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Saturday, March 26, 2022

Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community Liturgy, March 26, 2022, Presiders: Elena Garcia ARCWP, Janet Blakeley ARCWP, Lectors: Mary Montavon and Jack McKillip,Reader: Maryal Gagnon, Music Ministry: Linda and Rick Miller, I-Team: Peg Bowen and Jerry Bires

 Join Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81534075389?pwd=TTdGY2NxS3AzTW13ODJESkdYME9aUT09

 

Meeting ID: 815 3407 5389

Passcode: 803326

(Note -- if you have a problem with the above link, open your ZOOM app and insert the Meeting ID number and Passcode)  



                                                                                         

Welcome! (Elena) We warmly welcome you to the inclusive Catholic Community of Mary Mother of Jesus in Sarasota, Florida. All are welcome here. We invite you to pray the liturgy where it says, “All.” And please sing your heart out in union with Mary whose joy enflamed her soul! Everyone will be muted during the service. During the shared homily and prayers of the community, we invite you to unmute yourself to contribute, then mute yourself again. Please have bread and wine or juice with you as we pray the Eucharistic Prayer.




Theme: Faith Seeking Understanding (Mary and US)




Centering Thoughts

(Janet): We take St. Anselm’s (1033-1109) definition of what it means to do theology as a help in trying to understand today’s readings. Trusting in God’s never-ending love for us, we dare to open our minds to ideas that may only prove to be “dead ends.” On the other hand, the ideas we explore might just lead us in our desire to evolve as individuals and as a species. May that evolution bring us ever closer to union with God.



Gathering Song: Gather the People


https://youtu.be/lC6x3P7YENI



Opening Prayer

(Elena): We begin our liturgy in the name of our Creator, the Source of all being, and of the Son, eternal Word, and of the Holy Spirit, Sofia Wisdom.

All: Amen.

(Elena): My sisters and brothers, God is with Us

All: God is with us Indeed!

O Holy One, you are unutterable, incomprehensible Mystery, the Reality of all reality, and the Life of all life. Help us to understand that You are the reason why everything that is, is, and why each of us exists, namely, to receive your ineffable, all transforming, all beautifying Love. We ask for the grace to allow ourselves to be loved, to be there for You, Love , to love us. Help us to understand and feel how deeply our body, soul, mind and total existence is connected to your divinity.

All: AMEN


Transformation Rite (Janet)

We pause now to remember the times we have not born fruit in our lives and our service to others. Take a moment to recall one missed opportunity, one broken or damaged relationship. Now imagine this person or situation in the light of healing love as we ask for forgiveness.

(Pause briefly. Then Extend arm over community)
All: Please forgive me, I am sorry, I love you, I thank you.

The Sign of Peace (Mary M) It is fitting that, having asked for Divine and mutual forgiveness, we now extend an expression of Peace to each other.

(Mary M and All): Grant us Your peace O Loving God, that following the example of Jesus and with the strength of the Spirit, we may be eager to spread that peace to everyone, everywhere, with no exceptions. Amen

(Mary M): May the peace of our gracious and loving God be always with us. Let us turn to each other and with praying hands offer each other a sign of peace. NAMASTE 3x


First Reading Luke 1:26-38 (Maryal G)

In those days when the people of Judea were oppressed in the reign of King Herod in the town of Nazareth there was a woman named Miryam.

In prayer Miryam watched. Eyes of her soul turned inward, she watched.

Ears of her spirit stretched out, she watched. Watched for Yahweh in stillness.

In awe Miryam listened. With the firm beat of her heart, she listened. With the deep stroke of her breath, she listened. Listened for Yahweh in stillness.

In the stillness Miryam reached out. Mind alive, she reached out. Memory reflecting, she reached out. Inviting her God to inspire. The shadow streamed into her being. Greeting the core of her soul. Hearing, she stretched for the life source.

Embracing the quickening call.

“How is this? I know not!” she responded. Stumbling in God’s desert of time. “But you speak and all things come together. I will as you say let it be.”

Her life of shadowy knowing was confirmed in the quieting joy.

Summoning cadences, ancient and deep, echoed the call of God’s peace.

Miryam arose and went out. Holding the knowledge of change, went out. Went out to begin the task. Miryam embarked on the journey. Her mind precise for the journey. Her soul enflamed for the journey. Journeyed to the arms of Elizabeth.

In the warmth of those arms, she knew. Ancient pathways op’ning before her, she knew. Words of her people streamed from her mouth, she knew.

Knew that her God lived within her.

These are the inspired words found in Luke’s account of the annunciation and interpreted in poetic form by Ann Johnson in “MIRYAM OF NAZARETH”. We as a community respond: Glory and praise to the Holy One



Psalm 149 Praise The Beloved (Mary M)

Sing a joy-filled song praising the Blessed One among the people!

Be glad in the Creator, rejoice in Love Divine!

Res: Praise the Beloved

Praise the Divine Lover with dancing, with melodies and voice!

For the Beloved dwells within, journeying with us through all our lives. Leading us in truth and love.

Res: Praise the Beloved

The humble are adorned with honor; the faithful exult in glory, singing for You with thankful hearts!

