Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community Liturgy, Jan.8, 2022, Celebration of Epiphany, Presiders: Dotty Shugrue and Joan Pesce Readers: Pat and Bob Ferkenhoff, Prayer Leaders: Maryal Gagnon, Anna Davis and Jill Striebinger IT: Peg Bowen, Jerry Bires, Bridget Mary Meehan

MMOJ's Liturgy New Link

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Theme:  The Gifts We Receive: The Gifts We Bring

Joan:    All are welcome to our weekly liturgy celebrated by the community of Mary Mother of Jesus located in Sarasota. We have a shared Homily after the Gospel.  If you wish to share unmute and when finished don’t forget to mute again.  Remember to re-mute to avoid background noise.  We consecrate the Eucharist together so have a cup of wine/juice and a piece of bread at your table.  We are an inclusive community, and all are welcome. 

Dotty: “Three Kings Day” or the Epiphany brings us a message of celebrating that we are gifts, we bring the gift of ourselves to others, and we are willing to accept the gifts they give to us.

Christmas might be over, but it doesn’t mean the gift giving (and receiving) is over. Children of Spanish descent all over the globe receive most of their gifts from the Three Kings, rather than from Santa Claus at Christmas. Before going to bed, the children place their old shoes with a wish list on top for the Three Kings. In the morning, the shoes are filled with toys and gifts from the Three Kings.  These traditions have changed since “Santa Claus” came to town.  Yet the tradition of celebration with gift giving, sharing special foods, and just having a great time as they honor the true gift, the Child who was protected by these special visitors and the Egyptians from the terror of King Herod.

Opening Prayer: 

Maryal:    O Christ-Light from the beginning of time you have graced the universe with your brilliance and your love. As we gather to celebrate travelers who followed a star to discover the birth of a child, and the Divine light within him and within them, may we remember our own birth into the light and love of Holy Mystery. May we, in this time of giving, reach out, now and throughout the year, to those in need of your loving touch and healing graces. In your holy name we pray, Amen. 

 

Opening Song: Light a Light. By Bridget Ball and Chris Shaw

     

https://youtu.be/CTrY3g0vl88

Joan:   Transformation Rite

Let us recall times we did recognize the simple gifts other were offering to us and in return shared the Christ Presence of pure love with them,

Pause for several moments of silent reflection as you place hand over your heart.

ALL:   I am sorry, please forgive me, I thank you, I love you.  

LITURGY OF THE WORD

  

Reader:    Pat Ferkenhoff 

Our First Reading is from the prophet Isaiah Ch 60, 1 – 6 (adapted from “A Multi-Gospel Single-Year Lectionary” by Wilda C. Gafney)

Arise daughter; shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Holy One has risen upon you.  For watch now, daughter!  Darkness shall cover all people and all on the earth, the Holy One will arise, and over you, daughter, God’s glory will appear.  

Nations shall come to your light, and monarchs to the brightness of your dawn.  Lift your eyes round about, and see all of them gather, they come to you, daughter; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ hips. Then, you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall tremble and swell, because the abundance of the sea shall turn toward you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.  A multitude of camels shall cover you O daughter.  Young camels of Midian and Ephah—all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense and shall proclaim the praises of the Holy One. Your gates shall always be open, daughter, being led by their monarchs.

These are the inspired words of Wilda C. Gafney, and  based on the Book of Isaiah the prophet.  And our community affirms them by saying 

All:  Amen.

Reader:  Bob Ferkenhoff

Our Second Reading is from “We Make the Road by Walking” by Brian McLaren pp.82-83.

They were called Magi…we know them as wise men. They were astrologers, holy men of a foreign religion. They had observed a strange celestial phenomenon, which they interpreted to mean that a new king had been born in Judea. According to Matthew’s gospel, they traveled to honor him, bringing valuable treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh---precious gifts indeed.

In their giving of gifts, they were wiser than they realized.  Gift-giving turns out, was at the heart of all Jesus would say and do. God is like a parent, Jesus would teach, who loves and shower sons and daughters with good gifts. The kingdom or commonwealth of God that Jesus constantly proclaimed was characterized by an abundant, gracious, extravagant economy of grace, of generosity, of gift-giving. “It is better to give than to receive,” Jesus taught, and his followers came to understand Jesus himself as a gift expressing God’s love to the whole world.

