St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day

 

Sculpture of St. Francis at prayer in Assisi

A Contemporary Prayer for Peace

(Inspired by the Prayer of St. Francis)

Holy One of Love,

Make me a channel of your peace—

Where fear divides, let me sow trust.

Where walls rise, let me build bridges.

Where hearts are wounded, let me bring healing.

Where there is despair, awaken hope.

Where shadows linger, shine through me your light.

Where silence hides injustice, give me courage to speak truth.

O Spirit of compassion,

Help me seek not to dominate others but to respect and affirm;

Not to be overwhelmed by hatred and oppression , but to co-create a new path forward;

Not to be served, but to serve with joy.

For in giving, we receive the abundance of love.

In forgiving, we are set free.

In daring to hope, we awaken resurrection life.

May I live as a vessel of your peace—

Rooted in your Presence,

Open to your transforming grace,

A blessing to all creation.

Amen. 

Warm congratulations to Archbishop of Canterbury-designate Sarah Mullally, currently Bishop of London, on her historic appointment as the new head of the Church of England.

Warm congratulations to Archbishop of Canterbury-designate Sarah Mullally on her historic appointment as the first woman to lead the worldwide Anglican Communion. A former nurse and health administrator, Bishop Mullally has already served faithfully as bishop of one of the most prominent dioceses. She now follows 105 men in assuming a role that carries immense symbolic meaning and profound pastoral responsibility, overseeing a global fellowship of more than 85 million Anglicans in 165 countries.

Her appointment proclaims to the world that leadership in the Church need not be confined by gender. It is a powerful witness that God calls forth pastors from every background, gifting them with compassion, courage, and creativity to meet the needs of our time. When women break through centuries of exclusion to assume leadership, the whole Body of Christ breathes more freely. Each step forward expands the circle of God’s embrace.

This breakthrough in the Anglican Communion echoes what is also happening across the Catholic Church. In the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests (ARCWP) and related RCWP communities, nearly 300 women have been ordained priests and bishops since 2002. In defiance of institutional bans, they now lead over 70 inclusive communities in Europe, North and South America, and beyond. Their ministry is a prophetic witness that priesthood is rooted not in gender but in baptismal equality and the Spirit’s call.

Like Archbishop-designate Mullally, Catholic women priests are breaking the stained-glass ceiling. They preside at Eucharist around open tables, preach the Gospel with boldness, and offer compassionate pastoral care in communities hungry for inclusion. They embody the Spirit’s insistence that the leadership of the Church belongs to all God’s people.

Today we rejoice that Sarah Mullally’s appointment and the courageous witness of Catholic women priests together point toward a renewed Christianity—a Church where glass ceilings are shattered, hierarchies are transformed into shared responsibility, and the Body of Christ flourishes in its full diversity.

—

Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP 

Rev. Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP - Professional Bio

Rev. Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan is a bishop in the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests (ARCWP) and a prophetic leader in the global movement for women’s equality in the Church. She is also a certified minister in the Federation of Christian Ministries, co-founder of People’s Catholic Seminary, and Dean of the Masters in Divinity and Doctor of Ministry programs at Global Ministries University. She holds a Doctorate in Ministry from Virginia Theological Seminary and a MA from Catholic University. Bridget Mary Meehan is a Sister For Christian Community, a conference speaker, consultant in women's spirituality and inner healing prayer. Her books have been published in different languages and are available at online retailers. https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bridget-Mary-Meehan/author/B001HPS2IYref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Ordination and Leadership

• 2006 – Ordained as one of the first eight Roman Catholic Women Priests in the U.S.
• 2009 – Became one of the first four North American women ordained as bishops in Apostolic Succession.
• Since 2009 – Has presided at over 100 ordinations of women deacons and priests across the U.S. and internationally.
• 2024 – ordained 3 deacons and 3 priests at the historic “Ordination on the Tiber” in Rome, a landmark public witness for women’s ordination.
• 2025 – Celebrated with the community the episcopal ordination of Bishop Christina Moreira in Spain, a watershed moment for ARCWP in Europe.

ARCWP and the Women Priests Movement

ARCWP is part of the international Roman Catholic Women Priests movement, begun in 2002 with the ordination of seven women on the Danube River by an anonymous male bishop. The movement has now grown to approximately 300 members and 70 priest-led communities worldwide—in Europe, North and South America, and South Africa. Its mission is to embody a renewed priestly ministry rooted in justice, baptismal equality, and inclusive leadership.

Author and Speaker:

Dr. Meehan has written or co-authored around 20 books, weaving together spiritual practice, feminist theology, and justice-oriented ministry. Her work emphasizes the power of prayer, the wisdom of women in Scripture, and the call to a renewed priestly ministry for a Church of equals.