Res: Praise the Beloved

With truth on our tongues, with gratitude as our friend, we are in harmony with the universe as we hold hands with all the people.

Res: Praise the Beloved

The chains of oppression are broken, the fetters of injustice unbound.

The realm of Peace and Love shall reign! Glory abides with those who are faith-filled. Res: Praise the Beloved

All people on earth welcome Love’s Companioning Presence who abides in your hearts! Res: Praise the Beloved



Second Reading (Jack M)

It seems that the moment of breakthrough for Mary was also the beginning of the breakthrough of salvation for all creation….. a moment came at which a unique demand was made on her…. Her response was a self-giving so total that she was, as it were, subsumed in that giving. It was herself. But the event we are talking about is the conception of a baby, which is above all a bodily event…..Mary, mother of the Word, had much to learn, later. She made mistakes, she did not understand, she suffered. But from that time her being, her very body, was the Being of the One to whom she had assented.

These are inspired words written by Rosemary Haughton in “The Passionate God” We respond: Amen


Spirt of the Living God


https://youtu.be/R3967aJi6UU





Third Reading( Mary M)

Oh, If you could feel in some way the quality and intensity of that fire sent from heaven, the refreshing coolness that accompanied it, the consolation it imparted; if you could realize the great exultation of the Virgin Mother, the ennobling of the human race, the condescension of the divine mystery; If you could hear the Virgin singing with joy…… If you could see the sweet embrace of the Virgin and the woman who had been sterile and hear the greeting in which the tiny servant recognized his Lord…. Then I am sure you would sing in sweet tones with the Blessed Virgin that sacred hymn: My soul(proclaims your greatness, O my God,) and with the tiny prophet you would exalt, rejoice and adore the marvelous virginal conception.

These are inspired words of Bonaventure found in The Tree of Life.

We respond: Amen



Spirt of the Living God


https://youtu.be/R3967aJi6UU




Homily Starter: Janet Blakeley


Having grown up in a free-thinking family, in which every one of the many adults heldifferent beliefs about everything, Iquestioned the Catholic Church with its various dogmas, i.e., things that were supposed to be taken as uncontrovertibly true.   The felt presence of God in this church, however, was so powerful and life-giving that I had to overlook what seemed to be minor issues.   It is that God overriding everything else that will keep me Catholic forever.   

Today we consider the Annunciation, that is, the announcing by the angel Gabriel to Mary that she would give birth to the Son of God.   This event is recorded in the Gospel of Luke which scholarship attributes to approximately the year 85 of the Christian era.   Before that, it existed on scraps of papyrus fragments dating to the early or middle of the first century.    Ateaching coming from the earliest days of the church, it wasproclaimed dogma during our lifetime, in 1950.

Dogma:  That is, uncontrovertibly true.   In one way or another, you and I have made our peace with this aspect of the Church.   But we are products of our culture and our era.   In our day, being true means that all the facts add up.   In this case, the facts don’t add up for all of us, or at least not in the same way.   

Begin with angels:   I’ve never seen or heard an angel, and yet it makes sense to me that such a spiritual being exists – as a next level of being who can make God more accessible to humans.   And yet, I also believe that nothing separates us from God, and that God deals directly with me.

Mary’s response to the angel, Gabriel:   Hundreds - probably thousands - of paintings of the Annunciation have been done over time.   In these it is interesting to study Mary’s response which ranges through “expressionless” to “perplexed” to “terrified.”   This may be due to the variety of translations from the original Greek.   We might come close to the truth by praying in the Ignatian way.    We invite God to enter our imaginations to let us see, hear, feel what Mary experienced.   Today’s first reading comes as close to my understanding as anything I’ve ever felt or thought about this event, and it shows me a Mary whose life was spent seeking God everywhere, at all times, not least of all within herself.      

Mary, a virgin:   Does that matter to me?   Certainly virginity is not highly valued in our culture.   And I am earthy enough to find many human qualities that I value much more than that.   The giving of self to God by preserving one’s virginity is beautiful, but I have known such self-giving that seems to surpass traditional virginity.   I would not want to slight anyone whose response to God is specifically virginity because such a thing is highly individual and to be reverenced.   I do wonderwhat Jesus thought about virginity, but that too would seem to be in regard to the individual.   Maybe you know form your own sources what that might be.   

Jesus conceived by the Holy Spirit: I can say that every baby I have ever seen appears to have just arrived from Heaven!   All are children of God.   There is nothing more I can say about thatexcept that, for me, that would qualify as dogma.   But think about the theologies that have come from the belief that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit.   Some explain that Jesus was the only Son of God.   Others teach that he always knew this about himself, and still others that he discovered divinity within.   That last idea challenges us to do the same – and to take our places as part of the Body of Christ and part of the Trinity.   Would that not be union with God? 

Today we have sought to understand this short paragraph in Scripture by opening our intellects to possibilities.   We have done so with trust and faith in the Author of it all, and we are not afraid.   Like Mary, we really want to know “but how?”

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                               


Community Reflections

Profession of Faith (Jack M and All) We believe in a God of extravagant love who dwells with us, rejoices with us in our blessed selves and supports us in our struggles, losses and sufferings.

