This homily for Christ the King Day is by RC woman Priest, Rev. Dr. Beverly Bingle of Toledo Ohio, and I appreciate the way she tells it like it is in the wake of the Trump election. High fives, Sister Bev!  JL

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This article is by Rev. Dr. Janice Sevre-Dusynska, a Roman Catholic Woman Priest  about her witness along with Rev. Roy Bourgeois, M.M., who is excommunicated for his active support of women priests, at the US Conference of Bishops on 11/14/16. It is a story of courage and inspiration and it challenges us all to do more as they are doing. “It is the Holy Spirit that calls us”.

If I may direct the reader to Fr. Roy”s book- MY JOURNEY FROM SILENCE TO JUSTICE:  published by fxBEAR, Yellow Springs. Ohio /  www.roybourgeoisjpurney.org   Fr. Roy says in conclusion:  “What I do know is tht silence is the voice of complicity,and my conscience will not allow me to be silent about this injustice in our Church-no matter the consequences.”

Let us not grow weary or lax in witnessing and prompting and prodding the church for justice. Rev. Dr. Judy Lee, RCWP

The Inside Story: Our Witness for Women Priests and Justice for Gays by Janice Sevre Duszynska ARCWP

This cold and damp November 14  morning, Roy Bourgeois and I witnessed for gender justice at the Marriott Waterfront Hotel as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops gathered for their bi-annual meeting. Walter Sandell of New Jersey who we met at the Women’s Ordination Worldwide gathering in Philadelphia in 2015 joined us.

 

 

We began our day strategizing a plan of action over a bowl of soup in the restaurant.  Across from us we noticed activist friends, Rita Clark, sister of Jesuit Miguel d’ Escoto, Former Foreign Minister of Nicaragua (1979-1990) and President of the UN General Assembly (September 2008-2009) and friend of Roy’s, and her husband, Tom Siemer, an anti-nuclear peace activist. Years ago when to the bishops met in Wash., D.C. at the Hyatt and the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Tom and I witnessed to them and enjoyed a cup of tea together.

As the bishops began to gather for lunch, Roy began walking among them with his banner “Bishops, Stop Persecuting Gays” and I followed in alb and stole with mine, “Women Priests are Here.” I remember speaking to Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston. We were aware that this witness would be short-lived and soon we were told to stop.

Once outside, we decided to hold up our banners along the promenade by the harbor facing the hotel. Here and there, bishops came outside to smoke or walk by the water. They saw our signs and we spoke to them.  Several thanked us for our witness. I answered one bishop’s “Francis said ‘no’” with “It’s the Holy Spirit who calls us.”

A number of women and men gave us the thumbs up as they passed by and Roy gave them a copy of his letter to Pope Francis regarding gender justice in the church.  We spent time together talking about the Presidential election, politics and the church.

By 2:30 p.m. several buses drove up to take the bishops to their 5 o’clock mass at St. Peter Claver Church in West Baltimore, where there is tremendous poverty. Max told me this was the church where Phil Berrigan served as a Josephite priest. His funeral Mass was celebrated here and he was buried on the grounds of the Jonah House, a resistance community a couple of miles away where I go for Sunday liturgy. Roy and I decided to leave by 3 p.m. to prepare for our witness there. It was a blessing that Max took me to all the places yesterday and wrote out good directions, so Roy and I had no problem finding our way to the church.

After taking the lay of the land and some discussion, Roy felt strongly that he must do an action inside the church during the bishops’ Mass. I, on the other hand, felt my sign and voice could reach them as they drove up. So Roy went inside and I stayed outside. As the bishops’ eyes met mine, I remembered that 10 years had passed since my last time witnessing to them in the Capital. Now I was a priest of eight years.

Off the bus, the bishops went inside a building to change into their vestments and robes. Here and there, people passed by and were friendly. I felt safe like I did at St. Cyril’s as a girl. I was told that the bishops would be in view as they processed into the church. When they began their entrance, I stood by the gate and held my banner, “Women Priests Are Here,” my presence a visible sign of the existence of women priests.  They looked at me and many smiled. A few came up to greet me saying, “Bless you, sister.” I called out to them in a strong and firm yet unthreatening voice. “The Holy Spirit is calling you to speak out for women priests. The church needs the feminine. It needs women’s voices and leadership. Two-thirds of the world’s poor are women and their dependent children.. The Church needs to hear the Gospels interpreted from women’s lived experiences. “

As I turned my head, I saw Max standing nearby. What a joy to see him! He explained that after basketball, he had gone with others to a state senator’s office to urge her to sign on to a ban on fracking in Maryland. I asked him to hold my bag while I hurried to my car to get our ARCWP “Phoebe and Community” banner by Dina Cormick to show the bishops the history of women’s leadership in our church. He held it with me alongside the other banner as another group of bishops walked passed us. I heard one of them call my name. “Hello again, Janice,” he said, smiling. I’ll see you again tomorrow night.” I turned quickly and asked Max who that bishop was. “Archbishop Tobin,” he replied. I turned and responded, “Okay, Archbishop Tobin,” recognizing that he will become a Cardinal this weekend. I would miss our vigil against killer drone research at Johns Hopkins University tomorrow night to be at St. Vincent de Paul’s for soup and bread with Catholic Workers and the bishops.