Selected Works:

• The Healing Power of Prayer: The Surprising Connection Between Prayer and Your Health – explores the intersection of prayer and healing.
• Praying with Women of the Bible – reflections on biblical women’s voices of courage and hope.
• Praying with Visionary Women – meditations on the lives of saints, mystics, and reformers.
• Living Gospel Equality Now: Loving in the Heart of God – foundational reflections on the women priests’ movement.
• Women Find a Way (co-authored with Ida Raming and Regina McGrath) – testimonies of women priests shaping inclusive ministry.
• Heart Talks with Mother God, Exploring the Feminine Facee of God, and Delighting in the Feminine Divine ( 3 books)  a creative exploration of the Feminine Divine in prayer.        

Her articles have appeared in journals such as Theological Studies, National Catholic Reporter, and Review for Religious.

Blogging and Media

Her widely read blog, Bridget Mary’s Blog, has surpassed 4 million views, amplifying the voices of women priests and chronicling milestones in the global movement. Media outlets across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America frequently cite her as a spokesperson for inclusive ministry and the renewal of Catholic priesthood.

She has 1000 videos on YouTube 

https://youtube.com/@bridgetmarymeehan?si=oKfV9kNntwXQsM1r

Theological Vision

Meehan’s theology emphasizes:

• The Feminine Divine, reclaiming inclusive symbols for God in worship.
• The Eucharist as a feast of empowerment around open tables of equality.
• The Church as a community of baptized equals rather than hierarchy.
• A theology of blessing rather than atonement, highlighting God’s love and compassion.

She often states: “If the symbol system that patriarchy has given us of a male God is changed, our worldview could be radically altered.”

Legacy and Impact

Through her leadership, writing, and public witness, Bridget Mary Meehan continues to shape a global vision of inclusive priestly ministry. She inspires communities across continents to live out the Gospel of justice and equality, embodying a prophetic hope that the Body of Christ is incomplete until all voices are welcomed at the table.

Contact: 703-505-0004

sofiabmm.bmm@gmail.com

Feast day of the Guardian Angels

 "Angel of God, my guardian dear, To whom God's love commits me here, Ever this day, be at my side, To light and guard, rule and guide. Amen"

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Is Patron Saint of Women Called to Be Priests- "I feel in me the vocation of the priest...My vocation is love " Let's Celebrate Her Feast Day Today

 

On Oct. 9, 1997  Pope John Paul ll officially proclaimed St Therese of Lisieux as  Doctor of the Church. She was the third woman in the history of the  Church to receive this honor.  Her Feast Day is October 1st.  

St. Therese felt deeply a vocation to priestly ministry. "I feel in me the vocation of the priest...My vocation is love ..My vocation is love.”

She is a role model for women priests today because the essence of priestly ministry is living love in service to God's people to bring about a new, renewed ministry of inclusivity, justice and equality. Like Therese we are called to reflect God's Passionate Love in the details of our lives everyday. It is often the small things that mean the most.

Therese's "Little Way" demonstrates that the path to God is found in hidden, unnoticed details of our lives-like making delicious peanut butter sandwiches for our children day in and day out, cutting the grass for an older neighbor, listening to a friend who has experienced a major loss in her life, loving our spouse, children and ourselves just as we are, faults and all. Can we like, Therese, live this kind of love? Can we accept that we are loved passionately by our God?

That's the bottom line of Therese's "Little Way" complete confidence in God's love. Ultimately, that's all that matters. What more do we need?" (Praying with Visionary Women, by Bridget Mary Meehan, p.163.)

Women’s Ordination Conference:
http://womensordinationcampaign.org/st-thrse-of-lisieux

" I sense in myself the vocation of Warrior, Priest, Apostle, and Martyr. In the heart of the Church, my Mother, I will be love."

—St. Thérèse of Lisieux

"Her yearning to be a priest is well documented. Her journals record it. She confided in her sister Céline about the calling. At a young age, Thérèse wrote: ‘I feel in me the vocation of PRIEST; with what love I would carry you in my hands when, at my words you would descend from Heaven.’ 6 She was convinced that she would have been a good preacher and even better than the priests she heard. On her sickbed she composed what she would say from the pulpit. 7

In testimonies from the process of her beatification there is a detailed statement from Céline. She shared that Thérèse preferred death to the continued painful endurance of living with her unfulfilled call. Thérèse believed God had let her become sick so she would not have to suffer rejection by the Church from priesthood."The sacrifice of not being able to be a priest was something she always felt deeply. During her illness, whenever we were cutting her hair she would ask for a tonsure [the practice of shaving the crown of the head that was part of the ritual of ordination until it was abandoned by papal order 9 in 1972] ... But her regret did not find its expression merely in such trifles; it was caused by a real love of God, and inspired high hopes in her. The thought that St Barbara had brought communion to St Stanislas Kostka thrilled her. 'Why must I be a virgin, and not an angel or a priest?' she said. 'Oh! what wonders we shall see in heaven! I have a feeling that those who desired to be priests on earth will be able to share in the honour of the priesthood in heaven."