We believe in that God who is the Creator of an unfinished world in an ever-evolving cosmos and whose divinity infuses all that is in it and makes everything in the universe sacred. We believe in Jesus, the Christ, who is our love, our hope, our peace and our light. Through His incarnation, we are a new people, called beyond the consequences of our brokenness. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Breath of Wisdom who keeps the Christ-vision present to all those persons who are searching for meaning and wholeness in their lives. She heals and energizes us when we grow weary on our journeys. She is our rest on our Walk on the Earth. We believe that God’s kindom is here with us now and will always be there for those who have eyes to recognize it, minds to understand it, and hearts and hands to make it known to their brothers and sisters wherever they may be.

And, in all this, we surely believe in a world of peace and justice for everyone, everywhere, with no exceptions.



Prayers of the Community

(Mary M): We are a people of faith. We believe in the power of prayer. We are mindful of God’s unconditional love and care for each one of us. And so, we bring the needs of the people to our merciful and gracious Creator.

After each intercession please respond: R- Holy One, hear our prayers.

Mary is blessed among women with the joy all ages have awaited; through her intercession free all women who are in bondage and who lead lives less than human. R: Holy One, hear our prayer

Mary chose freely to become the mother of the Savior; grant to all people the freedom to choose their way of life.

R: Holy One, hear our prayer.

Mary rejoiced at the mystery of her motherhood; grant your grace and guidance to mothers who do not want their children.

R: Holy One, hear our prayer.

Mary went in haste to support and to share the mystery of new life with her cousin Elizabeth; teach us how to share with others, the fruit of your Spirit in our lives. R: Holy One, hear our prayer.

We pray for the people of Ukraine, Russia and all war torn countries that they may live in peace without fear of invasion and that goodness and sanity will fill the hearts and minds of those that would cause them harm.

R: Holy One, hear our prayer.

We pray for our MMOJ intentions on our community prayer list. (Joan shares)

R: Holy One, hear our prayer.

For what else shall we prey?..........

R: Holy One, hear our prayer

God of Mystery, hear our prayers, those spoken and those presented to you in the silence of our hearts. God of Love, send your Spirit into our hearts with gifts of wisdom and peace, fortitude and charity. We long to love and serve you. Faithful God, make us faithful. This we ask through the intercession of all your saints. Amen



Offertory Procession

(Elena) Let us listen as Joe Wise helps us to bring ourselves, just the way we are, to the celebration of Eucharist.

Song: 🎶 “Here is My Life” by Joe Wise


https://youtu.be/Ao5VnopCP-Y




Liturgy of the Eucharist

(Jack M): O Holy One, you have been called by many names by many people in the centuries of our planet’s life. Yet, no name truly defines you or describes you. We celebrate you as the marvelous, loving energy of life who caused us and our world to be. We celebrate you as the Source of light and life and love, and we celebrate your presence and all-ways care.



(Mary M): Please join in praying the Eucharistic prayer together: (Eucharistic prayer taken from the work of Diarmuid O’Murchu and Jay Murnane, adapted)



Mary M and All: O Holy One, we stand at a critical moment in Earth’s history – a time when humanity must choose its future.

As the world becomes increasingly interdependent and fragile, the future holds both peril and great promise.

May we recognize that, in the midst of a magnificent diversity of cultures and life forms, we are one human family and one Earth and world community with a common destiny.


United with our vast universe, with our Mother-Planet and her people everywhere, with one another and You, Holy One, our spirits dance and sing this song of praise:


Song: Holy, Holy, Holy (Karen Drucker, played by Linda Lee Miller)


https://youtu.be/orKBBIj5LZA




(Jack and All): We give grateful thanks for those who came before us, for all those who gave from their hearts, who gave from their lives, that there might be a better world, a safer world, a kinder world, we pray for peace in their name.

And for the children, that they may live, that they may have children of their own and that it will go on - this great blossoming that is meant to go on and on – we pray for peace, in their name.

And for all peoples of this earth who have no voice in this,

For the animals that have no voice in this,

For the plants, the trees, the flowers that have no voice in this,

For all who share this earth with us, we pray for peace in their name.


We thank you for our brother, Jesus. He showed us so simply, so tenderly, how the world is in our hands. He had nothing in this world but your love, companions on the journey, and his very self. Together, that was more than enough, and that remains our clarity in the midst of confusion: the miracle of healing, new hope, nurturance, nourishment, liberation and life.


(Please extend your hands in blessing)


(Janet and All): Your Spirit is upon the gifts of this Eucharistic table, bread of the grain and wine of the grape, and they are 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 and for the sake of living fully, Jesus sat at the Seder supper with his companions and friends. He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory clearly within them, he bent down and washed their feet.

All lift bread and pray the following:

When he returned to his place at the table, he lifted the Passover bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread and offered it to them saying:

Take and eat; this is my very self.

(pause)

All lift the cup and pray the following:

Elena and All: He then raised high the cup of blessing, spoke the grace, and offered them the wine saying:

Take and drink of the covenant made new again through my life,

for you and for everyone, for liberation from every oppression.

Whenever you do this, Re-member me and all that I have taught you!

