On May 22, 1994, Pope John Paul II issued an apostolic letter, “Ordinatio Sacerdotalis” (“Priestly Ordination”) which reserved priesthood in the Catholic Church to men only.
"This
teaching that 'women are not fully in the likeness of Jesus' -- qualifying, as
it does, as a theological explanation -- is utterly and demonstrably
heretical,” said Augustinian theologian John Shea in his 2nd letter to U.S.
bishops.
In his
recent book, A Call to Action: Women,
Religion, Violence and Power, President Jimmy Carter, who supports women’s
ordination and women’s equality in all religions, finds it “ironic” that women
are welcomed into many professions “but are deprived of the right to serve Jesus
Christ in positions of leadership” as they did in the early Christian
churches.
Despite 20 years of blatant
discrimination of women and denial of women’s basic human rights as spiritual
equals before God, women priests are serving in priestly ministry. With almost
200 Roman Catholic Women Priests, a renewed priestly ministry is flowering in 10
countries. Catholic worldwide are ready for a new model of church led by women
and men.
Release date: May 12, 2014
Contact: Janice
Sevre-Duszynska, D.Min. (media) 859-684-4247, rhythmsofthedance@gmail.com
Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan,
703-505-0004, sofiabmm@aol.com
On Saturday, May 24, 2014, at
1p.m. four women will be ordained priests and two women will be ordained deacons
in the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests. The presiding bishop will be
Bridget Mary Meehan of Sarasota, FL. The ceremony will take place at Brecksville
United Church of Christ, 23 Public Square, Brecksville, OH 44141. All are
welcome. The balcony will be reserved as a photo-free zone. A reception will
follow the ceremony in the church hall.
Media are invited to schedule
interviews during the time leading up to the ordination and at 11 a.m. on May
24th at the church. Respectful filming/photo-taking during the
ceremony is acceptable.
The ordinands are theologically
prepared and have many years of experience in ministry.
To Be
Ordained Priests:
Mary Bergan Blanchard of
Albuquerque, NM marybblanchard@hotmail.com 505-857-9288, is a widow, mother, grandmother, teacher,
writer and licensed counselor. Twenty of the 37 years she spent teaching were
with the marginalized and the Early Childhood disadvantaged. After retiring in
New Mexico, she served as a Mental Health Counselor in a Roman Catholic Church
for 20 years.
“Until the Church recognizes
that women are equal to men by allowing them to participate in the sacramental
life of the Church, all women will remain second class citizens, subjects in a
patriarchal society…a dark world indeed. Jesus has called us to be the Light of
the World. I am becoming a priest because I believe it’s time to flick the
switch.”
Mary Collingwood of Boston
Heights, OH mecreg6@yahoo.com 216-408-4657, is a wife, mother
and grandmother who, with her advanced degree in theology, has served for 40
years in church ministry and taught theology on the high school and college
levels. In the parish she was Director of Religious Education, Coordinator for
Marriage Preparation and Pastoral Minister. On the diocesan level she was an
administrator and served on various boards and councils, an activist for church
reform.
“Women are being called by the
Holy Spirit to image the Divine Feminine through ordained priestly ministry
thereby restoring the wholeness of God’s presence in our Church. Personally,
this entails ordination and embracing circle leadership as an egalitarian model
of decision-making within Roman Catholic communities. It is truly right and just
for me to live this Spirit-led change in solidarity with the People of God by
serving communities of faith while supporting my sisters in ordained
ministry.”
Irene C. Scaramazza of
Columbus, OH revdrirene@yahoo.com 614-357-0626, has advanced
degrees in theology, pastoral counseling and family therapy. She is currently
working as a hospice chaplain having completed her Provisional Board Chaplaincy
Certification.
“I am being ordained a priest
because God continues to call me to deeper union with Godself. That union is
lived out in service to others. For me, ministry has always involved an
immersing of myself in the life of the people I have been sent to serve and
together discovering our Living God.”
Marianne Therese Smyth of
Silver Spring, MD mysmyth@comcast.net 240-444-0781, has worked nearly 35 years in Montgomery
County Public Schools and 25 years as a para-educator with special needs
students. She completed a theological certificate program and serves the Living
Water Inclusive Community in Catonsville, MD and has a Masters of Education in
counseling.
“I am becoming a priest because
God asked. God’s inclusive love cannot be expressed or shared from a strictly
male point of view. That was not the message of Jesus. My love is hospice
ministry and I will be expanding into bereavement work and healing modalities
such as Reiki.”
To Be Ordained
Deacons:
Barbara Billey of Windsor,
Ontario, Canada bbilley@jet2.net 519-735-3943, has been married
for 32 years and has extensive experience in a variety of professional and
volunteer capacities from wellness educator and health care administrator to
retreat facilitator and dancer. She is currently a counselor and art therapist.
She is engaged in theological study and has a particular interest in women’s
spirituality and a passion for integrating sacred arts in liturgy.
Susan Marie Guzik of
Eastlake, OH msguzik@aol.com
440-477-5962, is a widow, mother and grandmother. After her theological studies,
she received certification as a Lay Ecclesial Minister in the Diocese of
Cleveland. She has volunteered in the Diocese as a pastoral minister and has
been an active pastoral leader in her parish. For the past 15 years she has been
part of the leadership team in the Stephen Ministry program at St. Mary
Magdalene Parish in Willowick, OH and for the past seven years served as their
Director/Advisor.
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