So, in memory of the wise men’s gift-giving to Jesus, in honor of Jesus’ teaching and example of giving, and as an echo of God’s self-giving in Jesus, we joyfully give one another gifts when we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Not everyone felt generosity in response to this new baby.

King Herod was furious about anyone who might unsettle the status quo. When he deployed troops to the Bethlehem region with orders to kill all infant boys, Joseph was warned in a dream to escape. So, the family fled south to Egypt where Jesus spent part of his childhood as a refugee.

These are the inspired words of Brian McLaren and our community affirms them by saying:   ALL: Amen

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. 

They followed a star shining in the east and found the Child fast asleep. They presented the gift of their very self and felt a powerful gift in return.

  

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

 

Gospel 

Joan:  

A reading from the Gospel attributed to the Apostle Matthew chapter 2.

After Jesus’ birth—which happened in Bethlehem of Judea, during the reign of Herod—astrologers from the East arrived in Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the newborn ruler of the Jews? We observed his star at its rising and have come to pay homage.” At this news Herod became greatly disturbed, as did all of Jerusalem. Summoning all the chief priests and religious scholars of the people, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.

“In Bethlehem of Judea,” they informed him. “Here is what the prophet has written:
‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the leaders of Judah,
since from you will come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people, Israel.’
Herod called the astrologers aside and found out from them the exact time of the
star’s appearance. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, after having instructed them, “Go and get detailed information about the child. When you have found him, report back to me—so that I may go and offer homage, too.”

After their audience with the ruler, they set out. The star which they had observed
at its rising went ahead of them until it came to a standstill over the place where
the child lay. They were overjoyed at seeing the star and, upon entering the house, found the child with Mary, his mother. They prostrated themselves
and paid homage. Then they opened their coffers and presented the child with gifts
of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

They were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so they went back to their own
country by another route.

These are the inspired words from Gospel writer known as Matthew and the community affirms them by saying, Amen.  

Dotty:  Homily Starter  

Community shares their inspirations.  

Anna:   Our Statement of Faith 

 

We believe in the Holy One, a divine mystery 
beyond all definition and rational understanding, 
the heart of all that has ever existed, 
that exists now, or that ever will exist. 
 
We believe in Jesus, messenger of the Divine Word, 
bringer of healing, heart of Divine compassion, 
bright star in the firmament of the Holy One's 
prophets, mystics, and saints. 
 
We believe that We are called to follow Jesus 
as a vehicle of divine love, 
a source of wisdom and truth, 
and an instrument of peace in the world. 
 
We believe in the Spirit of the Holy One, 
the life that is our innermost life, 
the breath moving in our being, 
the depth living in each of us. 
 
We believe that the Divine kin-dom is here and now, 
stretched out all around us for those 
with eyes to see it, hearts to receive it, 
and hands to make it happen. 

                      Liturgy of the Eucharist

Dotty:   As we prepare for this sacred meal, we are aware of our call to serve, and to give freely of our gifts and we willingly and humbly accept the abundance of gift given as we journey sharing and accepting the pure and everlasting love of the Holy. 

We bring to this table our gifts shared and the gifts received during this past year, as well as the gifts we send to those who are hurting in so many. that may receive the Energy of The Giver of Love as Love is all there is in the Divine Energy of Life.  It heals, it gives strength, it comforts through you and me. 

We bring to the table…. 

(Unmute and share what you hold in your heart so that we may join you in prayer

We bring these and all our cares, and concerns to the table of friendship and peace. 

PREFACE

Jill:  

God is the Divine Presence within us. 

And in all people everywhere.

Our hearts are full of the love of divine Presence

And we accept this Gift and share gift with one another.

We Affirm the gifts we give and share

And we accept the gifts others offer us out of their love and caring.

 

Here in this Place – Holy Holy Holy by Christopher Grundy

https://youtu.be/cVWY9ourooI

                              

                              EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

Anna: 

Divine Presence, you brought forth all creation from your Life-Giving Womb. O Giver of all Gifts, you came as Love Poured Out to dwell among us. You revealed yourself to travelers who followed a star to the home were Jesus and Mary and Joseph lived so that they could share the gifts with this family in need and see the child who they believed to be a future King who would change the world.

