Bridget Mary's Blog: 10/13/24

Risen Christ and Mary Magdalene by artist Mary Jane Miller,
https://www.millericons.com/
permission by Luis Gutierrez
https://sanmiguelicons.com/

Bonjourno, Buenas Tardes, Bonjour!

Warm Greetings to you as we gather to celebrate the historic ordination in Rome of three women priests: Belen Repiso Carrillo from Spain, Anne Malloy La Tour and Mary Katherine Daniels from the United States and three deacons Loan Rocher from France, Maria Teresa Ribeiro Rosa and Txus Garcia Pascual from Spain.

We are members of the International Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests.

We have come to Rome to ordain deacons and priests to foster gender equality in ordained ministry in a Church for everyone.

We have come to Rome to share the good news that Catholic women and all genders are now serving as deacons and priests in inclusive communities of equals that are widening the Church’s tent around the world.

We have come to Rome to engage in a “conversation in the Spirit” with Pope Francis and the Synodal delegates. We ask that Pope Francis removes all barriers that excommunicate those who answer the Spirit’s call to ordination.

On April 24, Pope Francis rejected the possibility of ordaining women deacons in an interview with CBS’ on “60 Minutes”. When asked if a little girl could ever have the opportunity to be a deacon. He said “no”, and offered this response.

“If it is deacons with Holy Orders, no. But women have always had, I would say, the function of deaconesses without being deacons, right? Women are of great service as women, not as ministers, as ministers in this regard, within the Holy Orders.”

At a Vatican press conference on July 9, Cardinal Mario Grech announced that the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) is studying “the women’s diaconate” within the context of its in-depth study of women’s participation and leadership in the Catholic Church, with the intent of publishing a document on the subject.”

If a little girl asked me if -sometime in the future- she could become a deacon, my answer would be:

Yes, Come and See!

While the Vatican may not yet be ready, our international Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement is ready!

Belen, Anne, Mary Katherine, Loan, Maria Teresa and Txtus are ready!

The studies have been done again and again!

In April 1976 the Pontifical Biblical Commission concluded unanimously that no valid case can be made against the ordination of women from the Scripture.

In other words, stop blaming Jesus. He did not ordain anyone-male or female at the last Supper!

Scripture scholars remind us that the gospel writers stated that women- many women- followed Jesus.

According to the Gospel of Luke (8:1-3) Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Suzanna and many other women followed Jesus, ministered alongside him, and supported him with their resources. The word used to describe their activity is diakoneo – the root word for deacon. These women engaged in diakoneo- basin and towel ministry. They accompanied him from Galilee to Jerusalem -through suffering, death to new life. When the going got tough and Jesus faced death, the male disciples deserted him, but the women stayed at his side.

In all four gospels, Mary Magdalene is named as a prime witness to the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. In the Gospel of John, the Risen Christ appears first to Mary Magdalene and sends her forth as the first Apostle to proclaim the Good News of the Resurrection.

The good news is that Jesus called the first disciples -women and men- to proclaim that the reign of God embraced everyone and that all were welcome at the Table!

In the Gospel of Mary, a second century text discovered in 1896 in Egypt, Mary Magdalene shares a vision of the Savior with the male disciples. Immediately, Peter and Andrew question her authority to teach them and express doubt that Jesus loved her more than them. Another disciple, Levi reproves Peter for his quick temper and affirms Mary Magdalene as a legitimate leader to be believed and respected.

Then as it is now, the belief that women were as worthy as men to teach and lead the church stirred controversy among the male hierarchy!

This discriminatory view contradicts our fundamental baptismal equality. in Christ, “there is neither male nor female… all are one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:27-28)

The time has come to fulfill what is written in 1 Corinthians 12:13 “By their baptism in Christ, women and men receive equally of gifts of the Spirit.” The time for change is now!

Same baptism, same Spirit, same calling!

In Romans 16: 1-7, St. Paul describes Christian communities in which the gifts of women were affirmed in a variety of leadership roles. He identifies Phoebe as a “our sister” “and deacon” of the Church and sends her to deliver his letter to the Roman Christians. Commentators believe that Phoebe may have been the first interpreter of the Letter to the Romans. St. Paul also greets Junia and Andronicus as “outstanding apostles” and sends greetings to a long list of women leaders of house churches.

The ancient history of women in diaconal and priestly ministry is supported by numerous church documents and archeological sources including papal edicts and beautiful frescoes in St. Priscilla’s catacomb here in Rome. In 494, Pope Gelasius I wrote to bishops in southern Italy, complaining that “women are encouraged to serve at the sacred altars and to perform all the other tasks that are assigned only to the service of men. . . .” Another well-known example portraying women in ordained ministry in early Christianity is the mosaic of Theodo(ra) Episcopa in the Basilica of St. Praxedes, also in Rome. Inscriptions on tombstones and writings of Church Fathers demonstrate that thousands of women deacons served in communities of the Eastern, Greek-speaking part of the Church.