(pause)


The Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead showed us, by Her action, that life is eternal and that love is immortal. Loving Source of All, we have looked for others to save us and to save our world. Yet, we are called, and consecrated and sent into the world to establish justice and show the blessed fulfillment that comes with simplicity and the giving of ourselves in love. We will make new our commitment to the harmony of the original vision of creation.

We will open up wide all that has been closed about us, and our small circles. Like Jesus, in all openness, we will be filled with your own Spirit and renew the face of the earth.

For it is through learning to live as he lived,

And why he lived,

And for whom he lived,

That we awaken to your Spirit within,

Moving us to worship you truly,

O Holy One,

At this time and all time and in all ways.

And we say yes to You!


Great Amen: Linda Lee Miller

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy76fpfkNsg






The Abba Prayer

(Janet and All))

Gracious Spirit,
Who loves us like a mother,
Whose realm is blooming among us now.
And within.
We pray that your compassion guide us in every action.
Give us what we need for each day,
and help us to be satisfied with the miracle of that alone.
Forgiver, whose embrace brings us to wholeness without our asking,
May we reconcile ourselves to one another in humility.
And may we cancel the crushing debts that imprison our neighbors
So that communities of joy and health may flourish.
May we neither profit from nor ignore evil.
But ever work to thwart it with non-violence
As we co-create the realm of peace in this world.
Now and each day.
Amen. (Bret Hesla/wsj)






(Jack and All)

PRAYER FOR THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD

~O God of Courage, You call us to live the Gospel of peace and justice. We will live justly

~ O God of Compassion, You call us to be your presence in the world. We will love tenderly.

~ O God of Truth, You call us to speak truth to power. We will walk with integrity in your presence.


(Elena and All): 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.


(Elena) **Please share Eucharist with the words “You are the Body of Christ”, “You are the Face of God”.



COMMUNION


https://youtu.be/JAFMMITXTmI


Annunciation and Canticle of Mary




Pause




Final Prayer. (Janet) : Bountiful God, we are filled with wonder and gratitude as we strive to realize our calling to tell the message of the gospel with our lives. Let the promises of Christ give us the freedom to leave behind all that hinders the coming of your realm on earth. Give us the courage and peace of heart that comes from confidence in your care. Dispel the darkness of our lives with healing truth; make us ready for the new wine of the future. We ask this of You, God of time and eternity. Amen




PRAYERS OF GRATITUDE, INTRODUCTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS




Final Blessing

(Elena and All) (Everyone please extend your hands in mutual blessing.)

As we go forth from this sacred space, let us purposefully look with new eyes and hearts to recognize our call, to Spiritual growth and evolving consciousness.

Full of Christ’s peace, may we go out in haste to share the Good news of the Divine Presence dwelling within. Remember, that as the face of Christ to the world we are absolute existence and a field of infinite possibilities. Let our service continue with a Happy song of the soul.

Amen! Thanks be to God! Let it be so!




Closing Hymn: A modern day song of joy that echoes the Joy expressed in the Canticle song by Mary. With Mary let us sing our out joy!




Song of the Soul by Chris Williamson




https://youtu.be/W-7yjMLNops




If you want to add an intercession to our MMOJ Community Prayer book, please send an email to jmeehan515@aol.com

If you want to invite someone to attend our liturgy, please refer them to the day’s liturgy 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







Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Basilica of Saint Peter , March 25, 2022, Holy Mother lead us now on the paths of peace.

Holy Mother of Ukraine-
Artist- Mary Ann Matthys ARCWP
 

O Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, in this time of trial we turn to you. As our Mother, you love us and know us: no concern of our hearts is hidden from you. Mother of mercy, how often we have experienced your watchful care and your peaceful presence! You never cease to guide us to Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Yet we have strayed from that path of peace. We have forgotten the lesson learned from the tragedies of the last century, the sacrifice of the millions who fell in two world wars. We have disregarded the commitments we made as a community of nations. We have betrayed peoples’ dreams of peace and the hopes of the young. We grew sick with greed, we thought only of our own nations and their interests, we grew indifferent and caught up in our selfish needs and concerns.


 We lost sight of our true God, satisfied with our illusions, we’ve gradually grown arrogant and aggressive, and used false equations of holiness to justify our unjustifiable actions.  We’ve suppressed innocent lives and stockpiled weapons. 


We stopped being our neighbor’s keepers and stewards of our common home. We have ravaged the garden of the earth with war and by our sins we have broken the heart of our Heavenly Father, who desires us to be brothers and sisters. We grew indifferent to everyone and everything except ourselves. Now with shame we cry out: Forgive us, God!


Holy Mother, amid the misery of our sinfulness, amid our struggles and weaknesses, amid the mystery of iniquity that is evil and war, you remind us that God never abandons us, but continues to look upon us with love, ever ready to forgive us and raise us up to new life. God has given you to us and made your Immaculate Heart a refuge for the Church and for all humanity. By God’s gracious will, you are ever with us; even in the most troubled moments of our history, you are there to guide us with tender love.


At this dark hour, help us and grant us your comfort. 


