REMEMBERING BISHOP PATRICIA FRESEN
By Bishop Jean Marie Marchant, RCWP
Not visible to us gathered here in this sacred space, but standing beside and behind me in spirit, are the women from the United States and Canada, Europe and South Africa and around the globe, with hearts full of gratitude for Patricia’s courageous act of prophetic obedience to God’s call in her life which empowered and enabled us to do likewise.
Initially, Patricia in her profound humility was resistant to being consecrated a bishop, until she was informed by the “canonically correct bishop” who was asking this of her, that this call was for the precise purpose of ordaining women primarily in the English speaking world to the priesthood. In saying Yes to that commitment, Trish was answer to the prayers…dreams….and deep desire of many women in the United States, Canada and beyond who were theologically, pastorally, and spiritually prepared, actively engaged in ministry in the church, and yearning to answer our call to priestly ministry.
Patricia’s first entre into this role as bishop was in March of 2005 when she ordained 2 women as deacons in the Boston area. I was blessed to be one of those women. In July of that year, Patricia along with bishops Christine Mayr Lumetzberger and Gisella Forster ordained 4 women as priests and 5 as deacons on the St. Lawrence Seaway. Andea Johnson, bishop emerita of the Eastern Region of RCWP was a guest at that ordination and recalled that she witnessed the power of Patricia Fresen to make a clear case for the benefits to the whole church of an ordained ministry that included women. Andrea shared that the press conference” felt to me like a Pentecost experience in which a clear message was received by a very diverse group of people”.
A Pentecost experience is a very apt description of the unfolding of Patricia’s ministry as bishop. For her voice has travelled far and wide, from country to country, as she spoke to people from a myriad of diverse backgrounds about the injustice of a church blind to the call of women and how the mission of the church would be enhanced if the gifts of women called were recognized and welcomed at the altar. The fruits of Trish’s ministry extends far beyond the many woman and six bishops whom she ordained, as these women continued on to minister to God’s people in establishing and pastoring inclusive communities of faith, welcoming of people from every walk of life and experience of faith, gender, or marital status. Priests are also serving as chaplains, spiritual directors, organizers and activists, and managers in non-profit organizations designed to tend to the needs of the marginalized. The bishops Trish ordained have perpetuated her ministry and have ordained other priests and bishops in North America. I am blessed to be one of those. And it seems a miracle, that after years of exile, Trish came home to South Africa and has ordained Mary, Ann, Dianne and Sarah with Uschi and MaryAnne in the wings preparing to be ordained in May. Just like that first Pentecost….Trish’s gifts and grace have reached out across the globe to bring the flames of faith to a people in need of the warmth and substance of solid, inclusive and just church.
Trish was brilliant! Her homilies, presentations, workshops and writings are testimony to this as she expanded the horizon of people’s thinking outside the margins. However, her brilliance was overshadowed by her capacity to love, to inspire, empower and affirm women as we sought to live out the outrageous and courageous call to priestly ministry in the Catholic Church.
Patricia, the world has yet to experience all that you have given to it; but even as we say farewell to you here today, we know that your labor has borne fruit which will continue to enrich and nurture the love of God ‘s people.
May you dwell in the Holy Womb of God’s Love – and enliven there your advocacy for justice in our world….for women everywhere and for women’s call to ordination to be honored, for all people who hunger for God’s word made flesh!
From Mary Theresa Streck ARCWP
Rev. Dr. Patricia Fresen was born in South Africa, studied theology inIn the Fall of 2022, Patricia presented a PCS forum: Unpacking the Aramaic Prayer of JesusWe are deeply grateful for her and her beautiful presentation. She is now one of our angels watching over us.Rome at the University of St. Thomas and the Gregoriana, and was then invited to join the faculty of the National Seminary in Pretoria. She later completed the Doctorate in Theology and after that she taught theology at the Catholic University in Johannesburg. However, as a direct result of her ordination to the priesthood in 2003, Dr. Fresen was forced to leave the Dominican Order, of which she had been a member for 45 years; and she had to vacate her position at Catholic University. She subsequently left her homeland to take up residence in Germany. In recent years, Dr. Fresen has returned to South Africa. Ordained a bishop in 2005, Dr. Fresen has ordained many women priests in Europe, Canada the USA and now South Africa. She has been a well-respected conference speaker and retreat leader in all those countries. At present, her most frequently-requested topics are on the translation of the Gospels from the original Aramaic, which was the language of Jesus. She did a course with Prof. Neil Douglas-Klotz on the Aramaic of the Gospels and she says it was life-changing.
