Historic First Ordination in Louisville as Dr. Rosemarie Smead will be ordained a Roman Catholic Woman Priest

 

 Release date: April 9, 2013

 

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

 

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

 

Dr. Rosemarie Smead, 502-663-1237, shanti.rosemarie@gmail.com

 

See: http://www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org/

 

http://bridgetmarys.blogspot.com/

 

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.

 

http://ncronline.org/news/vatican/embrace-women-s-gifts-protesters-say

 

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.