Newly Ordained Priest Maureen McGill Co-Presides with Bridget Mary Meehan at First Liturgy at Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community on the Feast of St. Brigit of Kildare and Presentation of Jesus in the Temple at St. Andrew UCC in Sarasota, Florida

Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community, 4 PM liturgy at St. Andrew UCC
in Sarasota, Fl. on Feb. 1st, 2014

left; Mary Murray welcomes community,
Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests
Maureen McGill and Bridget Mary Meehan, co-preside at liturgy

 Dr. Mary Bridget Duffy Reads Stories about St. Brigit of Kildare
from Praying with Celtic Holy Women by Bridget Mary Meehan
and Regina Madonna Oliver

Maureen prepares to proclaim Gospel of Presentation of Jesus 
in the Temple

Maureen shares story of call to priesthood, then 
community shared in dialogue homily

left to right: Bridget Mary Meehan and Maureen McGill 
at Offertory

MMOJ Community Prays Eucharistic Prayer Around Altar

left to right Carol Ann and Lee Breyer, married priest couple
 Bridget Mary Meehan,ARCWP Maureen McGill, ARCWP
Roman and Teresa Rodriguez
Ford Englerth

Consecration: All raise hands as the Body of Christ

Communion: the Body of Christ Shares the Body of Christ with the Body of Christ
All are welcome to receive Eucharist

Katy Zatsick, ARCWP greets Sister Priest, Maureen McGill and Visitor after liturgy

O God of compassion and healing,

You gave Holy Brigit to us as a sign of your love.

You caress us with the warmth of the sun,

You encircle us in Love's embrace.

You are behind us and before us.

You are above us and beneath us.
I consecrate all that I am to you.

Feb. 1^st  2014

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and the Feast of St. Brigit of Kildare

A Meditation: “Called to the Messengers of God’s Liberating Love”

Relax and become aware of your breath.

As you breathe in and out, be conscious that the boundless love of God

fills your being… Divine love goes before you and behind you..

 encircles you, your loved ones,  and all creation forever…

Guided by the Holy Spirit, Simeon and Anna saw a light that shone in the darkness of rejection and opposition that Jesus would encounter…

Prophets Simeon and Anna remind us of the light of God’s  Spirit accompanies us in the darkness, no matter what the obstacles, challenges, heartaches we face in our lives and in our world…

St. Brigit of Kildare’s attitude of openness and generous welcome to all provides a model for us especially for the many people marginalized or even anathemized by their traditional religion. She lived the spirit of Jesus as advocate for justice and compassion to those in need…

Like Simeon, Anna and St. Brigit of Kildare , we are called to be messengers of the light of God’s liberating love to all especially those who are in need.

A table blessing attributed to Brigit reminds us that God’s justice will triumph at the Banquet of Love…

Let us live as if Brigit’s vision is a reality now….

 “I should welcome the poor to my feast, for they are God’s children. I should welcome the sick to my feast, for they are God’s joy. Let the poor sit with Jesus at the highest place, let the sick dance with the angels. “

Failte St. Brigit, and Prophets Simeon and Anna!