Roman Catholic Women Priests are walking in the footsteps of Apostle to the Apostles Mary Magdalene, Deacon Phoebe, Bishop Theodora and “many other women” who followed Jesus and who ministered in diaconal and priestly ministry in the first millennium of Christianity.

We claim our equal spiritual authority to ordain women for public ministry in apostolic succession.

As a matter of justice and faithfulness to the Gospel, I believe that the line of apostolic succession includes apostles Mary Magdalene and Junia and all the holy women who served the Church throughout history.

On June 29, 2002 seven courageous women were ordained on the Danube as Roman Catholic Women Priests by Bishop Romulo Braschi from Argentina. There is an unconfirmed story that Bishop X, a Roman Catholic bishop in apostolic succession, who was traveling to this Ordination was locked in a monastery. His car keys were taken from him and he did not make it on time.

However, on May 19, 2003, Bishop X did ordain Christine Mayr -Lumetzberger and Gisela Forster as our first Roman Catholic Women Bishops. I was ordained a bishop in 2009 and am one of the bishops who serve the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests.

On one occasion, I was one of several women bishops who met with Bishop X and celebrated a liturgy in a private home. Bishop X remains anonymous to protect his identity.

Our ordinations are valid, but, in violation of Canon Law 1024, which prohibits the ordination of women. In prophetic obedience to the Spirit we disobey an unjust law in order to change it so that gender equality in Holy Orders may become a reality now. In our international movement, there are more than 270 persons located in 14 countries who have been ordained.

Our women bishops ordain deacons, priests and bishops around the world to foster a spirituality of divine inclusivity in a new paradigm of priestly ministry in renewed communities of equals.

Roman Catholic Women Priests have been enlarging the Church’s tent by serving inclusive communities of equals in which all, including the divorced and remarried, and LGBTQ+ persons, are invited to receive and celebrate sacraments.

Women Priests preside at celebrations of Eucharist, weddings, baptisms, and anointings of the sick in their local areas including online communities without walls.

We provide a vibrant experience of community and sacraments. We foster healing to those who have experienced physical, emotional and spiritual abuse and exclusion within the Church. We offer a renewed model of priestly ministry to accompany the people of God in their journey into the fullness of God’s all-embracing love.

Rooted in Catholic social justice teaching, our movement is not only about ordaining women priests. it is about challenging oppressive patriarchal culture and fostering economic and social justice for women, children, and marginalized genders throughout the world. We believe that all justice issues are interconnected and thus, support all human rights initiatives.

Because we understand how unjust structures marginalize people on the basis of class, race, gender, sexual orientation, and mental and physical challenges, we collaborate to create alternative structures that are inclusive of all and are deeply based in the traditions of social justice within our church”. (ARCWP Constitution)

As the Second Vatican Council states: “All forms of social or cultural discrimination in basic personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color, social conditions, language or religion must be curbed or eradicated as in incompatible with God’s designs.” (Gaudium et Spes 29)

Today we are here on the Tiber in response to Spirit’s call to embody new life in the Roman Catholic Church that will heal centuries old misogyny

We are here in response to Spirit’s call to honor the sacred light that is present in all people.

We are here to serve ecclesial communities of equals that are widening the Church’s tent in a Synodal Church.

We are here in response to Spirit’s call to ordain Anne, Belen and Mary Katherine as priests and Loan, Maria Teresa and Txtus as deacons today,

Here we are! We come with the Risen Christ, Mary Magdalene and Mary, Mother of the Eucharist! We are ready!

Mary, Mother of the Eucharist

Artist Mary Jane Miller

permission by Luis Gutierrez
https://sanmiguelicons.com/

Homilía para la ordenación de Belén Repiso al diaconado

Roma 15 de octubre de 2024

Queridas hermanas, hermanos, querida Belén.

Ante todo, necesito dar las gracias, a quienes estáis aquí hoy acompañándonos, que habéis acudido a la invitación desde sitios lejanos, dejando la comodidad de vuestras casas, demostráis mucho amor y compromiso, igualmente doy las gracias a nuestra obispa Bridget Mary, a nuestra responsable de formación, Mary Theresa cuya fe y empeño fueron determinantes para llegar a reunirnos hoy. Gracias Belén porque, siguiendo la luz de la gracia que el Materno Espíritu mantiene viva en ti desde tantos años, has tenido el valor y la fuerza de llegar hasta aquí. Gracias a Dios Padre-Madre, que es quien nos convoca hoy y por quien damos este paso de ordenar a Belén diaconisa hoy, y presbítera muy pronto.

Hablo de luz porque de los textos que hemos escuchado sale un resplandor ensordecedor, nace claridad y certeza.

