Day 839: Sunday, July 3, 2022

We pray in solidarity with women all over the world taking action for equality.

The Annual

is a day of concerted global action held each year on March 25th, the Feast of the Annunciation, to draw attention to women’s ordination in an inclusive and accountable catholic church.

We celebrate the power of the Divine Presence in the many forms in which God comes to us. We pray in solidarity with women all over the world taking action for equality.

This year, as our world and our lives face unprecedented disruption, we feel vulnerable and powerless in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. We pray for all who have contracted the virus, for all who feel anxious, those who are isolated, and for all health care and emergency service care givers.

Let us silently identify one thing for which we are grateful...we begin by grounding ourselves with a few minutes of silent reflection.

Prayer for Vocations

Ever present God; open the hearts and minds of all people, and inspire us to use the unique gifts you have given us for loving service to each other. We pray, especially now, for those women whose gifts are best suited to serve your Church as ordained priests.

Empower them with courage as they answer your call and strengthen them for humble service, great compassion and insightful wisdom.

Support them through their ministries and enlighten the leadership of your Church to practice the equality that Jesus modeled to embrace all women and men whom you have gifted for sacramental service.

Strengthen your Holy Spirit within those you have chosen for priestly ministry. May they answer your call and follow you with generous hearts.

We ask this in the name of Jesus, who called Mary Magdalene and Phoebe – as well as Peter and Paul – to be ministers in the early Christian communities. And to this we say: Amen.

As we listen to the words of women around the world, let us realize we are one echoing a common message.

Ursula Halligan, Ireland

I have fought for equality all my life. I do not understand how women are deemed less capable than men of representing Christ as his ministers. Uniting local groups is so important under this one message of dignity and equality, as women must realize they have the power to change things, not the hierarchy.

Sister Mary John Mananzan O.S.B., the Philippines

Who shall hold the bishops accountable? Hasn’t the sex abuse scandal taught us that no man should be imbued with too much power and autonomy?

The church is shored up by women all over the world, and it is these women that they must listen to, in order to heal our beloved church. It is unwise to keep doing the same thing while expecting different results.

Sister Mumbi Kigutha, Kenya

A profound ecclesial renewal will put an end to the discrimination suffered by women in the Church, and that will go so far as to make it a community of equals. Just as Jesus wanted.

Pepa Torres, Spain

The issue is nothing less than the full dignity and equality of women in the church, rooted in our baptism, for baptism is the sacramental foundation of the church and all its members.

Just as reformers and prophets of the past were reviled and excommunicated, so are those who give witness in our day against the exclusion of baptized women from ordained ministry.

Sylvia, U.S.A.

Within the church, not much has changed. We have leadership training for women but there are no places for women to exercise this leadership. Doors have been opened for women to contribute their services in pastoral work, as community leaders, as eucharistic ministers, lectors, cantors, ushers and leaders...

We call for equality in the Catholic Church, apart from seeking changes in the policies, practices and structures of the church, so that women can participate fully in the life and leadership of the church.

Astrid Lobo Gajiwala, India

Even if this isn’t your issue, or you are not Catholic, or you gave up on the Church a long time ago, the inequality in the Catholic Church hurts women, especially in developing countries. By condoning the idea that women can’t be leaders in the Church, the hierarchy in effect lowers the status of women in societies, and this inequality has been proven to keep women, and their families, poorer.

By excluding women from ordained leadership and decision-making, the hierarchy promotes the idea throughout the world that women are second-class citizens. Pope Francis is doing many good things in making the hierarchy more accountable and in addressing climate change and social justice issues. But he continues to have a ‘blind spot’ when it comes to women!

Mary Ellen Chown, Canada

Throughout Church history, Mary is held up as the Churchman’s idea for women – silent, submissive, and obedient. This narrow version of a role model is unhelpful to women and is not true to the person of Mary. ‘2.0’ signified the need for a Church reboot so that positive change can happen. Leader Barbara Stratman points out: “2.0 stands for a new beginning. Reset everything to zero. We are no longer like that.”

Marie Collins, Ireland

The men of our church like to sing their praise to women. Paradoxically, men are the sole determiners of our participation in our church. As of now, only one woman is tolerated among them: Mary.

On her pedestal. She stands there. Reduced to silence. We want to take Mary off her pedestal and into our midst, as a sister facing our direction. We will act!

The women and men signing the letter to Pope Francis from ‘Maria 2.0’ Germany

The Catholic Church, at this point, has reached a situation where there is such a systemic dysfunction within it that the change has to be root and branch – it can’t be tinkered with around the edges. If those good priests and good men in the church – and there are many – cannot change it from the inside, then the only way to change it is with pressure and challenge from the Catholic laity.

Musical Reflection: The 23rd Psalm by Bobby McFerrin (a must watch and listen event)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn2zKKhhF3I

The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all I need, She makes me lie down in green meadows, Beside the still waters, She will lead.

She restores my soul, She rights my wrongs, She leads me in a path of good things, And fills my heart with songs.

Even though I walk through a dark and dreary land, There is nothing that can shake me,

She has said

She won't forsake me, I'm in her hand.

She sets a table before me, in the presence of my foes, She anoints my head with oil, And my cup overflows.

Surely, surely goodness and kindness will follow me, All the days of my life, And I will live in her house,

Forever, forever and ever.

Glory be to our Mother, and Daughter,

And to the Holy of Holies

As it was in the beginning, Is now and ever shall be World without end. Amen.