Exploring God’s Boundless Love - A Video Meditation by Bridget Mar Meehan ARCWP

 Meditation begins at 2:38 minutes

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OKD1NiBCXhA&fbclid=IwVERDUANJD-RleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHi7b-krao3KuDuqzPHfNYWIXKxwuhNPt0jJjaH9-Udf3xsvGolWZ75CystLA_aem_LzqrB6OfO7ZnUf5Up6NAWQ#bottom-sheet

This video meditation was created 10 years ago and won a Telly award for my cable access TV Program that aired for 10 years in the DC , N.Virginia and Maryland areas.

Description on YouTube :Bridget Mary Meehan narrates this inspiringTelly award winning Godtalk video with powerful prayer meditations on God's love beyond all imagination.Relax, be still, encounter divine forgiveness, healing and empowerment.Listen to positive , loving affirmations that reflect one's inner wisdom and that communicate the message: "with God all things are possible."

This video meditation features beautiful nature scenes, stunning icons and images that reflect feminine and masculine images of the Holy and gentle music featuring relaxing melodies and soothing chants and mantras. Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP is a bishop serving the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests and author of 20 books on prayer, meditation and spirituality including Living Gospel Equality Now, The Healing Power of Prayer, Affirmations from the Heart of God, A Promise of Presence, Praying with Women of the Bible, Praying with Visionary Women, Praying with a Passionate Heart, Exploring the Feminine Face of God, Delighting in the Feminine Divine, Heart Talks with Mother God. Visit BridgetMarys Blogspot and the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests website: www.arcwp.org and marymotherofjesus.org

A Tale of Two Worlds: Beaten Down and Better“ by Rev. Annie Watson ARCWP, Holy Family Catholic Church, September 28, 2025

Luke 16:19-31

The story of Lazarus and the rich man asks us to imagine a better world. But first, we need to acknowledge a world that is not better, a world that is “beaten down.” Luke 16:19-31 is a parable about a world that is beaten down and needs to become better.

Jesus doesn’t have to look too far for a beaten down world. It is all around him. It greets people before they even walk out of their homes, if they have a home. 

Biblical historians tell us that approximately 90% of the peoplewere overwhelmed with poverty, hunger, and disease. Compared to that, the 10% had it made. It’s not like life wasn’t hard for them as well, as it was for everyone who lived before our modern era, but in comparison to the poor and destitute, they enjoyed a quality of life that the 90% could only imagine and envy.

Did their relative prosperity and well-being bother them at all? How could they justify their wealth in the face of such extremepoverty? Did they make their living honestly or on the backs of others? Did they swindle and steal, lie and cheat? Did they ever learn the value of generosity? Were their eyes ever opened to theplight of the poor?

These questions remain our questions even today. As our world becomes better, shouldn’t we have an awareness of those whose lives remain beaten down? As our food gets healthier, our clothing softer, and our beds more comfortable, shouldn’t there be an uneasiness in our souls?

Why wasn’t the unnamed rich man motivated to help the poor man named Lazarus in this parable? Unfortunately for the rich man, his eyes were not opened until he ended up on the wrong side of eternity. 

By the way, Jesus tells this parable not to give an account of what actually happens after death, although we would be wise to heed its warnings. Instead, he tells this parable to teach us what life should be like in the here and now. It should be a world where the poor and sick and miserable are loved unconditionally. 

But it should not be a world with such extremes. The human story should not be a tale of two worlds: one beaten down and the other one better. It should not be a story where a few get to dress in the finest of clothing, the most expensive fabrics, and the most prestigious brands.

It should not be a story where a few people get to sleep on the finest of linens, while others can’t even afford to clean theircheap dirty clothes that are nothing more than rags. It should not be a story where people develop sores from the filth that covers their bodies, and have to settle for food that is meant to be thrown away.

Our story should not include people who are so sick from hunger and disease that they can only lie down near a city gate and beg for food while they are too exhausted and weak to move as the town’s neglected and hungry dogs lick their sores, perhaps as a way to show love and compassion in the only way a dog knows how. 

This is the world Jesus sees every day.

In this story, I can also imagine the rich man to be the manager of a 5-star downtown Austin restaurant while Lazarus tries to muster up enough energy to be a dumpster diver. I can imagine that the rich man’s father owns five of these restaurants, each one run by one of the brothers. 