Maryal:

Today, we see the gifts of Christ Presence shining forth as pure love in the eyes of the elderly, in the service of caregivers, in the witness of justice-makers, and in the dreams embedded in our own hearts. We give thanks for the Giver of Abundant gifts that nourishes and sustains us. We commit ourselves to be gifts of your goodness and generosity as we serve the needs of the least and the last in our world. 

 

Jill:

As your people, we gather in the power of your Spirit. As followers of Jesus, we seek to live as wise and holy Spirit-filled people: courageous, prophetic, ever hopeful, and hope-filled as we answer your call to serve one another.

[Please extend your hands over your bread and wine]

We invoke Your Spirit upon these gifts of this Eucharistic table, bread of the grain and wine of the grape, that they may become gifts of wisdom, light and truth which remind us of our call to be the body of Christ to the world.

On the night before he faced his own death, Jesus sat at supper with his companions and friends.  He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory clearly, he bent down and washed their feet.

    

[lifting bread]

When he returned to his place, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and offered it to them saying: Take and eat; this is my very self.  

          

[lifting cup]

Jesus then raised a cup of blessing, spoke the grace, and offered the wine saying: Take and drink of the covenant made new again through my life in you. Whenever you remember me like this, I am among you. 

This is the bread of life and cup of blessing. May our eating and drinking strengthen our hope!  

Joan:  

What we have heard with our ears, we will live with our lives; as we share communion, we will become communion, both Love’s nourishment and Love’s challenge.

Receive bread and cup now saying to one another “You are gift to me, Thank you “

Pause for reflection

Meditation Interlude 01/18/2021 – Performed by Linda Lee

https://youtu.be/PeqOalKGsVE 

Joan:
Let us proclaim the sacred presence of our nurturing God:
Jesus, you are born again and again in us and through us each day.

We remember The Travelers from the East who followed a star that shined more brightly than any other. We rejoice that the Universal Christ remains always and ever present within and around us. We remember all those who have transitioned from life on earth to complete union with Divine Presence: We remember the prophet and saints in every age, who, light candles in the night, illuminated the darkness of doubt with faith, courage, and wisdom: Miriam and Sarah,

Esther and Judith, Mary, Mother of Jesus, Joseph, and all great saints, prophets and martyrs.  We remember our sister priests, strong extraordinary women: Adele, Judy, Tish, Joan, Michele, and Sally.  We remember, too, family members, friends, and member of MMOJ. 

(Pause to remember names) 

We recognize the great gift each has been to us. All are beloved souls who have blessed us and continue to inspire us.

We join in the divine cosmic dance in communion with all that is, all that was, and all that will be. Through Christ, in Christ, with Christ, all praise and glory echoes through the universe as your Spirit leaps for joy within us! 

Meditation Interlude 01/18/2021 – Performed by Linda Lee 

https://youtu.be/9fnOG6jyIJo

Anna:  

Let us pray the way Jesus taught us to pray: 

 

O Holy One, who is within, around and among us,

We celebrate your many names.

Your Wisdom come.

Your will be done, unfolding from the depths within us,

Each day you give us all we need.

You remind us of our limits, and we let go.

You support us in our power, and we act with courage.

For you are the dwelling place within us, 

the empowerment around us,

and the celebration among us, now and forever.  Amen  

(Miriam Therese Winter)   

 

Joan:    Introductions     Gratitudes      Announcements

BLESSING

Let us pray together our blessing:

May we bring to our lives the knowledge that “God loves things by becoming them. God loves things by uniting with them, not excluding them. Through the act of creation, God manifested the eternally flowing Divine Presence into the physical and material world. (The Universal Christ, Richard Rohr). May we shine our light with courage and spread Jesus’s Good News of the Way by our lives. Amen.