Cabe preguntarse, después de escuchar los nombres de Febe, diaconisa, Priscila -en cuya casa se reunía la comunidad-, María, Junia – ilustre entre los apóstoles- de dónde parte la sordera de quienes no solo no los escuchan, sino que son capaces de obviar hasta su existencia en la historia. ¿Cómo puede ser que hasta tres comisiones bíblicas no hayan podido dictaminar que hubo diaconisas y presbíteras en las comunidades de la Iglesia en tiempos tempranos? Es preciso recordar que esas comunidades se reunían en las casas de las familias recién convertidas y que en casa mandamos, todavía hoy, nosotras. ¿quién sino las mujeres partían en pan y servían el vino en las casas? Sobran pruebas.

Y sobran, lastimosamente, otras tantas pruebas de esa sordera fingida o interesada de quienes piden para sí el privilegio de los ministerios.

Permitidme que recuerde que ministerio significa servicio, significa poner el alma, la voluntad y la vida al servicio de quienes somos llamadas a cuidar. “Ellos arriesgaron su vida” dice Pablo. No eran tiempos fáciles para quienes seguían a Jesús, como tampoco lo son para nosotras hoy. Pero aquí estamos, juntas bajo este techo, en amor y compañía, puñado apretado de gente de fe y de palabra, que cumple lo prometido y comprometido.

La luz que proyecta el evangelio brota del apostolado de Magdalena, la columna de la primera Ecclesia (comunidad) porque eso significa su nombre, el pilar es ella sin quien nadie estaría aquí hoy confesando que Jesús, el Cristo, Hijo de Dios, ha resucitado. La primera testigo era una mujer, o más bien tres. Cuando algo es íntegro, perfecto y adscrito a la plenitud divina, viene simbolizado por el 3 en la Biblia. Nada es casual en nuestro Libro santo. Nosotras bebemos en la luz de esas tres mujeres que fueron apóstolas de pleno derecho, como lo fue Junia (cuyo nombre se maquilló en Junias en muchas traducciones para intentar convertirla en hombre, aún arriesgándose a crear una pareja de machos, cualquier cosa con tal de no adosar la palabra “apóstol” a un nombre femenino. Junias, como nombre no existió…Junia sí.

Vamos a necesitar toda la Luz que es Jesús, como dijo en el evangelio de Juan “Yo soy la Luz”, para ser dignas servidoras de su lámpara, para mantenerla en alta porque como dijo también, “no se hizo para esconderla”, vamos a necesitar toda esa luz para lograr que retroceda la sombra que busca ocultarnos y apagar nuestras voces desde el fondo de los siglos y los milenios. Esas sombra está hecha de soberbia, envidia, celos, egolatría, apego a los privilegios, afán de poder y dominio sobre otros, está hecha también de ignorancia y tal vez algo de idiotez y no sirve consolarnos pensando que nosotras no hemos caído y que solo el machismo clerical y endogámico se ve afectado por esa sombra. No nos dejemos llevar por ningún triunfalismo. Al entrar nosotras en las órdenes nos acechan las mismas sombras, somos humanas y hemos de ser conscientes del esfuerzo que merece el recordar a todas las horas de nuestra vida que somos enviadas (eso significa la palabra apóstol) para servir. Los atributos de nuestro maestro son una palangana y una toalla, su postura es arrodillado ante nosotros. Desde la solemnidad de estos días os lo pido, nunca olvidéis esto. Ese es nuestro modelo.

Servir significa que tenemos amo, y ese amo nos convoca a salir a anunciar la Buena Nueva sin pan ni alforjas, desnuda el alma y humildes como él. Significa que a él solo hemos de obedecer. Y, con perdón de nuestros vecinos del barrio de ahí fuera, saber lo que nos manda exige un ejercicio de escucha compasiva, acogedora y obediente ¿a quién? A nuestra comunidad, la que nos ha elegido para servirla, darle aliento, acompañarla en la oración, guiarla en las dificultades, atender en sus necesidades. Cuando no sepas para donde tirar, convoca la asamblea Belén, ella sabe lo que quiere de ti, y tantas veces será para ti la Voz de Dios, te dirá si has sabido o no acercarla al Reino. Tanto la comunidad local, la de Valladolid, como la más ampliada de tus compañeras en el ministerio. Una real sororidad y fraternidad es el fruto de un diaconado bien comprendido. Transparencia, claridad, acogida amorosa son los frutos de un buen servicio, son los signos de que el Reino está próximo, y eso es lo que Jesús nos manda a anunciar, y sanar, y expulsar a los demonios.

Para eso murió y resucitó Cristo y yo sé Belén que tú no has salido de tu casa y de tu país, como Abrahán, para fallarle. Que tu estela se llene de gente dando gracias porque los ciegos ven, las cojas andan, la gente es liberada y perdonada, y el mal es derrotado. La comunidad cuenta contigo y sabemos que podemos confiar en que nos ha salido una nueva apóstola, enviada por Dios y necesaria.