We now turn to you and knock at the door of your heart. We are your beloved children. In every age you make yourself known to us, calling us to conversion. At this dark hour, help us and grant us your comfort. Say to us once more: “Am I not here, I who am your Mother?” You are able to untie the knots of our hearts and of our times. In you we place our trust. We are confident that, especially in moments of trial, you will not be deaf to our supplication and will come to our aid.


That is what you did at Cana in Galilee, when you interceded with Jesus and he worked the first of his signs. To preserve the joy of the wedding feast, you said to him: “They have no wine” (Jn 2:3). Now, O Mother, repeat those words and that prayer, for in our own day we have run out of the wine of hope, joy has fled, compassion has faded. We have forgotten our humanity and squandered the gift of peace. We opened our hearts to violence and destructiveness. How greatly we need your maternal help!


Therefore, O Mother, hear our prayer.


Star of the Sea, do not let us be shipwrecked in the tempest of war.


Ark of the New Covenant, inspire projects and paths of reconciliation.


Queen of Heaven, restore God’s peace to the world.


Eliminate hatred and the thirst for revenge, and teach us forgiveness.


Free us from war, protect our world from the menace of nuclear weapons.


Queen of the Rosary, make us realize our need to pray and to love.


Queen of the Human Family, show people the path of solidarity.


Queen of Peace, obtain peace for our world.


Queen of Heaven, may your spirit rejoin our Father image so that two become one; Ensuring that we cannot separate your caring heart from our fallible understanding of God.


May the tears you shed for us make this valley parched by our hatred blossom anew.


O Mother, may your sorrowful plea stir our hardened hearts. May the tears you shed for us make this valley parched by our hatred blossom anew. Amid the thunder of weapons, may your prayer turn our thoughts to peace. May your maternal touch soothe those who suffer and flee from the rain of bombs. May your motherly embrace comfort those forced to leave their homes and their native land. May your Sorrowful Heart move us to compassion and inspire us to open our doors and to care for our brothers and sisters who are injured and cast aside.


Holy Mother of God, as you stood beneath the cross, Jesus, seeing the disciple at your side, said: “Behold your son” (Jn 19:26). In this way he entrusted each of us to you. To the disciple, and to each of us, he said: “Behold, your Mother” (v. 27). Mother Mary, we now desire to welcome you into our lives and our history. At this hour, a weary and distraught humanity stands with you beneath the cross, needing to entrust itself to you and, through you, to consecrate itself to Christ. The people of Ukraine and Russia, who venerate you with great love, now turn to you, even as your heart beats with compassion for them and for all those peoples decimated by war, hunger, injustice and poverty.


Therefore, Mother of God and our Mother, to your Immaculate Heart we solemnly entrust and consecrate ourselves, the Church and all humanity.  


We consecrate Russia to you as Russia, in this moment, needs your understanding eyes to shine upon her.  This could be any nation at any moment when a nation feels so angry that violence seems to be the only response left.  Scoop beautiful Russia up and tell her she matters too but she must stop hitting her sister.  We will work all of this out together.  We consecrate Ukraine to you as Ukraine in this moment, also needs your understanding eyes to shine upon her.  This nation too could be anyone of us who may or may not have, who knowingly or unknowingly,  acted in a way to antagonize another. Accept these acts of consecration that we carry out with confidence and love. Grant that this war and all wars may end and peace spread throughout the world. 


The “Fiat” that arose from your heart opened the doors of history to the Prince of Peace. We trust that, through your heart, peace will dawn once more. To you we consecrate the future of the whole human family, the needs and expectations of every people, the anxieties and hopes of the world.


Through your intercession, may God’s mercy be poured out on the earth and the gentle rhythm of peace return to mark our days. Our Lady of the “Fiat,” on whom the Holy Spirit descended, restore among us the harmony that comes from God. May you, our “living fountain of hope,” water the dryness of our hearts. In your heart Jesus was first known, in your womb Jesus took flesh; help us to foster the growth of communion. You once trod the streets of our world; lead us now on the paths of peace. Amen.


(The prayers in italics are additions written by Jill Striebinger, ARCWP)


Friday, March 25, 2022

Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests A Renewal Movement Within the Roman Catholic Church World Day of Prayer for Women’s Ordination , March 25 2022; 7:30 EDT; Zoom Liturgy: Feast of the Annunciation

The seven bold women who were ordained on the Danube River were from right to left:
Iris Müller, Ida Raming, Pia Bruner, Dagmar Celeste, Adelinde Roitlinger,
Gisela Forster and Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89230060268?pwd=aFIrRDBieDBMWnZpUTlvZUN2YUVudz09

Meeting ID: 892 3006 0268
Passcode: 637601

Katy: We welcome you on this World Day of Prayer honoring Women’s Ordination in the Roman Catholic Church. Today we join in community and worship on the Feast of the Annunciation.  Like Mary, we prophetically proclaim “YES” to our priesthood and remind ourselves and others to speak out for equality in our Church and world.   We gather with those who serve the People of God in other ministries and we thank you for joining us in this liturgy. Please gather bread, wine or juice for our communion.

