ARCWP Ordains Debra Meyers as first Roman Catholic Woman Priest in Historic Cincinnati Ordination on May 25, 2013

On Saturday, May 25, 2013, Debra Meyers of Batavia, Ohio was ordained a priest in the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests by Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan. She was the first woman ordained in Cincinnati. The ceremony took place at St. John's Unitarian Universalist Church which was filled with enthusiastic supporters of the women priest movement.
During Justin Meyers' emotional presentation of his mother, the ordinand, he talked about her lifelong devotion to her family, her community and the poor and marginalized.  Paul Tenkotte, Chair of the Department of History and Gender Studies at Northern Kentucky University, praised Dr. Meyers for her promotion of gender justice and women's empowerment.
In her homily, Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan spoke about the Samaritan woman at the well. "Jesus offered a profound example of Gospel equality that shocked his male apostles then, and continues to shock today -- especially the Roman Catholic hierarchy....Today God is calling women to be leaders in the church proclaiming freedom and equality in ways that will liberate and heal us from the bondage of sexism and patriarchy."
After Bishop Meehan laid hands on Debra in the official ordination rite, the entire community was invited to do so as the MUSE Choir of Cincinnati sang "Dona Nobis Pacem". Debra and all the priests present co-celebrated Eucharist with Bishop Meehan and the entire assembly.

Newly ordained ARCWP priest Debra plans to celebrate Eucharist at the three-year-old inclusive woman-priest-led community in Cincinnati. Her plans also include outreach to young women who are interested in a renewed priestly ministry in the Roman Catholic Church.
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