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Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Getting Ready for Ireland: Why Women Priests in Ireland Now?

http://arcwp-ireland.blogspot.com/2017/07/getting-ready-for-ireland-why-women.html

This is a busy week as we start final preparations for our journey to Ireland on July 31st.

Our upcoming schedule in Ireland.

Arrival: August 1st

August 2-4th, Kilkee, County Clare

August 5th-7th, Dublin Liturgy on August 6th at St. Andrew Community Center, Rialto, 10:00 AM

August 7th--Drogheda..... An Crois, Carmel Boyle

Contact us sofiabmm@aol.com, text us at 703-505-004

Mary Theresa Streck , Joan Chesterfield and I are looking forward to traveling around the Emerald Isle sharing the good news about  the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests (ARCWP). We look forward to many cups of tea and lively conversations along the way with women called to ordination and their supporters.

You might wonder,why bother to promote a  movement that is rejected by the Vatican? Why not be ordained in a more welcoming church?
It is my church. It does not belong to the hierarchy or to the Vatican. Vatican 11 defined the church as the people of God. It belongs to all of us. Each of us is a beloved image of God, blessed and loved infinitely. We are spiritual equals, the face of God, in our world, called to share our gifts in service to our communities. The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests (ARCWP) ordains women priests in a non-clerical  model of priestly ministry that is inclusive and egalitarian. Our approach affirms ordinary people called to live extraordinary lives of loving service.!We provide a wholistic preparation program that begins by honoring the wisdom and experience of women as significant theology and designs individualized and interactive transformative learning experiences that integrates contemporary theology and spirituality, www.pcseminary.org

Bridget Mary Meehan: My Story
I was born in Ireland and Catholicism is in my DNA. Our family came from Rathdowney , County Laois. My mother, Bridie raised us in a home in which the Sacred Heart, the Blessed Mother , the angels and saints felt like extended family members! Not only did we have holy pictures on the walls, the holy, heavenly ones were called upon on a daily basis. Every night we prayed the family rosary around the hearth. My mother blessed us and sprinkled holy water on us everyday in our coming and going. My Dad Jack, was a gifted musician, who played trumpet, sax and trombone in our home and in a band that travelled around the midlands. His family came from Ballyroan and there were known as the musical Meehans! His father, John, and brothers Jimmy, Paddy and Dad were all  proud members of the Ballyroan Brass Band. I still remember the first song that I heard Dad play on trumpet in our cottage : "O My Papa.

Why women priests now?
Our movement is a justice movement to bring equality to our church now. We are living our call to  heal sexism and renew the church in the mystical, prophetic and sacramental tradition in inclusive communities where all are welcome.
There are over 250 in our worldwide women priests movement.

Why Ireland?
I believe that there are women in Ireland who are called to ordination, and to lead the church in the direction of partnership, equality and inclusiveness. We are here to share our stories as companions on the journey and reformers in our church. We are not leaving the church but leading it on the path to deep renewal. We are available to meet with individuals and groups to talk about our mission and vision  and pathway to ordination. We provide our own seminary experience in contemporary theology. Check out www.pcseminary.org

Who are we?
We are ordinary women living extraordinary lives!

Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP, Mary Theresa Streck ARCWP, Joan Chesterfield, ARCWP

Here are some photos from our recent Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests Retreat in Cleveland in July 2017

ARCWP Retreat in Cleveland in July 2017


Kathie Ryan leads a session on Centering Prayer at ARCWP Retreat in July in Cleveland


Jim Marsh ARCWP and Janet Blakeley ARCWP


Olga Lucia Benjumea Alvarez ARCWP and Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP

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