A Sacred Journey - Conversations with a Contemporary Mystic: Dr Adele Jones, ARCWP

This week I have been blessed by my visit with Dr. Adele Jones, a Roman Catholic Woman Priest, and a mystic who lives in San Antonio, Texas. Here are a few of her spiritual insights:

Adele Jones and Bridget Mary Meehan, left to right
at Villa San Antonio

 First, Adele who lives in joyful solitude in a senior living community, believes that we are all called to be mystics and prophets.

She is grateful that she lives in San Antonio, a sacred place among people who descend from Latin American indigenous people who provide a rich cultural and spiritual heritage.

Dancers at Our Lady of Guadalupe Liturgy in San Antonio

She credits institutions such as Incarnate Word, a Catholic University here, for leading the way in presenting in depth spiritual programs on topics like the new cosmology.

River Walk, San Antonio

Adele believes that there is a convergence that is happening now among people from diverse religious traditions who are coming together to share and to celebrate their experiences of Indwelling Presence in this world and beyond. "What could be more mystical than gazing at the stars," Adele said. She feels God's presence everywhere and is never bored.  

A devotee of the Feminine Divine,  Dr. Jones shared these thoughts from her workshop: "Sophia, the Breath of God: An Invitation to Wisdom":
"...Sophia is nearly unknown in the twenty-first century but her presence in the world can be experienced as she again calls out amid the chaos, confusion and violence of our times. Once she is heard and her wisdom penetrates the human heart and mind, wise solutions to problems will be discovered, both individually and collectively...As more and more groups develop in wisely solving situations, whole cultures and societies will be influenced. It begins with one. It begins with me. It begins with you. A small beginning but a start. The idea of learning to live more wisely as an individual with the potential for that to spread to others is the most exciting adventure I can imagine..."

Adele Jones in her home in Villa San Antonio

We concluded our time together by celebrating Eucharist. As we prepared the altar, we prayed:
"Nurturing God, we are united in the sacrament by the love of Jesus Christ in communion with Mary, who proclaimed God's power and mercy for the lowly and oppressed. Like Mary, First Disciple, may we live as prophetic witnesses in the Gospel. Like Mary May we discover the liberating power of Woman-Spirit in our midst. We ask this through Jesus, our brother, the cosmic Christ of the ages."

Our Lady of Guadalupe at Cathedral in San Antonio

On Dec. 12th, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I attended a festival of dance, song, and liturgy celebrating the liberating presence of Mary, who appeared to Juan Diego in Mexico in the 1500's and who is a powerful symbol of divine solidarity with the oppressed, poor, and marginalized people of the Americas.  I was deeply touched by the drumming, chanting, dancing, singing, and ritual. It unites you with Spirit Energy and Sacred Power that is beyond words or description. I believe that Our Lady of Guadalupe is calling us into a deeper consciousness of our own spiritual power that can do more than we imagine to live compassionately and to do justice. We are one holy people of God and we are called to go deeper into the Mysteries of Faith and to evolve beyond our wildest dreams or greatest hopes. Now this is the spiritual adventure of a lifetime. We are witnessing the birthing of a new creation in which justice is rising up to embrace all in infinite love!

3. At the showing of "Pink Smoke Over the Vatican" in San Antonio on Dec. 12th, I met several interfaith leaders who expressed support for the Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement. Each of them shared that as people of faith we are on a journey into a deeper  mystical journey of oneness in the Indwelling Presence of a God who is in all and beyond all. Incarnational spirituality is making a resurgence among people from different faith traditions and denominations. One Presbyterian minister wondered if this might now lead someday to one "catholic" church. Other signs of hope that these leaders observed are the world wide movement for gender equality, and Pope Francis's stance in solidarity with the poor and critique of economic injustice and global inequality.

As I prepare to leave San Antonio, I am grateful for the hospitality of all whom I met especially Dr. Adele Jones, a sister priest and joyous contemplative, an energetic nun and priest, and  the interfaith spiritual leaders from the Presbyterian, Baptist and Episcopalian Churches.
I pray that one day I will return to this warm and vibrant city!
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
www.arcwp.org