We invite you to participate in our liturgy; to sing and pray along wherever you see ALL while remaining muted. All present will be muted during the liturgy except the liturgists and readers. This evening we celebrate the Good News of Mary’s pregnancy with Sophia’s Light of the Word and World. May we minister with the People of God, the Beloved Community, carrying within us the call to justice and equality for all of God’s People and Creation.  Welcome to our liturgy as we celebrate our “YES” to the call to ministry from Holy Mystery Sophia!                           

Opening Song:  All Are Welcome, Marty Haugen


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvitK3H4eJY

Mary Theresa: Let us begin in the name of Holy Mystery who creates life, in the name of Jesus who loves life and is our Way and in the name of Spirit Sophia who is the Fire of Life. Beloved Brother Jesus, inspire us with creativity as we minister for the equality of women and men in the Roman Catholic Church, for justice and peace on earth, for the waters and the skies and all life on your planet earth; as we gather in the name of our Universal Christ who is Peace.  All: Amen

A Litany of Belonging (Reconciliation and of Hope) (Adapted from Center for Contemplation, Corpus Spring issue 2022)

Diane: We invite you to feel truly welcomed—all parts of you, especially those that culture or church have denigrated. We want you to know that you belong:

Our response to each is All: I belong

People on all parts of the continuum of gender identity and expression, including those who are gay, bisexual, heterosexual, transgender, cisgender, queer folks, the sexually active, the celibate, and everyone for whom these labels don’t apply. All: I belong 

People of African descent, of Asian descent, of European descent, of First Nations descent in this land and abroad, and people of mixed and multiple descents and of all the languages spoken here. All: I belong

Bodies with all abilities and challenges. Those living with any chronic medical condition, visible or invisible, mental or physical. All: I belong

People who identify as activists and those who don’t.  Mystics, believers, seekers of all kinds. People of all ages.  Those who support you to be here. All: I belong

Karen: Your emotions: joy, fear, grief, contentment, disappointment, surprise, and all else that flows through you. All: I belong

Your families, genetic and otherwise.  Those dear to us who have died. Our ancestors and future ones. The ancestors who lived in this land, in this place, where these buildings are now… we honor you through this (ministry) that we are undertaking. All: I belong

People who feel broken, lost, struggling; who suffer from self-doubt and self-judgment. All: I belong

All beings that inhabit this earth: the two-legged, winged and finned, those that walk, fly and crawl, above the ground and below, in air and water. All: I belong

Sign of Peace

Katy: Let us share the Peace of Christ with one another now.  Let us share a gesture of peace around the ZOOM room. (For example, the peace sign or hands over heart, namaste bow...) 

Opening Prayer

Bridget Mary and All: 

           Mary, Blessed Mother of Jesus,

     Who manifests God’s warm mothering love,

     Embrace us this day with the strength, peace, and healing we need

     To be the presence of the Holy One in our world.    

      May we be prophetic voices for those 

     Who suffer from poverty, hunger, discrimination and war

     Assuring them that they are God’s beloved people.

     May we work for justice in our neighborhoods and around the globe.    

     Be with us as we challenge the Powers of Patriarchy, Misogyny, Violence and Empire. 

                    (Adapted From Praying with Celtic Holy Women by Bridget Mary Meehan and Regina Madonna Oliver.)


Bridget Mary and All: Yes, may this prayer and our actions be our ministry 

                                                                                                               

Gospel Acclamation Alleluia-Sung by Ann Harrington Sing along while muted


Juanita: A Reading from the holy gospel according to Luke...and Dena O’Callaghan ARCWP (ordained Feb 6 2010, written for the 12 anniversary of her ordination)

It was a clear, sunny day as Jesus walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee.  He entered the house of Simon Peter and spoke to his mother-in-law whom He had just healed.  "Come with Me" and preach the good news in other towns, for you have been brought to new life for the sake of the Reign of God. 

Soon afterward He came to a town called Naim and there he saw a distraught widow who wept over her dead son.  After Jesus raised the man to life again, He said to the widow, “Come with Me to show compassion and healing to all those who mourn. 

A Pharisee in the crowd invited Jesus to dine at his house.  While there, a woman, known to be a sinner, knelt at His feet, weeping and kissing him.  She anointed him with oil and Jesus said to her, “Come with Me" to preach the good news of forgiveness to all sinners.  Your faith has been your salvation.

Wanda: Continuing his journey, Jesus called other women in the crowd who assisted Him out of their means.  "Come with Me" Mary Magdalene of Cana, and you Joanna, wife of Herod's steward and you, Susanna.  Show the world that women are called to be my disciples. 

As Jesus continued on the way, a woman suffering from a hemorrhage touched the tassel of his cloak.  Jesus bent over, lifted her up and said, "Come with Me" Be at my side to show how faith in me can cure you. Be at peace, my daughter. 

The following day, as the crowd me them, a woman cried out, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, my only child.  An evil spirit took hold of him."  Jesus rebuked the spirit and said to the mother, "Come with Me" to preach the gospel of healing and good spirit. 

Jesus then entered the village of his friends, Martha and Mary.  They welcomed Him for respite and a meal.  Jesus said to them, "Come with Me" Mary.  You are to preach the Word of God. 