I can image that the brothers ignore a hundred Lazarus’s every day as the valet parks their car and they make their way into their aroma-filled restaurants. I can imagine the rich man suddenly dying of a heart attack due to excessive eating habits while, at roughly the same time, Lazarus dies from malnutrition.

Jesus doesn’t need to draw our attention to this Tale of Two Worlds—one beaten down and the other better. We see it every day. We hear about it every day. Some of us live it every day—on one side or the other. The question is: Are we going to do something about it before it’s too late. This is always Jesus’ challenge for us.

Bio: Rev. Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan

  

Rev. Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP

I am an ordained priest and bishop in the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement and a member of pastoral team serving Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community.  https://arcwp.org/

https://marymotherofjesus.net/

The Roman Catholic Women Priests initiative began in 2002 as a renewal movement within the Roman Catholic Church whose goal is to achieve full equality for women and men within the Church. A anonymous male bishop ordained the first women bishops.The purpose of Roman Catholic Women Priests is to promote the ordination of women in Apostolic Succession as a matter of justice and faithfulness to the Gospel. 

There are currently approximately 300 in the international movement and 70 women priests-led communities in Europe, Canada, the United States, South Africa and South America.

I am a certified minister in the Federation of Christian Ministries, co- founder of People’s Catholic Seminary and Dean of the Masters in Divinity and Doctor of Ministry program at Global Ministries University.

  I  have authored or co- authored over 20 books on healing prayer, spiritual practices and women’s studies.  I have focused extensively on gender equality  combining theological scholarship with activism to highlight the spiritual and social significance of inclusive leadership in a renewed priestly ministry in communities of baptized equals. 

Here are some of my key works:

Books:

1. “The Healing Power of Prayer: The Surprising Connection Between Prayer and Your Health”

• Explores the transformative and healing power of prayer, integrating scientific insights with spiritual practices.

2. “Praying with Women of the Bible”

• Highlights the stories of women in Scripture and their relevance for spiritual empowerment today.

3. “Praying with Visionary Women”

• Focuses on the lives and spiritual legacies of influential women in history, offering reflections and prayers inspired by their experiences.

4. “Living Gospel Equality Now: Loving in the Heart of God

• A foundational book for understanding the Roman Catholic Women Priests movement. It reflects on my  journey and the theological basis for gender equality in ministry.

5. “Women Find a Way”, by McGrath, Meehan and Raming

 Meet Roman Catholic Women Priests who are shaping a more inclusive, Christ-centered, Spirit- are welcome at the sacred Eucharistic table. Meet women bishops ordained in full apostolic succession who continue to carry on the work of ordaining others in the Roman Catholic Church. Meet women who are serving the People of God in many ways including house churches and faith communities.

Articles and Contributions

•I have contributed to numerous journals, including Theological Studies and National Catholic Reporter, where she discusses feminist theology, women priests’ movement, and the importance of inclusive leadership in the Church. My writings focus  on the values and mission of ARCWP and other feminist theology platforms, advocating for reform and dialogue within the Roman Catholic Church.

My blog has over 4 million views- https://bridgetmarys.blogspot.com/

“What Come from the Holy Spirit Cannot be Stopped- Historic Ordination on the Tiber on Oct. 18, 2024

https://bridgetmarys.blogspot.com/2024/12/what-comes-from-holy-spirit-cannot-be.html

My YouTube station @womenpriestsnow feature 1000 videos.

Major events and hopes for a renewed priestly ministry in communities of equals:

On July 31, 2006, I was among the first eight women in the U.S. ordained as Roman Catholic priests in the Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement.

On April 19, 2009, I was among the first four North American Roman Catholic women ordained as a bishop.

 I have hope for inclusive ecclesial communities that include women and all genders as baptized equals and representatives of the Divine and that utilize Feminine Divine language and images in sacramental liturgies. If the symbol system that patriarchy has given us of a male God is changed, our worldview could be radically altered. As we re-imagine our divine beginning, we can incorporate a more integrated , empowered symbol system that reflects the Feminine Divine and the experience of women and all genders as glorious images of the Divine Presence.

Role as a Bishop in ARCWP

I was ordained a bishop in 2009, enabling her to lead ordination ceremonies for women called to the diaconate and priesthood. These ordinations are rooted in the belief that women and men - (all genders)-are equally created in the image of God and are equally called to ministry.

Key Ordinations

1. Public Ceremonies

I have presided over 100 deacon and priest ordinations in the United States and internationally. 

These ceremonies often take place in alternative sacred spaces, such as Protestant churches, private homes, or outdoor settings, as the women priests are typically not allowed to use Catholic churches.

Historic Ordination on the Tiber in 2024

https://bridgetmarys.blogspot.com/2024/12/roman-catholic-women-priests-in-rome.html