The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests Needs Your Generous Support this Advent/Christmas Season/ You Gift Will Make a Difference! www.arcwp.org

Dear Family, Friends and Supporters of ARCWP: 

As we draw near to Christmas and the close of 2012, we look back on this year with great joy and extreme gratitude. We give thanks for you, our supporters.  Together we are moving toward a renewed inclusive Christ-centered, justice seeking Catholic Church emerging in more and more places led by ordained women.   In 2012 five women were ordained as priests and another six women as deacons.  We anticipate the ordination of as many as nine women as priests in 2013.  In spite of the Vatican-imposed punishment of excommunication our movement for Gospel equality continues to grow.

ARCWP is a new vision rising up: one of inclusion, nonviolence and justice in our church and

world community.  We are active in ministries with those who are living on the margins due to homelessness, racism, poverty and difference.  We serve as pastors for house churches and inclusive Catholic communities.  We are educators and authors, retreat leaders and peace activists.  We provide pastoral care in a variety of medical settings. We work with youth, families, the elderly and the disaffected to heal and build community often in ecumenical settings. 

Our vision rose on November 17 when Jesuit Father Bill Brennan co-presided with our Janice Sevre-Duszynska at the Progressive Catholic Coalition liturgy at the School of the Americas (SOA) protest in Georgia.  In just a few days our joy was tempered by the news that the Vatican dismissed Fr. Roy Bourgeois from the Maryknoll order and the priesthood. But he will always be our courageous priest.  We have collaborated with Women's Ordination Conference and Call to Action in support of Fr. Roy who said.  “...it is my conscience that compels me to say publicly that the exclusion of women from the priesthood is a grave injustice against women, against our Church and against our Loving God who calls both men and women to the priesthood.”   

As we look ahead to 2013 we know that we will need increased financial support.  Our largest expense is for our ordinations and all the ways we spread the good news of the women priest movement: speaking to groups in colleges and universities and at showings of the documentary “Pink Smoke”, through our website, and by visiting and collaborating with our priests in South America.

That’s what ARCWP is about.  We work tirelessly to bring about the Kin-dom in local communities by the giving of ourselves in ministry and by challenging the powers that be.  We know that we can count on you to support our efforts. Please make your tax-deductible donation to:  ARCWP at the address below or on our website:www.arcwp.org

                                                              
We invite you to visit our website (www.arcwp.org) and Bridget Mary’s blog (bridgetmarys.blogspot.com) for the latest in our movement for a renewed inclusive church.

We offer you our blessings as we move forward together,

 The Women of ARCWP 

Pleae make donations to ARCWP/Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests, mail to or donate on our website at www.arcwp.org
:

ASSOCIATION OF ROMAN CATHOLIC WOMEN PRIESTS

18520 EASTSHORE DRIVE

                        FORT  MYERS, FL   33967

The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests, Inc. is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt charitable organization.

Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.