Closing Song: What Shall I Give by Sara Thomsen

https://youtu.be/UUTs9qa5h3

If you want to add a prayer intention to our MMOJ Community Prayer book, please send an email to Joan Meehan.  jmeehan515@aol.com

If you want to invite someone to attend our liturgy, please refer them our website at MaryMotherofJesus.org    

     

To support our community, please send your check to:

Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community

St Andrew UCC, 6908 Beneva Rd, Sarasota, FL 34238

 

Historical Overview of International Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement - Are Women Priests Saving the Church? by Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP

Ordination to the Priesthood of Mercedes Segura Rodriguez ARCWP  in Buenaventura, Colombia on December 12/2021

Background:

The question of women’s ordination in the Church in the early 20th century was linked to the question of women’s suffrage in several countries. The St. Joan’s Alliance campaigned in both England and the USA in 1911 for both women’s ordination and women’s suffrage. As the 20th century progressed, numerous Protestant denominations began to ordain women. By mid-century, most of the mainline denominations in the USA had some ordained women. A big breakthrough occurred when the Episcopal Church USA, a member of the Anglican communion of churches, ordained women as priests officially in 1976. This breakthrough followed a long struggle, with 11 women being ordained illicitly (but validly) in 1974, followed by another group of 5 in 1975. This phenomenon inspired hundreds of Roman Catholic women who felt called to ordination to gather together with men and women theologians in Detroit, Michigan to organize an effort to bring their campaign to the Vatican. The gathering took place in late 1975, and was known as The Women’s Ordination Conference. Shortly thereafter, in 1976, an organization was formed to carry this campaign forward, and it was named The Women’s Ordination Conference.

There were almost immediate reactions in Rome to these developments. The Pontifical Biblical Commission studied the issue in 1976, and announced that there was no biblical impediment to the priestly ordination of women.

However, Pope Paul VI hastily issued an encyclical known as Inter Insignores which denied that women could adequately represent the male Jesus as presider at the Eucharistic table. Women’s Ordination Conference was not deterred, but built a large constituency within the USA, and inspired women in many other countries to organize in similar ways in their countries.

Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement:

The movement within the Roman Catholic Church known as Roman Catholic Womenpriests (RCWP) began with the ordination to the priesthood of seven women on the Danube River in 2002. The ordination of priests requires bishops. In 2003, canonical male bishops recognized the need for women bishops to ordain women priests. They ordained two women priests as bishops: Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger and Dr. Gisela Forster. As the movement spread, the need for English speaking bishops emerged. In 2005, Dr. Patricia Fresen from South Africa and Germany was ordained bishop. In 2006, Dr. Ida Raming, also from Germany, was ordained bishop.

The historic ordination of the first Roman Catholic Women priests and deacons in the United States took place in Pittsburgh on July 31, 2006. As more women presented themselves for ordination in the U.S., Sibyl Dana Reynolds traveled to Germany from the RCWP Western Region in 2008 and became the first Roman Catholic woman bishop in the U.S. In 2009, four women were ordained bishops to serve other US regions: Regina Nicolosi, Andrea Johnson, Bridget Mary Meehan and Joan Houk.

Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests

https://arcwp.org/constitution/

The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests (ARCWP), an international community within the International Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement that was formed in 2010, is committed to a renewed model of ordained ministry in an inclusive community of equals in the Roman Catholic Church.

 

ARCWP prepares, ordains, and supports qualified women and men from all states of life, who are committed to a model of Church grounded in Jesus’ vision of an open table, where all are welcome. By living and ministering within a community of equals, members are respectful of differences among people.In the tradition of the mystics and prophets, ARCWP challenges the dominance of patriarchal systems by promoting practices of equality that lead us to recognize and stand for justice on behalf of all people, locally and globally, and on behalf of the urgent needs of Eco-justice for our planet. (Constitution) 

Apostolic Succession:

The ordinations of Roman Catholic Women Priests are valid because of our apostolic succession within the Roman Catholic Church. The principal consecrating Roman Catholic male bishop, who ordained our first women bishops, is a bishop with apostolic succession within the Roman Catholic Church.  Therefore, our women bishops validly ordain deacons, priests and bishops. Consequently, all qualified candidates, including baptized ministers and priests from other Christian traditions, who are presented to our bishops for ordination, are ordained by the laying on of hands into apostolic succession in the Roman Catholic Church.

Leading- Not Leaving the Church:

Catholics have accepted women as their priests and they continue to support RCWP/ARCWP as an international movement that is leading the Roman Catholic Church toward living Gospel equality in the 21st century.

