World Day of Prayer for Women's Ordination

March 25, 2006

"Good Catholic Girls Stand Up for Women's Ordination"

Holy Cross Community in Merrill, Wisconsin

By Sister Celine Goessl, SCSC

Following our day of chapter meetings on March 25th, the Feast of the Annunciation, the Sisters and Associates of our religious community walked into the chapel to say our “yes” to God, as Mary had said her “yes” after listening to the message of the angel. Scattered among the crowd were seven members of the community wearing purple stoles either as a symbol of a personal call to a renewing priesthood or as a sign of support and recognition that some among us have received that call, begun at baptism, and issued at a different level at this time in our history.

We stood in the chapel as our voices range out with the hymn: “We Are Called” by David Haas. At the time of the invocations, there was a brilliant display of colors shining from the scarves and ribbons being waved in recognition of changes taking place within our beloved church structure. Tambourines and maracas along with bells and other percussion instruments were played in harmony with our voices. This was an historic moment that will be written in memory of something special happening within this sacred space, the center of our life in Christ, as the chapel walls encompassed the joy and conviction that life will be changed by the “yes” that we speak today and each day through word, song, and music.

The Hebrew Scriptures once again played out the story of our dance before the Ark of God, only this time it happened in the temple of Holy Cross Chapel in the year 2006, as the bright spring sun began fading in the west. Tomorrow will be the dawn of a new day.

Sister Celine Goessl, SCSC serves as the Treasurer of WOC’s Board of Directors, and was elected to be the Provincial of her Holy Cross Sisters community.