On the Home Page -- August, 2017 I
*
Transfiguration of Jesus is a source of hope and encouragement for us
who are striving to reshape the world around us with the faith that we
have found
* Comments to the editor
* Women and girls have been discriminated against for too long in a
twisted interpretation of the word of God -- Jimmy Carter article still
circulating on the Internet six year later
* Mary Magdalene: The Single Best Argument For Women Priests
* First Chinese Woman Ordained a Roman Catholic Priest returns to Taiwan and China
* Due to the Catholic priest shortage, women stand at the altar in Portuguese churches
* New way to donate to RCWP Canada -- via PayPal
* 195 Reasons why women should be ordained
* Continuing Features
* Francis, the comic strip
*Top and bottom of the page menu
First Chinese Woman Ordained a Roman Catholic Priest returns to Taiwan and China
Judy Lee, RCWP | August 2, 2017
On Saturday July 29th 2017 at 2PM Gertrude Y. Chen from Taiwan, and
presently mainland China, was ordained to the Roman Catholic Priesthood
in Catonsville, Maryland.
The Ordination was held with the congregation of the Living Waters
Inclusive Catholic Community at the St. John’s UCC Church on Rolling
Road in Catonsville. Rev. Andrea Johnson, Bishop of the Eastern Region
of Roman Catholic Women Priests, the RCWP Region that accepts
international candidates under the direction of Rev. Caryl Johnson, was
the presiding Bishop.
Many priests of the region and guests attended this spirit filled sacrament of Holy Orders.
Rev. Gertrude Chen has studied theology and pastoral ministry and has
served the Catholic community in Taiwan for many years as a religious
Sister. Rev.Chen described the experience as a fabulous gift of the
Holy Spirit filled with love and unity. She has gone home to Taiwan
before returning to mainland China to continue her studies in Chinese
Medicine and developing her ministry there.
We are so happy to welcome Rev. Gertrude Y. Chen as Priest and as our
Sister who opens the door in Taiwan and China to women called to serve
God in the Roman Catholic church as priests. Blessings and
congratulations Rev. Gertrude Y. Chen, a woman of deep faith and
courage who is well prepared for the priesthood by study and
experience! May our loving God who chose you for priestly service
continue to guide your every step.
Rev. Dr. Judy Lee, RCWP serves Good Shepherd Inclusive Catholic Community, Fort Myers, Florida
Due to the Catholic priest shortage, women stand at the altar in Portuguese churches
Agence France Presse | April 11, 2017
In some villages of southwest Portugal, the Catholic priest shortage
had led several women, simple believers, to celebrate the Sunday
encounter themselves to facilitate the religious life of these
communities that are aging but open to change.
In the tiny church of Carrapatelo, a village of fifty houses set on a
hill that looks out over the vineyards of the Reguengos de Monsaraz
region, Claudia Rocha (photo), dressed in black with sneakers,
addresses a dozen faithful, mostly older women.
While her leather jacket and smartphone are waiting for her in the
first pew, the 31-year-old woman easily handles this "Sunday assembly
in the absence of a priest."
Read More
Continuing Features:
With appologies to Martin Luther
Click here for book-length pdf
copy
My Journey From Silence to Solidarity
This
book available for free as a pdf file downloaded here. |
 |
COMMISSION WATCH
On
May 12, 2016 Pope Francis announced that he
will create a commission to study the possibility of restoring the
tradition of ordaining women deacons in the Catholic Church.
Follow this special section to stay up to date and get insights and
commentary on developments from many news sources.
|
Donate to RCWP Canada via PayPal or a Credit Card:
Click on the button below for Information for other ways to donate to RCWP Canada
[RCWP
Canada is applying
to Canada Revenue Agency for charitable status, but is not able to
offer income tax deductable receipts at this time. Each
donation
will be promptly acknowledged with our thanks.] |
|
|
 |
Transfiguration
of Jesus is a source of hope and encouragement for us who are striving
to reshape the world around us with the faith that we have found
|
|
Linda Spear | Homily for Transfiguration Sunday, August 6, 2017
The Anglican and Catholic Churches, wishing to celebrate this momentous
event is a more exuberant manner than was permitted during Lent, have a
solemnity on August 6. Today’s readings are taken from the Anglican
lectionary.