According to the Women's Ordination Conference, Catholics support the full equality of women priests in the Catholic Church.

• 88% of U.S. Catholics would be “comfortable” with the ordination of women, according to a 2015 Shriver Report.
• The majority of Catholics would like to see women have equal standing in ordained ministry: in France (83%), Spain (78%), Argentina (60%), and Italy (59%), and Brazil (54%), according to a 2014 Univision poll.
• 63% of U.S. Catholics support ordaining women as priests and 81% support ordaining women as deacons. Gallup Organization survey, September 2005
• 64% of U.S. Catholics support women’s ordination and 69% support married priests. The Associated Press-Ipsos Poll, April 2005
• Only 29% of U.S. Catholics say a male, celibate clergy is “very important.” Gallup Organization survey, September 2005
• There are 16 national organizations from 11 different countries that advocate women’s ordination and eight Women’s Ordination Confernce local groups that do so in the U.S.A.
• More than 180 women have been ordained as priests, deacons or bishops by the group called Roman Catholic Womenpriests (RCWP) and the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priest.
• In Rome and throughout the Mediterranean, archaeologists have found images on frescoes, mosaics, and tombs that depict women serving in roles specifically reserved for deacons, priests, and bishops. Found in catacombs and early Christian churches, they date from 100 to 820 A.D.
• https://www.womensordination.org/resources-old/fact-sheet-on-catholic-womens-ordination/

Growth:

The international Roman Catholic Women Priests' Movement continues to grow. Since 2006, women have been ordained in the USA, Europe, Canada, South America, and South Africa.Women priests are ministering in over 34 states across the USA. From 2002 to 2022, we have grown from 7 to close to 300!

Conclusion: 

A holy shakeup has begun-moving an all male led hierarchy (kicking and screaming) to a people- empowered community- that is breaking through the rigid boundaries of patriarchal domination and sexism in the institutional Church.  Roman Catholic Women Priests have begun a healing process of  centuries-old misogyny that discriminates against women. 

Perhaps, women priests are actually saving the Church by offering a  path to renewal in which women take their rightful place as sacramental presiders and prophetic advocates of justice in a discipleship of equals serving God's people now. 

Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP

Important Resources about Highlights in the History of Roman Catholic Women Priests:

Treasure-trove of links to archives of history of the Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement- 2004-2014
https://www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org/index.php/archive-news-and-events/

A major resource of history, theology, lived experience and so much more:Roman Catholic Women Priests: The Case for Women Priests, Brief History, Videos, Books, Articles.”

 https://bridgetmarys.blogspot.com/2018/10/video-case-for-women-priests-with.html 

Book:

 Women Find a Way by Elsie McGrath, Bridget Mary Meehan and Ida Ramming ( The stories of the twenty women pioneers in early history of movement) 

Booklet:

 "Here I Am, I Am Ready" by Juanita Cordero and Suzanne Avison Thiel (A concise history of the International Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement can be found in the booklet)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1li7ZcuBDqqQWSLPPmkTLBEi2l9PHewBQ/view?usp=sharing) 

Womanpriest: Tradition and Transgression in the Contemporary Roman Catholic Church by Jill Peterfeso, Fordham University Press, "Womanpriest reveals RCWP to be a discrete religious movement in a distinct religious moment, with a small group of tenacious women defying the Catholic patriarchy, taking on the priestly role and demanding reconsideration of Roman Catholic tradition."

Book Review by Bridget Mary Meehan for highly recommended reading of background that propelled the movement for Roman Catholic Women Priests: 55 Years of Struggle for Women’s Ordination in the Catholic Church by theologian Dr. Ida Raming RCWP

http://bridgetmarys.blogspot.com/2021/01/55-years-of-struggle-for-womens.html

Videos: 

Women Priest Then and Now: Makes Case for women priests rooted in women leaders who served early Christian Communities 

https://youtu.be/2WTs3rhaZKw 

ARCWP Women in Inclusive Church Leadership- An Overview of Inclusive sacramental ministries of women priests

https://youtu.be/9716xzTs_DE

Pink Smoke Over the Vatican by Jules Hart. Documentary describing the call for equality, justice and partnership by courageous women who are creating an inclusive priesthood that challenges the all-male priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church. 