And "Come with Me" Martha, you are to preside at the table of my Body and Blood. 

While he was saying this a woman in the crowd called out, "Blest is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you."  Jesus said, "Come with Me".  Proclaim your womanly message to the world so all will believe. 

Janice: Later, on a sabbath day Jesus was teaching in the synagogue.  There was a woman there who had been possessed by a spirit who kept her bent over.  Jesus laid his hands on her.  She immediately stood up straight and began thanking God.  Jesus said to her, "Come with Me." Teach others to be thankful for all God's blessings and acts of loving embrace. 

Finally, Jesus told the crowd a Parable of the Prodigal Family. 

"A married couple had two children, a girl and a boy.  One of them strayed, 



It doesn't matter which one. Both are children of God.

Both are created in the image and likeness of God.

Both are called to preach God's Word.

Both are called to change their ways...

and to change the bread and wine into the

Body and Blood of Christ...



Mary Theresa: Jesus continues his journey of Call in our age. 

Our Loving God, in Jesus' name and in the Holy Spirit, 

has called women and men to priestly ministry and ordination 

We give thanks and ask for all who hear Sophia’s call in their hearts to say YES to Holy Mystery and became priest-partners... 

...proclaiming God's Word 

...presiding at God's Table 

...forgiving sins 

...anointing the sick and dying 

...burying the dead. 

This is the call of life’s purpose and mission for each and all of us.

Mary Theresa & All:  Let us continue to listen to the call from Sophia-Holy Spirit for our lives. May we support each other in our calls to diverse ministries with the People of God.

Shared Reflection on the Reading, Prayers and Our Call

Ann Harrington: Shared homily: Zoom Rooms (time allotted, number in each room, keep an eye on time, so everyone can share from their story)

Our focus will be to share from our experience; our call to ministry whether it be ordination in the RCC or with the People of God in your unique call. When did you first have your sense of a call?  How did you discern your call? How does your call continue in your life?  In your heart and in your environment/ministry?

The Prayers of the People of God

Katy: Please take a couple of minutes now and enter your prayer, typing it into chat.  It will be read aloud for the gathered community (“Thursday Morning Sunrise” by Tim Janis)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y0nS-RrolI

Kathie OUR RESPONSE IS: “SPIRIT-SOPHIA FILL US AND GUIDE US…                                  

Kathie:  Sophia Wisdom, women are being ordained and living out their priesthood today. We celebrate Eucharist in a Community of Equals. We promote the Common Good with Nonviolence on Holy Mother Earth in solidarity with the poor and oppressed. Let us pray, Kathie & All: Spirit-Sophia fill us and guide us.

Kathie: We pray for the equality and ordination of women and married men in the Roman Catholic Church without delay. All: Spirit-Sophia fill us and guide us.

We pray for the end of the war in Ukraine, may we do all we can to non-violently to stop this war, all wars, and alleviate suffering and death. All: Spirit-Sophia fill us and guide us.

For what else shall we pray…Kathie reads from chat…

Kathie: We offer these prayers of our hearts and desire to call forth for each of us your evolutionary spiritual growth into the Compassion and Love who is Christ for all we minister with and for all the peoples of the world All: Amen

Eucharistic Prayer

Kathryn: Nurturing One, we eat this meal together, proclaiming the liberating power of Christ’s Spirit-Sophia. All women who ask for ordination have been diminished and wounded. May we learn to heal and release those who are oppressed in any way. As we are nourished by sharing this food, may we learn to live in right- relationship with each other and all of creation. 

Kathryn & All:  May it be so. 

Kathryn: Loving God, it is not easy being human. We struggle in caring for each other, ourselves and Holy Mother Earth. We make mistakes. We understand, however, that structures of domination can be obstacles that get in our way. In these gifts of bread and wine we offer our understanding that we are ONE in your Holy Mystery across the Earth. All are beloved daughters and sons of Holy Mystery. 

Preparation for our Eucharist: “Companions on the Journey” by Carey Landry


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfYZCQXFm0Q&t=31s

Diane: Grateful for the gift of Mary’s “Yes” that gave direction to the path of our lives, we recognize that as Mother to Jesus, Mary taught him to be wary of violent persons and structures. She taught him how to bring the mighty down from their thrones through the power of justice-naming and nonviolence. She taught Jesus her son to lift up the poor and oppressed. She was his first teacher.

Diane & ALL: May Mary, our Mother and Sister, teach us to do the same.

Karen: Before Jesus faced the forces of religious and political Empire, he called the Beloved Community together around the table: Mary Magdalene, his Mother Mary, Martha and Mary and other women Apostles were with him. The women stayed steadfast throughout Jesus’ torture and death. Some of the men were to slip away from danger. 

 (All lift the bread and hold hand up to bless)

Karen & All: During the meal Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to them saying, “Take this all of you and eat.  This bread is you; this bread is me. We are one body, called to share in the presence of God in the world.  Do this in remembrance of me. May it inspire all to nonviolence and just action.” 

(All lift the cup and hold hand up to bless)

Janice & All: In the same way Jesus took the cup of wine saying, “Take this all of you and drink. This wine is you; this wine is me. We are one blood, called to share in the presence of God in the world. When you do this, remember me and all that I’ve taught you. This is the new and everlasting covenant.”