Archbishop Tobin

 

As the doors to the church closed, reporters and cameramen walked by and we chatted. I was hungry and it was cold. I asked Max to get me the blanket from his van. When he returned, I thanked him. I was warm again. We heard some singing from the church as I told Max about Roy’s intended action. Not long after Roy joined us. His faced looked angelic. He felt led by the Spirit, he said, to proclaim the message on his banner to the leaders of the US Church: “Bishops, Stop Persecuting Gays.” He said he had to pull himself and the banner away from a security guard before making his way to the altar. There he bowed down and kissed it before holding up the banner to the bishops and turning it to the people of God. Then, he said, two priests tried to pull the banner away from him and he felt like they attacked him. He was surprised because they were priests. He had expected them to just allow him to walk out. He based his expectation on what happened to a man who did a similar witness in Louisville, KY while he was there.

When Roy came outside, lots of plainclothes security followed him. Not long after he told us about his experience, six Baltimore policemen showed up. They were kind. Roy told them he had no intention of re-entering the church, and they were satisfied.

 

We stood with our signs for a short time as the bishops filed out, the night’s peace jarred by the deafening loudspeaker of a fringe character haranguing the bishops in an incomprehensible fashion. On the way for pizza, Roy told me he felt renewed by what had unfolded this day. “Yes,” I nodded.  I felt the same.

A dear friend and member of our church lost her most beloved sister a short while ago. Her grief was so profound that I cried with her as she shared it with me. Two sisters living far from their homeland representing home for each other although both are married with families and living in different States. Only this sister holds her earliest history and has loved her this long as her parents are also with God. Sisters and best friends now parted. Unimaginable grief. Despite her strong belief in the living Christ and in resurrection, my friend is much bereaved. She will miss her sister who died suddenly and that sudden loss is the greatest pain. She must mourn even though her beliefs that her sister lives with our loving God are very strong. But slowly, she claims her sister’s love that is always with her and that her sister lives forever with Love as she herself does now and forever. Her sister is close to her and she is comforted. Love comforts her. Life after life helps her to continue on. From Love she finds the strength for life.

As I reflect on the readings for this week, especially the Gospel, Luke 20: 27-38, where the Saducees who do not believe in resurrection try to make Jesus look bad by presenting a ridiculous situation in what they consider a ridiculous notion-life after life. Jesus is near his own death and is firm in this knowledge.  Jesus once again rises above a political trap and speaks truth that it is not easy to understand. Basically he says that there is resurrection-death is not the end. He says that we cannot really grasp and understand the kind of life we will have after we die, but “God is not the God of the dead but of the living, and to God “all are alive.”

This reflection by Fr. John Foley of St. Louis University says what I believe better than I can say it and it is similar to the way I comforted my friend who lost her sister and all who lose and anticipate loss of their dearly loved ones. I  draw comfort and hope in this. (The italics and emphasis are mine).

Life  After Death-This is part of Fr. Foley’s Homily: 
John J. Foley SJ liturgy.slu.edu/32OrdC110616/reflections_foley.htmal

“Our God is God of life, the Gospel says; “to him all are alive,” even the dead! How could this be? Because God keeps love safe.
What?
Yes. Real love is the rich earth that nurtures great trees. Roots dig deep down in the soil for nourishment and moisture. Their green selves grow out of the earth—and notice something obvious: the earth does not grow out of them! Their life and our lives are rooted in the rich loam of love. Life grows out of love, not visa versa.

It is difficult to say the last sentence correctly. Let me try again. Love is a force much deeper than life. When life ceases, love stays. It becomes the home, the embracing arms that enfold us. Love is the substance, life is the outgrowth.

So the “place” dead persons go, leaving their bodies behind, is into the heart of love, into the arms of God who is love.

Here is how the poet Hopkins put it:

Hither then, last or first,
To hero of Calvary, Christ’s feet—
Never ask if meaning it, wanting it, warned of it—men go.*
Christ’s feet are where you and I will be, honoring the perfect fullness of love he achieved. Oh yes, we have to release our tight grip on the treasures we hoard, things we might be grasping instead of love.

If you and I have a hard time “meaning it and wanting it” during our lives, even so, we are still folded into the luxuriant soil of God’s love. Sometimes we refuse it, of course, and then our roots dry out in the sun. But Love forgives us and invites us and helps us back.

It is hard to talk about, but worth it.”

