Mary Ann Schoettly, a woman who was ordained as a priest in a dissident ceremony and excommunicated in 2009, celebrates the Eucharist for the first time after her ordination in this file photo. Schoettly passed away Tuesday after a quick illness. (Star-Ledger file photo)
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on July 23, 2014 at 3:20 PM, updated July 23, 2014 at 7:47 PM
FREDON — She was a retired high-school biology teacher who loved gardening. She was also an excommunicated woman who was considered a radical by the Roman Catholic church, and a woman's advocate and “trailblazer” by her supporters and colleagues.
Mary Ann Schoettly, who was ordained as a priest in a dissident ceremony six years ago, died Tuesday, confirmed her co-pastor, Michael Corso, of the Sophia Inclusive Catholic Community in Sparta.
“She was a real activist, a revolutionary,” said Corso this afternoon. “She was a bigger-than-life person.”
"It's quite a loss — it's so sudden," said Suzanne Thiel, of the Roman Catholic Womenpriests organization.
Schoettly, who retired from Newton High School a decade ago, was ordained as a priest in 2009 by the dissident group Roman Catholic Womenpriests, according to news accounts of the time. She and others who underwent the ceremony were cut off from the church. There are 150 such priests in the United States and 188 in the world, according to the Womenpriests organization. But the group of women refused to accept the excommunication decree.
Schoettly and four other women who had undergone the ordination process traveled to the Vatican to take part in the proclaimed “Year of the Priest” celebrations in 2010. They held signs advocating for women to be accepted as priests – and drew some international media attention, she told reporters at the time. But there was also police attention. The group was detained by officers in St. Peter’s Square, and were held for several hours, during which their passports were confiscated, Schoettly told a reporter at the time.
“Fourteen police surrounded us,” she said. “They’re worried about five women? I thought, ‘It says something. I’m not sure what,’ ” she added.
Corso said Schoettly had remained as energetic and active in the community as she had ever been, until she became ill in recent weeks. Her ministry had been quieter since the trip to Rome – but she was still leading her congregation, performing baptisms, weddings, and other ceremonies, he said.
She received graduate degrees in theology, science and in administration and supervision, according to her local church. She also had certificates in pastoral care and spiritual direction.
“She may have only been a priest for six short years, but she really acted as a priest for much longer before that,” Corso said. “Her legacy will live on long after her.”
Schoettly is survived by three adult children.
A wake will be held at the Smith-McCracken Funeral Home in Newton on Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m., Corso said. Schoettly’s memorial service will be held at the Newton Presbyterian Church at 10 a.m. on Monday.
Bridget Mary's Response:
Mary Ann was a bright light of God's love to all whom she encountered. We were blessed to have her as a companion on the journey. May she intercede for us in the communion of the saints. Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP, www.arcwp.org
Mary Ann Schoettly, who was ordained as a priest in a dissident ceremony six years ago, died Tuesday, confirmed her co-pastor, Michael Corso, of the Sophia Inclusive Catholic Community in Sparta.
“She was a real activist, a revolutionary,” said Corso this afternoon. “She was a bigger-than-life person.”
"It's quite a loss — it's so sudden," said Suzanne Thiel, of the Roman Catholic Womenpriests organization.
Schoettly, who retired from Newton High School a decade ago, was ordained as a priest in 2009 by the dissident group Roman Catholic Womenpriests, according to news accounts of the time. She and others who underwent the ceremony were cut off from the church. There are 150 such priests in the United States and 188 in the world, according to the Womenpriests organization. But the group of women refused to accept the excommunication decree.
Schoettly and four other women who had undergone the ordination process traveled to the Vatican to take part in the proclaimed “Year of the Priest” celebrations in 2010. They held signs advocating for women to be accepted as priests – and drew some international media attention, she told reporters at the time. But there was also police attention. The group was detained by officers in St. Peter’s Square, and were held for several hours, during which their passports were confiscated, Schoettly told a reporter at the time.
“Fourteen police surrounded us,” she said. “They’re worried about five women? I thought, ‘It says something. I’m not sure what,’ ” she added.
Corso said Schoettly had remained as energetic and active in the community as she had ever been, until she became ill in recent weeks. Her ministry had been quieter since the trip to Rome – but she was still leading her congregation, performing baptisms, weddings, and other ceremonies, he said.
She received graduate degrees in theology, science and in administration and supervision, according to her local church. She also had certificates in pastoral care and spiritual direction.
“She may have only been a priest for six short years, but she really acted as a priest for much longer before that,” Corso said. “Her legacy will live on long after her.”
Schoettly is survived by three adult children.
A wake will be held at the Smith-McCracken Funeral Home in Newton on Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m., Corso said. Schoettly’s memorial service will be held at the Newton Presbyterian Church at 10 a.m. on Monday.
Bridget Mary's Response:
Mary Ann was a bright light of God's love to all whom she encountered. We were blessed to have her as a companion on the journey. May she intercede for us in the communion of the saints. Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP, www.arcwp.org
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