Tribute from Bishop Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger RCWP
I was deeply saddened to hear yesterday of the passing of our sister
Patricia Fresen. I reflected on her life and the years we spent togetherand said many prayers. I want to remember with a picture when Gisela
Forster and I ordained Patricia as a catacomb priest for South Africa in
2003 during the Women's Synod in Barcelona in the sweltering summer
heat. Dina Cormick from WOSA (Women's Ordination for South Africa) was
there as a witness and supporter.
We thank Patricia for her work and her spiritual testimony. May she find
peace in the heart of God.
In Memory of Bishop Patricia Fresen, RCWP
By Andrea Johnson ARCWP
On a personal level, I, like many I imagine, am feeling deeply bereft by the loss of our dear Patricia. On a personal level, she was someone with whom I deeply resonated. It was she and her clear vision of what ordained women could mean for the church that drew me to her. I was privileged to coordinate the press conference in Gananoque, Ontario, Canada prior to the first ordinations of Roman Catholic women in North America in 2005. There, I witnessed the power of Patricia Fresen to make a clear case for the benefits to the whole church of an inclusive ordained ministry that included women. The press conference felt to me likea Pentecost experience in which a clear message was received by a very diverse group of people, including a lot of young Canadian journalists.
I decided, based on this phenomenon, to seek candidacy for ordination with RCWP. Patricia was key in my discernment process. She was my program director, and also the bishop who ordained me as deacon, a priest and a bishop. She taught me preaching, and she mentored me in uncounted ways. I was very drawn to her brand of leadership – justice-oriented, inclusive , compassioinate and accountable.
Having served for four years (1996-2000) as the National Director of the Women’s Ordination Conference, I am keenly aware of the many, many gifted women – theologians, pastoral workers, scripture scholars, seminary professors, preachers, counselors,Spiritual directors, chaplains, as well as organizers and activists – who contributed so generously to the furtherance of the movement to ordain women. All oftheir contributions were essential to moving the issue forward. It is important to acknowledge that, over the years and in the face of incredible opposition from the powers that be, there were differences of opinion about how best to move forward in order to better serve thePeope of God as women priests. Many were convinced that it was best to continue to serve as able in institutional settings, while continuing to lobby for policy change at the institutional level. Others were adamant that there was no hope for institutional change; therefore, women should simply practice their inclusive ministries apart from the institution. Themiracle that Patricia’s vision offered us was a model that was “both/and”. By ordaining women through RCWP, we claimed our place as Roman Catholics (albeit censured), and, at the same time, created a model of governance and ministry that was mutually accountable, and served marginalized people witho0ut prejudice. Patricia the visionary saw this model as open to growth – a work in progress.
All who knew her experienced Trish as a woman focused on justice and driven by compassion. She held many concerns in balance most days of her life. Whether it was family or the multiracial students in her school or women priests who needed her support. Trish was there for them. Her gift of cross-cultural expression was a true blessing in our movement which, thanks to Trish, who traveled as far as East Asia and Oceania to hear the voices of those who were hopeful for change.
It goes without saying that we who have been graced to interact with and collaborate with Patricia will all miss her immensely. The blessed good news is that she now advocates for us in a new and more powerful way.
Andrea Johnson
Bishop Emerita
RCWP-USA, Eastern Region
I have fond memories of Patricia from the beginning of our movement… her melodic voice, piercing eyes and strength of purpose. In spirit she will continue to be an influential force for equality and justice for women.
Thank you, Patricia, for your presence in our lives and the movement. You helped shape our birthing cries and got us standing tall.
Now, I’m remembering. We brought her to Lexington, Kentucky and she stayed with me
in my spacious home where I had a gathering of friends of our movement, the women in Lexington and nearby who shared our thirst for equality for women in our church and world. We had dinner with my close friend and mentor, Dr. Carmel McEnroy, Irish Sister of Mercy, who supported our movement and, who, like Patricia, paid a price for her prophetic stance in support of women priests. It was a powerful Spirit-filled gathering filled with discussion about our next steps amid the lack of support from male priests in our Church other than Roy Bourgeois.
Dear Patricia, many thanks and a hug for your
presence in our lives. We are grateful you will continue to share your Wisdom with us through Spirit.
Blessings and much love,
Janice Duszynska ARCWP
Link to Funeral Mass: https://youtube.com/
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