John Foley, SJ

I am glad that Fr. John Foley did not choose the other readings of the day or other aspects of the readings to reflect on-for this is the heart of it, now and forever. AMEN.

Rev. Dr. Judy Lee, RCWP

Life grows out of the rich soil of God’s love, and returns to it…Living on in Love.

Here is a report and All Soul’s Day reflection by Rev. Chava Redonnet,RCWP that spotlights immigration. It is beautiful and worth reading! For further reflection on All Soul’s and All Saints Day you may also look in the Archives of this blog for the Nov. 1, 2015 homilies and reflections of Rev. Beverly Bingle and myself. . Rev. Dr. Judy Lee, RCWP

 FROM Rev. Chava Redonnet, RCWP

Oscar Romero Inclusive Catholic Church
Bulletin for Sunday, October 30, 2016                                                            31^st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear friends,

It’s November 2, the Feast of All Souls, celebrated throughout Latin America as Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead.  Two years ago today I was in El Salvador with Rachel McGuire and Ruth Rodriguez de Orantes, and experienced the Day of the Dead for the first time.

You know how in the United States, cemeteries are all grey and white, marble and granite, kind of spooky and scary and uncomfortable? My kids used to hold their breaths when we drove past a cemetery. I’m not sure what was supposed to happen if one happened to breathe, but it was an example of how we feel about cemeteries in our culture.

The first time I visited the cemetery in Santa Ana, I was surprised to find that the graves looked nothing like what I was used to. In Latin America, cemeteries are very colorful places. Tombs are constructed with ceramic tile – green, blue, yellow, pink, all the colors ceramic tile can be. And on Day of the Dead the cemeteries explode with color as each tomb is lovingly decorated, like so many home-made valentines, a love letter to those still carried in the hearts of those who loved them.

On Day of the Dead, a family might take a picnic to the cemetery, and stay all day. Everybody has the day off, and on that day two years ago it seemed like most of the population of Santa Ana was at the cemetery. Musicians play, and of course there are some tears – but as I looked around, it seemed the air was full of love.

It was like the beatitudes came alive: blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted – by loving memories, by the community of all who mourn together, by celebrating the lives of those who still live in our hearts. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, full of color and flowers and music, tears and love, all together.

Last week I wrote about the 25 people picked up by ICE in Buffalo. On Thursday, October 24, there was a demonstration at the Immigration Courthouse in Buffalo. Lots of people from Rochester were there! – including 5 of the 8 people arrested for chaining themselves to the front door of the courthouse – James and Annie from St Joe’s, Ryan from House of Mercy, Carly from the Worker Justice Center and Shannon from Take Back the Land. Jake and I were their support people, and waited for them to be released after what turned out to be a pretty harrowing afternoon in jail. There is a national group called Cosecha that organized the protest, and three young women from that organization were arrested, too. If you would like to keep up with what is happening with the Buffalo 25, I suggest getting on their mailing list, at  movimientocosechainfo@gmail.com  .   This link will take you to the page for their next event:https://www.facebook.com/events/713467655488084/?notif_t=plan_user_joined&notif_id=1477926951460313   Carly Fox is organizing drivers for farmworkers who want to attend events supporting the Buffalo 25. Contact her at cfox@wjcny.org

Just before the 8 folks went up the steps at the courthouse to begin their sit-in, I said to Annie, “What you are doing is holy. We should call it the sacrament of civil disobedience!” For a little while, they voluntarily experienced what so many experience involuntarily – all the indignities of incarceration – hunger, cold, lack of privacy. They told of being strip-searched. Carly said she was never so aware of her privilege —  voluntarily experiencing all that, but ultimately able to leave, with a court visit and not even a fine to pay, just “don’t get in trouble for six months and this will go away.” . Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall have their fill. Thanks for standing with the Buffalo 25, you 8!

Two rather lovely things happened in the past week or so. Last Thursday night at the Rural and Migrant Ministries dinner, Marilu Aguilar received an award for her years of work on behalf of farmworker justice. Tomorrow, another award – this one for Librada Paz, for being an inspirational leader! – from Latinas Unidas. Very proud of both of you! Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God – both Marilu and Librada have been steadfast and pure of heart in their work for justice.

We continue to meet for Mass at 11 am Sunday mornings at St Joe’s, and you are always welcome. The Migrant Mass has been on hiatus for a bit because people are working so late, but hopefully starting again soon. Let me know if you want to join us some Thursday!

Love to all , Chava

Oscar Romero Church  An Inclusive Community of Liberation, Justice and Joy

Worshiping in the Catholic Tradition   Mass: Sundays, 11 am
St Joseph’s House of Hospitality, 402 South Ave, Rochester NY 14620

A member community of the Federation of Christian Ministries

Below Rev. Chava Redonnet, RCWP a member of RCWP-East, is the 3rd from the left in the front row as you view the picture.