Rev. Myra Brown has been a part of the Spiritus Christi Church for the past 25 years. She was part of an original group that broke away from a traditional Catholic church and formed the independent Catholic church in 1998 in order to be inclusive of all.

A life full of service and devotion to the church, Rev. Brown said she got the call to serve at the age of eight. It wasn’t until she was 24, though, she thought of becoming a member of the parish staff.

“I heard the Lord say to me, when I was praying, ‘I called you to preach and teach my word’,” she said.

But being a woman, an African American and a Catholic, Rev. Brown never imagined the call would lead her to this moment.

“I didn’t understand why God would say that to me, but I trusted, and decided to walk with God. Whatever door God would open, I would walk through and meet God on the other side.”

Her church family, though, did understand. They were proud to stand in support of a woman they say has changed many lives in the community.

“She has just been an inspiration to us, given she has gone through so much herself and has come to this calling,” said Dawn Novak.

“She works to break walls down, to represent all of the people who are not being properly represented,” Kirsten Allen Reader said.

Rev. Brown said it was starting to sink in just how historic this day is; and not only for her.

“It’s important to send the right message to other African American girls and women, to follow their call, to let their voices me heard, to step into their place in the world, in society, in the church, wherever God is calling them.”

Rev. Brown will celebrate her first official mass Sunday morning. First at 7:30 a.m. at the Spiritus Christi Church and at 9:30 a.m. at the Hochstein Music School.

And from Bridgetmarys blog: