Ten More Roman Catholic Women Ordained: Reflections of a Roman Catholic Woman Priest

On June 24, 2023, we congratulated Carmella Cicirelli as she was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest in Westland, Michigan! She was a Deacon with the Great Waters Community and our blessings and prayers rest with her as she takes this step of faith and courage and responds to God’s call to serve as a Priest.

By July of 2023 Roman Catholic Women Priests will have ordained 5 new priests and 5 new deacons throughout the United States. All are well prepared and well educated for their duties. As of now, 3 priests and 5 deacons are already ordained this year. We are on a roll and nothing can stop us now. We have almost 290 members world wide since our beginning on the Danube river in 2002. (See http://www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org ) More are on their way. Women are being chosen by their faith communities to serve them as ordained clergy. Women are called and women are ready,and women are being blessed with the support of their communities.

These are the women who have responded to God’s call and their community’s call thus far this year:

Priests: Eileen Mary Matley ordained on June 4, 2023 in Urbana, Illinois, and Carmella Cicirelli ordained today, June 24, 2023 in Westland, Michigan, both of the Great Waters Roman Catholic Woman Priest Community. Susan Russell also of Great Waters will be ordained a Priest on July 8, 2023. Bishop Mary Keldermans presiding.

Andrea Grace Weaver of the ARCWP Community will be ordained a Priest on July 22nd in Lincoln , Mass. Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan presiding. Amina Wolf of Northern California was incardinated on June 4, 2023, RCWP Bishop Jane Via Presiding. .

Deacons

Mary Pretorius Murphy was ordained Deacon on April 16, 2023 in Weston, Vermont. Bishop Jean Marchant of the Eastern Region of RCWP was presiding.

Karla Jenson was ordained a Deacon in Los Gatos , California of May 6th, 2023. Bishop Suz Thiel was presiding.

Susan Knapp and Adina Myer were ordained Deacons on June 4, 2023 in Northern California, Bishop Jane Via presiding. And Andrea Grace Weaver was ordained a deacon on June 10th in Lincoln, Mass with ARCWP Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan presiding.

We offer our deepest blessings and Congratulations to these courageous and called women who are now ordained clergy in the roman Catholic Church.

Saluting Some of Our Priests

We have the opportunity to recognize some of our priests each month. This month, we

wish to salute Rev. Josie Petermeier for her priestly service and for the financial services role she has so well and selflessly offered to RCWP. While this is a behind the scenes role, we could not function without it! And we also offer her love and prayers as she battles with cancer.

We recognize the years of faithful Priestly service of Rev. Marty Meyer-Gad and we join her in her hope that one day there will be no need for priests as the laity will carry on all tasks given our equal call to love and serve Christ Jesus.

We also recognize the priestly service and service as an ARCWP Bishop in Colombia, South America of Rev. Olga Lucia Alvarado. She has been a priest since 2010.

We especially thank + Rev. Suzanne Thiel, Bishop, for her careful record keeping and her passion for promoting RCWP over the years. I am indebted to her for this and for the information in this report though I am totally responsible for its content. I ask all of you who read it to pass it on- YES, there are women who are Roman Catholic Priests, and YES, we are growing and continue always to love and serve God’s people.

May our Loving God Bless and Keep you,

Pastor Judy Lee, RCWP

Rev. Dr. Judith Lee, Pastor the Good Shepherd Community in Fort Myers, Florida

June 24, 2023