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Reflections on the Pope's visit

9/28/2015

 
From the Blog Questions from a Ewe - Reflections on the Pope's visit to the U.S.
Lots of laypeople have a stronger understanding of gospel messages than the bishops, and better and more joyfully imitate Jesus than them.  Many very faith-filled people cannot bring themselves to follow the bishops because they find the bishops worshipping a god too weak to call women to priesthood, too weak to allow re-examination of human sexuality teachings based upon millennia-old flawed science, too weak to require admission and correction of the church’s collective institutional sins, and in general too weak to allow rethinking anything about which the hierarchy have declared themselves to be “absolutely correct.”  Actually, it seems sometimes they mistake themselves for God and worship themselves and their utterances – and this many people mightily and rightly reject.  Consequently, many people do not follow the bishops – not because these people reject the gospel - but because they think the bishops do.  read full essay

Francis, the Perfect 19th-Century Pope

9/27/2015

 
From the New York Times - Francis, the Perfect 19th-Century Pope by Maureen Dowd
His magnetic, magnanimous personality is making the church, so stained by the vile sex abuse scandal, more attractive to people — even though the Vatican stubbornly clings to its archaic practice of treating women as a lower caste.

Pope Francis would be the perfect pontiff — if he lived in the 19th century. But how, in 2015, can he continue to condone the idea that women should have no voice in church decisions?

…shortly after he was elected, Francis flatly rejected the idea that the institution could benefit from opening itself to the hearts and minds of women. Asked about the issue of female priests, he replied, “The church has spoken and says no,” adding, “That door is closed.”    continue reading
We completely agree with Francis on his concern for the environment, the poor, the sick, and homeless refugees.  Concern for these issues reaches back to the very foundation of Christianity and it is heartening to see a Pope focus on these issues.

However, Francis is profoundly wrong when he expresses views which subordinate women.  Whether or not Francis can see it, the "door" to priesthood is open to women.  Not only that, we intend to loudly and proudly proclaim that women have equal access to the Priesthood  - until the day when the Vatican (and some future Pope) can no longer ignore this message.  

Three new Bishops Ordained

9/25/2015

 
From Delaware County Daily Times - Three new female Catholic bishops ordained in Delco by Patti Mengers
Thursday afternoon at Pendle Hill Quaker study retreat and conference center, Meehan presided at the ordination of three Roman Catholic women from the United States, Canada and South America as bishops at a Mass celebrated with about 40 Roman Catholic women priests clad in white robes, and approximately 35 other supporters, male and female.

The new women bishops include Mary Eileen Collingwood of Hudson, Ohio, Michele Birch-Conery of Windsor, Ontario and Olga Lucia Alvarez Benjumea of Columbia.  continue reading
The Community of St. Bridget will be celebrating Mary's ordination Saturday, September 26 after the 5 pm mass! Please join us!  Address & Map

Francis, concerned about poverty?  What about women?

9/25/2015

 
Joan Chittister: A letter to Pope Francis
It is impossible, Holy Father, to be serious about doing anything for the poor and at the same time do little or nothing for women.  continue reading
The Roman Catholic Church remains the largest and most influential organization in the world dedicated to systematically maintaining bias against women.  They relegate women, always and everywhere, to inferior and subservient roles.  Francis -- if you want to fight poverty -- there are some huge things YOU can do.  This would be a good start - ORDAIN WOMEN.  Make it clear that Women are respected, valued and in all ways equal.  That's a message the world needs to hear.

Mary's ordination as ARCWP Bishop

9/24/2015

 
The Community of St. Bridget will be celebrating Mary's ordination Saturday, September 26 after the 5 pm mass! Please join us!  Address & Map

Thursday, September 24, 2015 @ 2:00 p.m. there will be a Live Stream presentation of the bishop's ordination. For those of you who cannot attend the ordination, you will be able to watch from the comfort of your home. Please note, the stream may not start right at 2:00 p.m. if there is a delay, be patient. You don't have to sign in, just click HERE

If you can't tune in on the day of the event, the video will be available the following week after the 24th on Bridget Mary's blog and the ARCWP website.

