On Saturday, April 27, 2013 at
1p.m. Dr. Rosemarie Smead of Bedford, Kentucky will be ordained a priest in the
Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests. The presiding bishop will be
Bridget Mary Meehan of Falls Church, Virginia and Sarasota, Florida. The
ceremony will take place at St. Andrew’s Church of Christ, 2608 Browns Lane,
Louisville, Kentucky 40220.
All are
welcome.
Media are invited to a
pre-ordination conference on Saturday, April 27, at 11:30 a.m. at the church
with the candidate and Bridget Mary Meehan. Call Janice (859-684-4247) to
schedule an interview. Respectful
filming/photo-taking during the ceremony is acceptable.
The ordinand is theologically
prepared and has many years of experience in ministry.
Dr. Rosemarie Smead began her spiritual journey as a Discalced
Carmelite nun. She later earned a BA in Theology from Marquette University, a
Masters in Psychometrics, and a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology. She worked for many years with delinquent
teens and others in need of counseling. Presently, she leads a local worship
community and also works as a couples and family therapist. The author of six
books and videos on working with youth, Dr. Smead is retired from a teaching
career of 26 years at Indiana University where she was honored for her
“Distinguished Teaching and Service”.
“I want to bring inclusive
communities to the Louisville area where all are welcome with a special outreach
to young people to develop their full potential,” she
said.
The church is at a crossroads
with a new pope and women priests. This paradigm represents a holy shakeup and
is pregnant with potential for renewal and change. Pope Francis’s simplicity and
solidarity with the poor and marginalized is the Good News that Catholics have
been waiting for. Now is the time to embrace women.
Since two-thirds of the world’s
poor are women, justice and equality must be top priorities for our church. Our
world and church can no longer function without the voices of women’s lived
experience. Women priests are visible reminders that all women are images of
God.
The Association of Roman
Catholic Women Priests calls on Francis to embrace the full equality of women,
including women priests. Women priests are now on the ground, living and serving
in inclusive communities and welcoming all to receive the sacraments. On March
13, five hours before the new pope was elected, a woman priest celebrated Mass
in Rome.
Women priests are answering the
call and our movement is growing.
According to a recent CBS Gallup Poll, over 70% of Catholics in the U.S.
support women priests. There is no shortage of vocations as women are now saying
“Yes” to this call and are being ordained. Now we have the first historic
ordination in Louisville as Dr. Rosemarie Smead is ordained. In May our first
woman priest will be ordained in Cincinnati.
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