Community of St. Bridget
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Welcome to the Community of St. Bridget
an inclusive Catholic community!

We are a member-led Catholic Eucharistic Community served by Catholic Women Priests.

​The Community of St. Bridget, an inclusive Catholic community,
shares the same location as the Brecksville United Church of Christ 
23 Public Square, Brecksville, Ohio 44141
We are easily accessible from I-77 near the intersection of SR 21 and SR 82.
Please join in our joy and come celebrate with us!

Inspired by the words of Pope Francis,
we are a community that builds bridges, NOT walls.
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Yesterday we obeyed kings and bent our necks before emperors. 
But today we kneel only to truth, follow only beauty, and obey only love. 
~Khalil Gibran

News updates:
ARCWP  Winter 2021 Newsletter LEADING now available.
News archive.
Coronavirus Precautions and Liturgical Practice
Due to the physical distancing necessary during this current coronavirus pandemic, there will be no in-person liturgies at the Brecksville location until further notice. Liturgical prayers will go out each week via our e-newsletter, and Zoom liturgies will be held every Sunday at 12 Noon.  Please make sure you contact us to get your name and email address on our invitation list.  All are welcome!

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​Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests
Condemn Violence in U.S. Capitol
January 11, 2021
 
We, the members of the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests, express our shock and deep sadness over the chaos and subsequent violence that occurred on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 on the U.S. Capitol, the citadel of democracy. President Trump, his supporters and sadly, some Republican members of the House and Senate, tried to subvert a democratic presidential certification which has been an honored tradition for generations.
 
Our Mission Statement states “…we are respectful of differences among people.”
 
We acknowledge that the United States is a polarized country, but we must and will promote justice for all.  We fervently pray that differences can be resolved peacefully and the Democratic Republic be fully restored. We pray to be a beacon of hope to all nations, and to work for equality and justice for everyone –- no exceptions –- as we confront discrimination and conspiracy theories that are rooted in fear, hatred and untruth.
 
We believe this domestic terrorist assault against our legislative branch was fueled by divisive rhetoric and an open disrespect for the U.S. Constitution. We believe this assault has its roots in racism, which presents itself in white supremacy and patriarchal domination. As Christians, we cannot use Jesus’ name to foster racism or violence. We invite all people of good will to work together to foster mutual respect in an inclusive democracy.
 
Now, we mourn our dead; each a citizen of history, however long or short, with hopes and dreams unfulfilled. We stand and weep with anguished loved ones and will forever remember the ugly face of unbridled disrespect as we continue our prophetic witness for justice and equality for all.

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​A Call for Unity, Non-violence and Systemic Justice

from 
The Members of the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests
​The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests calls out our country’s history of neglect and violence toward our black sisters and brothers, including the recent police murder of African American George Floyd.  Every loss of life due to violence diminishes the life and inherent dignity of every person.  We all have a responsibility to take a stand as members of the human race to change structures of inequality and advocate for justice, non-violence and solidarity.

We reaffirm that the Spirit of God calls us to speak out against racial injustice and support legislation and policies that protect all citizens equally.

Racism, rooted in hatred and fear, is a dominator system that breaks our spiritual connection with one another, causing oppression on people of color and our indigenous population. While we believe that all life matters, it is especially important at this time of intense heartbreak to stand with our black sisters and brothers proclaiming that Black Lives Matter. 

Mindful of the words of Martin Luther King Jr.: “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear,” we call upon all people of the world to unite in creating non-violent solutions to these problems.  While we realize it takes centuries of active and energetic effort to dismantle unjust systems, there can be no peace on earth without addressing justice for all.  We bear witness in solidarity with all peace-loving protests throughout the world, as we strive to change the systemic structures that continue to perpetuate violence and inequality among people. Now is the time!  

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Homily – The Baptism of Jesus 2021
January 10, 2021
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The feast we celebrate today marks the closing of the Christmas cycle.  Jesus’ baptism expands the universality of God’s presence, bringing the hope of justice to all nations, now found in Jesus who will embody God’s movement in the world.  
 
Interestingly, this was probably a very uneventful occasion, as only Jesus saw that the sky was torn in two; only he saw the dove descend; and the voice spoke directly to him—a private affirmation of his messianic importance.  

We have all experienced something of this nature ourselves.  Signs appear:  a clock on the wall stops ticking the day someone retires; a mother’s spinal headache disappears after her infant is baptized; in the middle of a rainstorm, the sun comes out and a rainbow appears as a sign of hope; a wounded warrior comes home from overseas and his family lets go of the long-standing quarrels among them; an elderly relative transitions to new life just when a new baby is born into the family.  The Spirit’s manner is executed with gentleness and understanding.  This justice will not compound the distress of an already suffering people, rather, it will be a source of consolation.
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Photo used under Creative Commons from frederic.gombert
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