March 25, 2006
"Good Catholic Girls Stand Up for Women's Ordination"
San Jose State University, California
By Victoria Rue
We were a small but prayer-filled group. Each week students, faculty and staff join me, a Roman Catholic womanpriest, to celebrate the reality of women’s ordination in our weekly Mass, held every Thursday at 1:00 pm in the university chapel. On Thursday March 23 rd, we focused on the “foolishness” of Jesus in throwing out sellers and the money changers from the temple. We read an email from the Philippines that called for the radical message of Jesus—that there be no rich or poor, but a commonwealth. I offered that womenpriests and our movement are often looked at as “foolish” by the Vatican. Students and guests spoke of the power of action in the work of social justice, and how it is often necessary to enact justice to cause justice.
Two guests, Elizabeth and Marilyn from the larger San Jose area, joined into the shared homily with our little community of six students. One student had to leave for a mid-term after the gospel and homily. Together, we celebrated the Eucharistic liturgy.
Later, the student returned after taking her exam. Everyone else had left. I was packing up. We talked a bit. I asked her what had made her return to the chapel today. She wondered if the Eucharist was still available. I smiled and said, “God’s love is always available.” I took out the bread and wine from my knapsack. We told the story once again. And once again, along with the bread and wine, we became the body of Christ.
As Amanda and I were cleaning up, she said she had shared the NWNC paper I had offered students the week before with her mother. They had been having long discussions. Amanda wondered if she could bring her mother next week to our Eucharist.
“You bet,” I said, “she would be most welcome!” As she went down the aisle, holding the chalice and plate to wash them in the restroom, she turned and said, “you know, I always wanted to be an altar girl and now look at me…..” And I said, “But Amanda, today you can be so much more—you can be a womanpriest!” “Yes,” she said, with a big smile, “yes…. I can!”
Victoria Rue serves on the Board of the Women's Ordination Conference, and has been an active WOC member since 2003. For more information about the Roman Catholic Womenpriests movement, visit www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org
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