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Friday, April 20, 2018

#WomenPriestsAreHere Celebrating Vocations' Sunday, April 22, 2018 in Colombia, Spain, Canada and the United States by Janice Sevre Duszynska ARCWP and Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP, Join Janice on Sunday in Baltimore to support women priests, details in article below




Vocations' Sunday Witness outside Baltimore Bascilica, April 12th,  ARCWP priest Janice Sevre Duszynska holding banner with Advocates for Women Priests
photo by Kate McAlwee -Women's Ordination Conference

http://bridgetmarys.blogspot.com/2018/04/woman-priest-to-witness-for-acceptance.html Join Janice Sevre Duszynska ARCWP on Sunday outside Assumption Church in Baltimore on Sunday, Vocation Sunday, April 22, 9:30-11am 

Olga Lucia Alvarez Benjumea ARCWP celebrating liturgy in Colombia, South America
Liturgy to Celebrate Feast of St. Mary of Magdala, Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP Presiding


Christina Moreira ARCWP Comunidade do Home Novo - A Coruña- Galicia- Spain
Deacon Elena Garcia ARCWP baptizes grandson Brodhi Lucas at her Ordination liturgy in Sarasota, Florida in 2017

April 22nd is “Vocations Sunday” in the Roman Catholic Church: an effort to attract males to become priests or brothers and women to become nuns. Some Catholic women, however, have prophetically crossed over into the future of the Church: Since 2002, (with the Danube 7 https://www.womenpriests.org/called/allen.asp)more than 250 women have been ordained priests. 



The international Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement is mainly in the U.S., Canada and Colombia, South America, and also in 11 countries. Our ordinations are considered valid but because a bishop in apostolic succession ordained our first women bishops. In prophetic obedience we violated church law because an unjust law  sometimes must be broken in order to be changed. There are two branches of the movement in the United States, Canada and South America: The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests ARCWP, https://arcwp.org/en/ (Spanish translation is on site) and Roman Catholic WomenpriestsUSA  
http://romancatholicwomenpriests.org/index.htm 


Toni Kay Attanasio ARCWP (pink top) and Nori Kieran Meredith ARCWP (rainbow stole) hold RCWP banner  "Ordain Women" in California






Video 2012: Tenth Anniversary of Danube Ordination



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3TQNJjtMbg
..
We are rooted in the belief that each moment is sacramental and that community is central in celebrating the sacraments. 

Upper Room Inclusive Catholic Community in Albany, New York celebrates Pentecost Liturgy in 2016- Presiders left to right Kathy Ryan ARCWP and Mary Theresa Streck ARCWP

While we do have women bishops, each has one vote like the rest of us. Our women priests’ and liturgical communities are intentionally circular and non-hierarchal. We have become what movements for equality advocated in the 70s, 80s and 90s: A renewed priesthood in a reformed church.

We celebrate Eucharist (Mass) together as community. With parents, godparents and community participating in the Rite of Baptism, we welcome new Christians into the community. 


Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community Celebrates Seth Theo Winner's Baptism,
Kathryn Shea ARCWP, (his Mom and Stephen, his Dad, pour water, as Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP, recites words)


Left to right: ARCWP priests Miriam Picconi and Wanda Russell celebrate Baptism 

When two partners pledge to share their lives together in Marriage, we are present as officiants and official witnesses. 
Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP co-officiates at Wedding Liturgy for Sheila Carey and Ed Bohan in Nov 2017 on Englewood Beach, Florida


With others of our liturgical communities, we anoint the sick and dying, help each another to forgive and experience forgiveness in the sacrament of Reconciliation, and welcome young people to live the message of Jesus in the world in the sacrament of Confirmation. 
Janet Blakeley ARCWP anoints Sally Brochu ARCWP before surgery as members of Mary Mother
Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community prays with her for healing 
https://www.marymotherofjesus.org/
As women (and men) of varying backgrounds, our study of theology is enhanced by a lifetime of experience.  Retired Catholic seminary professor Dr. Mary Malone states that women "should be treated as the significant theologians that they are...for women have always done theology and ministry in both word and deed."  (The Elephant in the Church, p. 171) 
Mary Eileen Collingwood ARCWP presides at liturgy at St. Bridget's Community in Cleveland
Silvia Brandon Perez ARCWP leads witness for justice for undocumented in California

Our preparation program affirms women's life experiences and service before ordination as valid theology and ministry. We provide a course of studies that is interactive and comprehensive, rooted in contemporary theology and transformational spirituality in our units of preparation. In addition, candidates may choose to take courses through People's Catholic Seminary with an option for a Master of Pastoral Ministry awarded through Global Ministries University. https://pcseminary.org/

We are called by the Spirit to read the signs of the times and to respond in solidarity with the human rights and justice movements of our times. As disciples of Jesus, we stand on the margins with the marginalized, advocating for justice rising up in our church and world.  Illumined by the mystical and prophetic tradition, we use the insights of evolutionary, feminist, liberation, womanist, and mujerista theologies in our spiritual and professional ministerial development.    ( ARCWP Constitution)

left to right Janice Sevre Duszynska ARCWP and Christina Moreira ARCWP witness at the Vatican in Prayer Vigil in May 2016 (Vatican gave permission for demonstration and both women priests attended liturgy at which Pope Francis presided)

Women and men weep with joy at our ordinations and rejoice at our use of the feminine face of Holy Mystery in our inclusive liturgies where all are welcome. In so doing we affirm who we are and the need to respect Holy Mother Earth.

left to right Donna Rougeux ARCWP and Tee Kasper ARCWP witness at Women's March in March 2018 in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Michele Birch Conery ARCWP (seated with black jacket) with Heart of Compassion Community in Windsor, Canada


As women priests we are conscious that living out our priesthood is connected to overcoming the suffering of women and men in our world. As Mary of Magdala experienced deep trust in the Risen Christ holding her and acknowledging her to be an apostle, so we do, too. 

Blanca Cortes, ARCWP that works with children in danger, children of homeless people, in the Baptist Church of Popayan, Colombia, South America

Women as bearers of the sacred embrace cooperation rather than domination of “the other.” We teach and consciously practice Gospel nonviolence, diplomacy and restorative justice.


Mary Catherine White ARCWP, known as "Biker Priest" in New Hampshire


May our brother Francis hear the Spirit, lift all penalties , including excommunication and welcome us as beloved sisters and brothers who are leading the church toward the full equality of women in all areas of the church’s life.



ARCWP Ordination of new *Bishops: from left to right-Bishop Bernard Callahan of Lansdowne, PA. ,*Olga Lucia Alvarez Benjumea from Colombia, South America Bridget Mary Meehan, *Michele Birch Conery, Windsor, Canada Bishop Sibyl Dana Reynolds RCWP, California, *Mary Eileen Collingwood, Cleveland, Ohio. Ordination took place at Pendle Hill, near Philadelphia, PA. on Sept. 24, 2015

#Women Priests Are Here Celebrating Vocations Sunday!

from left to right Bishop Michele Birch Conery and  Syndney Condray, seated Deacon Karen Kerrigan ARCWP in Toledo, Ohio at Ordination June 2017








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