Additional news coverage of WOW conference

9/23/2015

 
NCR has contributed some great coverage of the recent Women’s Ordination Worldwide conference.

Also Iglesia Descalza provides additional commentary in: WOW 2015: What it was...and what it wasn't

Women's Ordination Worldwide

9/21/2015

 
Bridget Mary has New Pictures and Videos from Women's Ordination Worldwide which drew more that 500 supporters to Philadelphia this past weekend.

Women Seek Priesthood

9/16/2015

 
From NPR - In Defiance Of The Church, Some Catholic Women Seek Priesthood by Jeff Brady
Sunday morning services at St. Mary Magdalene Community in Drexel Hill, Pa., look different from a typical Roman Catholic mass. The homily is interactive, there's gluten-free communion bread, and the priest is a woman.  continue reading

Pope Francis needs to hear the message of gender equality

9/15/2015

 
From NCR - Pope Francis and the message of WOC in Philadelphia by Maureen Fiedler
The Women's Ordination Conference/Women's Ordination Worldwide (WOC/WOW) conference in Philadelphia this coming weekend is critically important for the church and the world. Pope Francis needs to hear the message of gender equality from this conference. continue reading

Women's Ordination Conference to meet in Philadelphia

9/14/2015

 
From NCR - Catholic activists raise ordination issue as pope's U.S. trip approaches by Thomas Fox
Some 500 Catholic activists from around the globe will converge on Philadelphia for a three-day conference Sept. 18-20 to press for women's rights in the church. They will meet one week before Pope Francis is set to step foot into the city.

The U.S.-based Women's Ordination Conference (WOC) is hosting the Women's Ordination Worldwide meeting. continue reading

Plain Dealer letter to the editor by Mary Collingwood

9/13/2015

 
Cleveland Plain Dealer - Letter to the Editor: Fathers of unwanted babies should also seek forgiveness by Mary Collingwood:
Regarding the Sept. 2 front page article, "Pope: Any priest can absolve 'sin of abortion' in Year of Mercy," Pope Francis holds a "blue light special" on forgiving women for aborting their babies for a year, but nothing is ever said about who fathered those babies  continue reading

5 minutes with Francis: Women's ordination

9/12/2015

 
Community of St. Bridget priest Mary Collingwood has contributed the inaugural essay in NCR's new blog series "5 minutes with Francis”.
Mary Eileen Collingwood, bishop-elect, Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests (ARCWP):

5 minutes with Francis: Women's ordination

Recently, someone asked what I would say to Pope Francis if I were given five minutes of his attention. I replied that I preferred the question in reverse form, considering that I am to be ordained a Roman Catholic bishop in September. What would Pope Francis say to me if he were given five minutes of my attention? continue reading

Cleveland area Priest Mary Collingwood to be Bishop

9/12/2015

 
Community of St. Bridget priest, Mary Collingwood (ARCWP), has recently been selected to become one of three new ARCWP Bishops…

Press release from ARCWP - It is with great joy that we announce the women that will be ordained for ARCWP as bishops. They are:
Olga Lucia from Colombia, South America
Mary Eileen Collingwood from Hudson, Ohio
Michele Birch-Connery from Windsor, Canada
Picture
The Ordinations will take place Thursday September 24th, 2015 at Pendle Hill, a Quaker Retreat House in Philadelphia.

Every blessing to you, Mary! We are honored and delighted to have you in our community!

Community open meeting - this Saturday…

9/12/2015

 
The Community of St. Bridget will have an open meeting for the community and the leadership core on Saturday, September 12 after the 5 pm liturgy. Come and meet the folks who helped make CSB possible and find out how you can make us grow and spread the gospel of Love and an inclusive church! 

Today is Ann's second ordination anniversary.

9/7/2015

 
Picture


Today marks the 2nd anniversary of Ann Klonowski’s ordination to the priesthood.  We take this opportunity to thank Ann for her dedicated and loving service to the Community of St. Bridget.  

Ann, we wish you many blessings…



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