1st Reading: Ex. 34:29-35
Coming in contact with the Holy can have remarkable effects on us
humans. Moses went up Mount Sinai again after the people had sinned by
building a golden calf. He went up to beg forgiveness for the people
and to receive again the Law, for in his anger he had smashed the stone
tablets. Yahweh, God, received him and even agreed to let him
experience his glory, but in a safe way, for no one can see God and
live. God placed Moses in a cleft in the rock so that he would be
shielded from the full impact of his glory as he passed by. Moses saw
only the back of God, but that was enough, and more than enough. He
stayed on the mountain for forty days and forty nights, fasting and
foreshadowing Jesus’ time in the desert. When he returned, carrying the
tablets of the renewed covenant, his face was shining, so much so that
the Israelites could not bear to look on this reflected glory of God.
From this time on, Moses had to wear a veil when he went among the
people, removing it only when he went to speak to God.
Interestingly, Moses was not aware of his appearance. Others had to
tell him that he was shiny. Sometimes it is thus with us. We are not
aware of the good effect we have on others simply by our presence, by
letting the real presence of God shine through. In the words of the
hymn, “Will You Come and Follow Me”, “Will you love the you you hide if
I but call your name?” We pray in each Eucharist that we and our
offerings be transformed evermore into the likeness of Christ but we
are not aware of the changes God is bringing about in us. We are to put
on the likeness of Christ in our thoughts, words and deeds. Just as
people who live together for a long time, especially couples, begin to
take on the traits of each other, so, the more we expose ourselves to
God’s transforming presence, the more that presence will shine through.
Very often in art, saints are depicted with haloes. It is thought that,
especially in the early Church, people were able to see their auras, a
magnetic field that we all have. Even today there are some people with
the gift of seeing others’ auras. (As an aside, in early Christian art,
particularly in some mosaics, some figures wear square haloes. This
indicates that the person was still alive when the portrait was done.)
Others may not tell us, but some will be drawn to us simply because we
are what we are, sinners and saints at the same time.
Psalm 99
Our psalm takes up again the theme of God’s holiness. This is the last
of the enthronement psalms that celebrates God’s dwelling among his
people. The Most Holy has deigned to come and dwell with humans.
Despite the infidelities and stubbornness of his people, God remains
ever faithful to his promises. The great intercessors of the past are
summoned to memory: Moses, Aaron and Samuel, priests and prophets. Just
as God has heard the prayer of the people in the past, so he hears it
now and will continue to hear it and act in the future. This is a God
who is near to us humans. Deuteronomy asks: “And indeed, what great
nation has its gods as near as Yahweh our God is to us whenever we call
to him?” (Dt. 4:7). We can make the same claim. God is nearer to
ourselves than we are. God knows us better than we know ourselves. We
are called to a deeper and deeper awareness of his presence in us and
around us, behind us, beside us, above us and below us, as we pray in
the Breastplate of St. Patrick.
2nd Reading: 2 Peter 1:13-21
Our second reading, attributed to Peter, recalls Peter’s presence at
the Transfiguration. God the Father’s approbation: “This is my Son, the
Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” (2 Peter 1:17) are repeated from
the synoptic Gospels’ account of Jesus’ Baptism and Transfiguration
(Mt. 17:5; Mk 9:2-8 ;) and our Gospel, Luke 9:28-36. This appearance of
Jesus in glory was a foretaste of his resurrection, ascension and
return in glory. The author of this letter was trying to explain the
seeming delay in the Parousia, Jesus’ return in glory, and the coming
of divine justice. It is an exercise in theodicy, the attempt to
reconcile a good God with the presence of evil in the world. The
English poet Milton wrote his great Christian epic poems Paradise Lost
and Paradise Regained, to “justify the ways of God to men.” Paradise
Lost, Bk. I, l. 25) The existence of evil remains a problem today, and
is often given as a reason for a person’s not believing in God. This
problem is outside the scope of our reflection today, but let us
remember that God can bring good out of any evil, as we have seen in
the crucifixion followed by the resurrection.
Gospel: Luke 9: 28-36
The Transfiguration takes place in the shadow of Jesus’ approaching
passion and death. Jesus sets his face to go up to Jerusalem but, in
order to strengthen Peter, James and John, he reveals his true self to
them. This is a theophany, a manifestation of God. The Father has
already used almost the same words at Jesus’ Baptism: “You are my Son,
the Beloved; my favour rests on you.” (Mk. 1:11) In Matthew’s account
of the Baptism, the Father says, “This is my Son, the Beloved, my
favour rests on him.” (Mt. 3:17)
Thus we have a double affirmation of Jesus’ divine sonship and his
authority to teach. These affirmations strengthen the faith of the
hearers but they must have encouraged Jesus as well, especially on his
way to his passion and death. In Matthew he is presented as a second
Moses and a greater than Moses. And just as Moses led the people to the
Promised Land, so Jesus will lead all his people to the promised land
of eternal life.
