Being a Woman Priest

Discussion Stream following 'Dreams can come true'

from : Congress on 'What can we learn from the Anglican/Episcopalian experience with women priests'.

Held on CIRCLES from 1st Oct. to 30th Oct. 2003.

No 1

Thank you Una for sharing your story.

I was baptized into the Catholic church but my mother sent us to an Anglican church where I was confirmed and made my first Communion around twelve. For all my life at various times I have felt drawn back to the catholic Church but at the same time felt a loyalty to the Anglican church where I found great kindness as a child. I have been a member of a religious community for forty years, was ordained deacon in 1987 and priested in 1994.

My call to the priesthood was a gradual process. At first when the arguments were being rehearsed I was against it, (Anglo catholic conditioning!) Then when I worked in Hospital chaplaincy the reality of pastoral work with the dying made me see things differently. The first time I celebrated Mass after my ordination I carried to the altar the people whom over the years I had been unable to anoint, to assure absolutely of God's foregiveness. It was a miracle to stand with outstretched hands, to make the Offering of all Offerings, to turn and say This is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

Deo Gratias !

Chiara

No 2

Dear Una, first excuse me for my bad english.

Well, I enjoy very much with your words. Likely with Chiara's experience. BUT…BUT…BUT…I can tell you only: Why I not? I'm catholic. I'm suffering because I can't to be MYSELF.

This is the only word I have in my heart. I feel vocation from 5 years, and every day it becomes deeper. When I see persons, when I talk with them, when they explain to me their problems, everytime I feel sad and my need of being a visible channel of God. I suffer for not celebrating Mass, but I suffer above all for not giving forgiveness. WHAT can I do? For a long time I lived my vocation as a prophetic gift in my Church, but now I am asking to myself if God does want another answer…

Receive a very large embrace in Jesus

Adelaide

No 3

Dear Adelaide

Thank you for your story – please don't give up.

The paper by Arunan Gnanadason, ‘We will pour our ointment on the feet of the church’ was due to be read at the Woman’s Ordination Worldwide conference in the year 2000, but at the last moment she was prevented from attending by the World Council of Churches.Her text, however, is published (www.womenpriests.org/related/gnanadas.asp) and is well worth a read, telling as it does of how women, as priests, can make a difference.

I’d love to hear from anyone who has a personal story to tell of this in action; I, personally, will never forget the time I first saw a woman baptize a baby – it was a profoundly powerful experience.

maggie

No 4

Dear Una whilst I was delighted to read about your own life experiences and to know that for you and for so many other women in the churches your dream has come true there are still so many Catholic women who are suffering from positive discrimination. They are not allowed to even discuss the idea of women becoming priests. We in the roman Catholic church have received into our priesthood and and life so many men and women who left the Anglican church on account of the ordination of women there. So the position of the traditionalists is even more entrenched. what ideas have you for changing this sad situation? How to forward the path for the many Catholic women called to be priests?

Ariadne

No 5

Chiara,

Your story sent a shiver along my nervecentre. I am always trying to carry all those people thatI was not able to help or did not perceive as stretching out their hands to me, I am trying to carry them all even this late to the fountain of living water that Jesus promised us.

Keep carrying them all, but take it as a light burden, which is what I have recently learned to do.

Theresia

No 6

Let us go on weaving networks. If I at 76 can still do it, anyone can!

Theresia