Gathering of Intentional Eucharist Communities for viewing of Pink Smoke Over Vatican in McLean, VA, Sunday, June 12, 2016

Intentional Eucharistic Communities of N.VA. gather for showing of Pink Smoke Over Vatican

Janice Sevre Duszynska ARCWP shared at IEC Showing of Pink Smoke Over the Vatican

Barbara Beadles RCWP leads prayer at gathering of IEC in N. VA.

Yesterday afternoon, the Northern Virginia Catholic Community (NOVA) and several other Intentional Eucharistic Communities (PAX and Communitas) gathered in McLean, VA for a viewing and discussion of “Pink Smoke Over the Vatican.”  

Barbara Beadles, RCWP, visited the NOVA Community's morning liturgy and at the IEC gathering , she led us in an opening and closing prayer. NOVAS co-chairs  invited me to Washington, D.C. for a brunch about six weeks ago to talk about their move toward more inclusivity.

Yesterday, I was invited to introduce the movie and to comment on our meeting at the Vatican two weeks ago with a senior official of the Secretariat of State who listened intently to our message and who promised to give our petition to Pope Francis to lift our excommunications and all punishments of our supporters and to begin a dialogue with women priests. After words, I answered questions in regard to the history of our movement, activism, women’s leadership in Early Christianity, Women’s Ordination Conference, our open and egalitarian women priest table, and my recent trip to Rome. I noted there was a change in the response from the Vatican under Pope Francis and I was hopeful: We (Women’s Ordination Worldwide) were not prevented from witnessing or arrested. We were given permits for our witness. After temporarily giving up our stoles and banners, we were escorted by the police to seats in St. Peter’s Square for the Eucharist celebration of the Jubilee for Priests. After Mass we walked to the nearby police station to pick up our stoles and banners.  I am hopeful because although we are not fully included, we were not excluded as we were before. The Spirit’s movement in hearts and minds is evident. Janice Sevre Duszynska ARCWP