Both Moses and Jesus shine from their encounter with the divine. In
Jesus’ case, his true nature is revealed. But rather than remain in his
glorified state, Jesus comes back to earth and in his usual gentle
fashion, tells the disciples not to be afraid. (Mt. 17:5) Even the
voluble Peter, always putting his foot in it, offering to raise three
tents for Moses, Elijah and Jesus, kept silent after this life-altering
experience.
As we look ahead to Christ’s passion, we see that not even this
revelation was enough to keep James and Peter faithful to Jesus. Peter
denied his Lord three times and James ran away with the rest. Only John
remained at the foot of the Cross. But, like Yahweh with the ancient
Israelites, Jesus forgave them all and even gave Peter three chances to
repair his three denials.
What is the lesson of the Transfiguration for us today? Jesus’
revelation of himself gives us another reason to believe in his
divinity. It is a source of hope and encouragement for us who are
striving to reshape the world around us with the faith that we have
found. In a world that is indifferent or hostile to his message, it
gives us the courage to witness to the life of God in us. In our
Baptism we have been called God’s beloved sons and daughters in whom he
is well pleased. We are sent out into the world to carry his love and
compassion to all. Jesus has told us: “Fear not.” Always his message to
us is “Stand up. Don’t be afraid. Have courage”
Linda Spear is an RCWP Canada priest, serving at Sutton, QC.
Some
say that we need to get rid of the ordained priesthood and have deacons
run our parishes. I disagree. I believe in the sacraments. I do believe
that ordination and Holy Orders are real but being abused in our
church.
We teach that because Christ blew on the apostles and disciples he
ordained them. Women were present in that room too because they were
among the disciples. Praying over and laying hands on people before
they begin mission was done by the apostles to likely countless people,
male and female, since the apostles praised even women who led churches
in their homes.
I believe when God calls someone to lead a flock, and if that person
receives proper training and shows forth a genuine love for God and the
people, that God has gifted that person for that task much like a
doctor is gifted to heal. Bishops praying over them for their mission
in life and consecrating them before the people is good and a real
spiritual event.
Our problem is we have turned ordination into a segregation weapon
against women. The permanent diaconate should end – it’s unnecessary,
and can become a real impediment for lay people who desire more active
roles, especially in liturgy. I truly believe it is wise to end
any ministry which stifles parishes rather than builds them up.
Nora Bolcon, Pawtucket, RI
Women
and girls have been discriminated against for too long in a twisted
interpretation of the word of God -- Jimmy Carter article still
circulating on the Internet six year later
Jimmy Carter | July 19, 2017
Jimmy Carter was president of the United States from 1977 to 1981.
I HAVE been a practising Christian all my life and a deacon and Bible
teacher for many years. My faith is a source of strength and comfort to
me, as religious beliefs are to hundreds of millions of people around
the world. So my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist
Convention, after six decades, was painful and difficult. It was,
however, an unavoidable decision when the convention's leaders, quoting
a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created
second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that
women must be "subservient" to their husbands and prohibited from
serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service.
Read More
Mary Magdalene: The Single Best Argument For Women Priests
Kerry Walters, Professor Emeritus, Gettysburg College | July 23, 2017
On
22 July each year, the Christian community venerates a saint who is the
single best argument for why women should be priests: Mary of Magdala,
more commonly called Mary Magdalene and traditionally known as the
“Apostle to the Apostles.”
Given
what we know about her, it’s a scandal that some Christian
communities—most notably the Roman Catholic Church and the Southern
Baptist Convention—still consider women unworthy of ordination.
Read More
Fr. Kerry Walters’ video essays may be found on his YouTube channel, Holy Spirit Moments.
Installation as Pastor
Installation of Pastor Roberta Fuller will be celebrated
at St. Mary Magdalene, The First Apostle, Catholic Faith Community,
1066 Dunbarton Road, Pickering, ON, at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, September
16, 2017. Bishop Marie Bouclin will preside. All are welcome!
Contact: therealrobertaf@gmail.com |
|
|
|