Video testimonies by ARCWP members:

https://bridgetmarys.blogspot.com/2018/07/what-i-want-world-to-know-about-my-call.html 

Media Coverage:

“Faces of Faith: Inclusive Catholic community leader” to read about the beginnings of an Inclusive Catholic Community by a woman priest.

https://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Faces-of-Faith-Inclusive-Catholic-community-11143029.php 

An  interview by Rev. Mary Eileen Collingwood who gives an overview of the pathway to ordination: http://www.wgvunews.org/post/mary-eileen-collingwood-part-ii. 

PAXCHRISTI USA Media Release , January 6, 2022

 https://paxchristiusa.org/2022/01/06/media-statement-on-the-one-year-anniversary-since-the-attempted-coup-detat-on-jan-6-2021/

Media statement from Roxana Bendezú, Program Director of Pax Christi USA, in response to the anniversary of the attempted d’état at the U.S. Capitol during the counting of the Electoral College vote one year ago today:

"In order to analyze and seek long-term solutions, it is crucial that we remember that these types of actions have been supported and led by the U.S. government in different parts of the world at different times. For many of us, the scenes we watched on TV on January 6, 2021 were not only familiar but also triggering. The actions by the crowd present and their supporters around the country are an outcome of an occupiers’ mentality, part of the ‘values’ that the U.S. has promoted for hundreds of years.

We must continue seeking accountability for those involved in the January 6th coup attempt and other white nationalist violence. At the same time, we uplift the people who have and continue to stand on the right side of history. The ones who will never let go of their ancestors’ wisdom and will continue the struggle for liberation. The ones who recognize the actions perpetrated by their ancestors and work hard to create a world where we can all have what we need and thrive. The ones who have migrated recently and are organizing to change policies, domestic and foreign, so that all people can live lives with dignity.

Today, let us remember that we have power within us, many of us call it God. Our command is to collectively organize it!”

For more on the insurrection last year:


Fr. Bryan Massingale’s article in America, “The racist attack on our nation’s capitol”
Media statement from Johnny Zokovitch, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA, in response to the events today at the U.S. Capitol during the counting of the Electoral College vote
Our Prayer-Study-Action e-bulletin, “Let us demonstrate what we stand for,” from the week following the insurrection and the inauguration
“We need to prepare for ongoing insurrectionary violence and address its roots causes,” by Maria Stephan

PCS Forum on Pastoral Care, Chaplaincy, Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), and Courses!

PCS Forum on Pastoral Care, Chaplaincy, Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), and Courses! 

FREE

Thursday, January 27th, 2022, 1:00pm EST (session will be recorded for those unable to attend)

Join us in Zoom at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84965259983?pwd=VFl1cWhjV2UvMGl1cWFyR05mU2xKQT09 

Meeting ID: 849 6525 9983

Passcode: 868236

For dial-in and audio only:  +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

Pacific Institute of Essential Conversations invites you to engage in a panel discussion about Pastoral Care, Chaplaincy, Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), and more.  In addition, they will introduce their upcoming course offering in People’s Catholic Seminary:  Introduction to Pastoral Care.  This course is scheduled to begin February 2022.

Presenters: 

John Jeffery, Th.D., M.Div., BCCC, Clinical Supervisor 

Director,  Pacific Institute for Essential Conversations

For over 35 years, John Jeffery has been an Interfaith spiritual caregiver. He has worked in hospitals, trauma centers, hospices and palliative clinics and has accompanied hundreds of individuals and families through their dying journey and has served at the bedside of countless individuals in the midst of their trauma, uncertainty and despair. John began his journey as a Methodist minister and has served as a professional clinical chaplain, pastoral counselor, spiritual director and end of life care practitioner. He is a graduate of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, and is a Board Certified Clinical Chaplain & Pastoral Counselor. John is a former Director of Spiritual Care Services for Kaiser Permanente where he established the first accredited Clinical Pastoral Education programs in Kaiser Permanent. He holds a doctoral degree in Ecological Theology. 

For the past ten years John has been a clinical supervisor of chaplains, spiritual directors and pastor counselors and often provides training in end of life care for physicians, nurses, therapists and hospice staff. He is a graduate of the Metta Institute for End of Life Care, A Fellow with the Association for Death Education and Counseling and a Fellow in Palliative and Hospice Care. John has been a student of Zen for the past 25 years. John offers pastoral counseling and spiritual direction to individuals both locally and nationwide.