Kathie R: May we live as prophetic witnesses of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We desire to be open, sharing your Gospel with horizons as wide as the universe. We want to live as Jesus did.

Janice & All: We pray all of this in the name of Holy Mystery who creates Life, in the name of Jesus who loves life and in the name of Spirit Sophia who is the Fire of Life. Amen!

Wanda & All: Holy Sophia who raised Jesus from the dead showed us, by Her action, that life is eternal and that love is immortal. 

Loving Source of All, we have looked for others to save us and to save our world. 

Yet, we are called, and consecrated and sent into the world to establish justice and show the blessed fulfillment that comes with simplicity and the giving of ourselves in love.  

We will make new our commitment to the harmony of the original vision of creation. 

We will open up wide all that has been closed about us, and our small circles.

 

Bridget Mary & All: Like Jesus, in all openness, we will be filled with your own Spirit and renew the face of the earth.

For it is through learning to live as Jesus lived, and why he lived, and for whom he lived,

That we awaken to your Spirit within, moving us to worship you truly, O Holy One,

At this time and all time and in all ways. and we say yes to You! 


Prayer of Jesus

Juanita: Let us pray together as Jesus taught us 

Juanita & All: “Our Mother, Our Father who is in heaven and within us, we call upon your names.

Your wisdom come Your fertile will be done, in all the spaces in which You dwell.

Give us each day sustenance and perseverance.

Remind us of our limits as we give grace to the limits of others.

Separate us from the temptation of empire, but deliver us into community.

For you are the dwelling place within us, the empowerment around us

and the celebration among us now and forever.”                          (A Womanist Prayer from Juicy Ecumenism)    

                 

Katy & ALL: We share this bread and cup to proclaim and live out the gospel of justice and peace. We choose to live justly, love tenderly, and walk with integrity. 

 (All lift bread and cup) All: This is Jesus, whose life and Spirit teaches us how to liberate, heal, and be transformed ourselves; then heal and transform our world.  All are invited to partake in this community meal. 

Katy & ALL:  We are the Body of Christ. (All consume their bread and wine) 

Communion Song   Irish Blessing (reflective meditation) by Bill Leslie


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaLQuVNrh2Q

Expressions of Gratitude from Your Ministry with the People of God

Katy: We invite you to share gratitude arising from your personal experiences of your ministry. 

Community Blessing

Katy: Let us rejoice in our celebration of Women’s Ordination! May our remembering Mary’s YES, Ludmilla’s YES, the Danube Seven’s YES, nourish and enrich Sophia’s Beloved Community. 

(Together with our arms extended to one another we offer this blessing)


Wanda & All: May our lives radiate the love of the Holy One.

May we live justice and equality in our church and our world.

May we be humble enough to be like children in receiving the kindom of our Creator, Mother and Father to all.   

May we demonstrate through our words and actions that we are all God has called us to be. 

May we walk the path of Jesus as the first women apostles did; singing, dancing, smiling, loving. 

May the light of love be with you every day.  

May we be a blessing in our time and the Face of God to all whom we meet. 


Wanda & All:  Let us now go forth energized with the People of God; transforming love into action.

Katy: On behalf of the Justice and Peace Support Circle of ARCWP and RCWP-USA, we wish to thank all of you for joining in our celebration of Women’s Ordination and priesthood. We invite you to join our Justice and Peace Support Circle, offer ideas for study or action. Please contact anyone in the JPSC. Let us join together following our call to ministry. Please join us in singing The Summons as our call to ministry continues. 

Closing Song The Summons


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0aAkOe87mo



The co-writers of today’s liturgy are from The Justice and Peace Support Circle of ARCWP: Janice Sevre-Duszynska, Karen Kerrigan, Katy Zatsick, Ann Harrington Diane Dougherty, Shelley Gilchrist, and Rita Lucey. (2021) writings for 2022 were also taken from Kathryn Shea ARCWP-To remember Mindy Simmons liturgy. From Liturgy to celebrate 12th anniversary of their ordination-Dena O’Callaghan, Katy Zatsick. 

(Gratefully, ARCWP & RCWP-USA acknowledges, The Women’s Ordination Conference who established this celebration in 1994 as a public witness and call for Reform in the Roman Catholic Church to ordain women as deacons, priests, and bishops. We gratefully, celebrate today’s liturgy knowing that ordained women, deacons and bishops are already here!)

From WOC this year’s prayer, received March 22 2022.

Loving Creator, you call forth the gifts of the natural world in their wondrous, startling diversity.

You call forth the gifts of all genders to serve as priests to your people.

For too long, we have allowed the sin of patriarchy to wreak havoc on Your creation and Your people.

And witnessed the harm of systems that name creation as lesser than people

And some people as lesser than others.

Jesus, born through the empowered yes of Mary, give us the courage born of love to reject anything

That denies God’s caress in all creation and God’s image in every person.

Holy Spirit, you empower women with Your fierce creativity To save our church To save our earth.

May we boldly recognize and ordain their leadership and their priesthood.

As co-creators with You, we pray.

Amen.