sara Thomsen
Presider 2: Please
join in our prayer for the breaking of the bread:
All: Loving God, You call us to live
the Gospel of peace and justice.
We will live justly.
Loving God, You call
us to be Your presence in the world.
We will love
tenderly.
Loving God, You call
us to speak truth to power. We will
walk with integrity in your presence.
(Presiders hold up
bread and wine)
Presider 1:
"This is the bread of life. Through it we are nourished and we nourish
each other.
All: What we have heard with our ears, we
will live with our lives; as we share communion, we will become communion, both
Love’s nourishment and Love’s challenge.
Presider 2: Our
Eucharistic celebration is all-inclusive. You are a spark of the Divine and
nothing can separate you from God’s love. All are welcome to receive at this friendship
table.
Communion Song: Peace
Be With You by Shaina Noll
Communion Meditation:
My Way adapted and sung by Dennis McDonald
EULOGY: Kim and Kristen
BLESSING
Presider 1: Please
stand for our final blessing, a poem written by Edwina Gateley:
May God wrap her
warmth around you like a shawl to hug you tight;
God’s light glow
bright within you to guide your steps at night;
God’s strength flow
sure all through you-hold you up against hurt and fear;
God whisper in your
heart, dear friend: My love is
always near.
Presider 2: Please
join in singing our closing song:
The Upper Room is an
intentional Eucharistic community living Gospel equality and justice in an
inclusive, non-hierarchical model of church. Our community embraces a
contemporary theology that celebrates each of us as an “original
blessing.” Come join us for
liturgy each Sunday at 10:00am. For an updated schedule, visit our website at