John is a fully credentialed CPE Supervisor with the Center for Spiritual Care and Pastoral Formation (CSCPF).

Susan Shannon, M. Div., BCC

 

Susan Shannon is a seeker, teacher, earth and animal steward, devotee of the heart. She has worked in the fields of Emotional Literacy and Restorative Justice for over 20 years, incorporating over 45 years of Buddhist practice and study from the Tibetan tradition. She’s worked with diverse populations all her life including inmates, Tibetan refugees, the homeless, the differently-abled, at-risk youth, and most recently, Buddhist Chaplain to the men in San Quentin State Prison and Death Row. She currently teaches about spiritual care and chaplaincy through the Pacific Institute, as well as classes on Tibetan Buddhism through Sukhasiddhi Foundation, The Chaplaincy Institute of Interfaith Studies and various other Dharma Centers. Susan is the founder of the Buddhist Prison Ministry, providing correspondence classes to prison populations across the US. She resides in the San Juan Islands where she writes, provides spiritual coaching and cares for the sacred ground she shares with many sentient beings!  

Reverend Jacquie Robb, BCCC is an Interfaith minister, Chaplain, grief counselor and hospice volunteer.

Rev. Jacquie began her study in religious traditions and practices over 40 years ago; she began a regular meditation practice shortly thereafter. In the early 1980s, she worked at one of the first NGOs that served people with HIV/AIDS in the Bay Area. Later, she owned and ran an independent bookstore before living and working on staff at an international meditation retreat site or ashram in upstate NY.

Rev. Jacquie was ordained in 2012 by the Chaplaincy Institute and received her national Board Certification in 2016. She served as the chaplain for a northern California retirement community of 450 residents and 275 staff, leading weekly services and developing classes and workshops on a variety of spiritual practices within multiple faith traditions. 

Rev. Jacquie returned to midcoast Maine in 2020 to pursue a life in a rural, co-housing community. She currently serves at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Belfast, leads a monthly conversation on matters of death/dying, volunteers at the local hospice, and sits on several committees in the co-housing community. She began training as a chaplain supervisor in February 2022.

Rev. Lily Godsoe, MTh, SEF, BCCC 

Rev. Lily Godsoe is an Interfaith Minister, Board-Certified Chaplain, and Spiritual Director.  She is also a Supervisory Education Fellow in the field of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).  Rev. Lily is the President of CSCPF - The Center for Spiritual Care and Pastoral Formation, an International Community of spiritual care practitioners that educates chaplains and teaches CPE.  She received the call to ministry through her encounters at the bedside as a Zen Hospice volunteer and other spiritually-based outreach work.  Rev. Lily has worked as a chaplain in a variety of clinical settings, including hospices, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and skilled nursing facilities.  Born and raised in NYC, she is a first-generation Croatian-American with deep roots in the Catholic faith.  Nowadays, she self-identifies as a ‘spiritual eclectic’ - someone who holds a highly individualized spiritual belief system composed of selected elements drawn from various traditions and doctrines.  Rev. Lily lives in Half Moon Bay, CA with her husband, James, and their dog, Tito.  

NEW PCS COURSES COMING IN FEBRUARY

PCS 604 Introduction to Pastoral Care (Part 1)

with Pacific Institute of Essential Conversations

This 12-week course will introduce you to the basic elements of pastoral care.  You will explore and discern the use of both clinical and practical skills of a pastoral caregiver.  Topics such as deep listening, grief and loss, empathic distress, and much more will be explored.  At the end of this course, you will have an enhanced understanding of the field of pastoral care and some ideas about where, how, and with whom you can offer pastoral care.

PCS 605 Introduction to Pastoral Care (Part 2)

with Pacific Institute of Essential Conversations

This 12-week course builds upon the basics learned in Intro to Pastoral Care Part 1.  In this course, we will go deeper in our exploration of the foundations of pastoral caregiving.  This course will also provide a framework by which you can begin to further develop your individual pastoral caregiving ministry.  There will be a greater emphasis on applied pastoral care skills and possibilities for a supervised practicum.