Que la luz que vio Magdalena en los ojos de su Señor resucitado guíe siempre tus pasos, hoy y en adelante, cuenta con nosotras para darte la mano.

Amén

Homily for the ordination of Belén Repiso to the diaconate

Rome 15 October 2024

Dear sisters, brothers, dear Belén.

First of all, I need to thank you, who are here today accompanying us, who have come to the invitation from far away, leaving the comfort of your homes, show much love and commitment, likewise I thank our bishop Bridget Mary, our Head of Formation, Mary Theresa whose faith and commitment were decisive in bringing us together today. Thank you, Belén, because, following the light of grace that the Motherly Spirit has kept alive in you for so many years, you have had the courage and strength to get here. I thank God, Father-Mother, who is calling us today and for whom we take this step of ordering Belén as a deaconess today, and a priest very soon.

I speak of light because from the texts we have heard comes out a deafening glow, clarity and certainty are born.

One may wonder, after hearing the names of Phoebe, deaconess, Priscilla -in whose house the community was gathered-, Mary, Junia - illustrious among the apostles- where the deafness of those who not only do not hear them, but they are able to overlook even their existence in history. How is it that up to three biblical commissions could not have ruled that there were deaconesses and elders in the communities of the Church in early times? It is necessary to remember that these communities met in the homes of newly converted families and that we still command them today. Who else did the women break bread and serve wine in the houses? There are plenty oftrials.

And there are many more, sadly, proofs of that faked or interested deafness of those who ask for the privilege of ministries.

Let me remind you that ministry means service, it means putting the soul, will and life into the service of those we are called to care for. "They risked their lives," says Paul. It was not an easy time for those who followed Jesus, as it is not easy for us today. But here we are, together under this roof, in love and companionship, a crowded handful of people of faith and word, who fulfill what is promised and committed.

The light that the gospel projects springs from the apostolate of Magdalena, the column of the first Ecclesia (community) because this means her name, the pillar is she without whom no one would be here today confessing that Jesus, the Christ, Son of God, has risen. The first witness was a woman, or rather three. When something is whole, perfect, and attached to the divine fullness, it is symbolized by three in the Bible. Nothing is casual in our holy Book. We drink in the light of those three women who were full-fledged apostles, as was Junia (whose name was made up in Junias in many translations to try to make her a man, even risking to create a male couple, anything so as not to attach the word "apostle" to a female name. Junias, as name did not exist... Junia as name exists indeed.

We will need all the Light that is Jesus, as he said in the gospel of John "I am the Light", to be worthy servants of his lamp, to keep it high because as he also said, "it was not made to hide it", we will need all that light to make the shadow that seeks to hide us recede and extinguish our voices from the bottom of the centuries and millennia. That shadow is made of pride, envy, jealousy, egocentricity, attachment to privilege, desire for power and dominion over others, is also made of ignorance and perhaps some idiocy and does not serve to console us thinking that we have not fallen and that only clerical and endogamic machismo is affected by this shadow. Let us not tbe carried away by any triumphalism. When we enter the orders, the same shadows lurk behind us, we are human, and we must be aware of the effort that it is worth remembering at every hour of our life that we are sent (that means the word apostle) to serve. The attributes of our master are a basin and a towel, his posture is kneeling before us. From the solemnity of these days, I ask you, never forget this. That is our model.

Serving means that we have a master, and this master calls us to go out to proclaim the Good News without bread or saddlebags, bare the soul and humble as him. It means that we are to obey him only. And, with the pardon of our neighbors from the neighborhood outside, knowing what we are sent to do requires an exercise in compassionate listening, welcoming and obedient to whom? To our community, which has chosen us to serve it, give it encouragement, accompany it in prayer, guide it in difficulties, attend to its needs. When you do not know where to draw, convokes the assembly Belén, she knows what it wants from you, and so many times will be for you the Voice of God, tell you if you have known or not to bring her to the Kindom.

Both the local community, that of Valladolid, and the more extended of your companions in the ministry. A real sorority and fraternity are the fruit of a well-understood diaconate. Transparency, clarity, loving welcome are the fruits of good service, they are the signs that the Kindomis near, and that is what Jesus commands us to announce, and heal, and cast out demons.

For this reason, Christ died and rose again, and I know Belén that you have not gone out of your house and country like Abraham to fail him. Let your wake be filled with people giving thanks because the blind see, the lamewalk, the people are freed and forgiven, and evil is defeated. The community counts on you, and we know that we can trust that a new apostle has come out, sent by God, and needed.

May the light that Magdalena saw in the eyes of her risen Lord always guide your steps, today and for the future, count on us to give you a hand.

Amen