"Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her" was our Gospel Reading from Mark 14:9. In response to the Gospel, representatives from WOC's ministries spoke: Celine Goessl from the Ministry of Walking with Women Called, Victoria Rue from the Ministry of Prophetic Obedience, Amy Scanlon from Young Feminist Network and me from Ministry of Irritation. 

After the speakers, Young Feminist Network performed a wisdom-filled street theater skit that featured the three giant protest puppets they made the month before: Jesus, a Woman called to ordination, and a Bishop. In the skit, the bishop turned the woman called to ordination away even as he displayed a sign that read “Priests Urgently Needed,” while Jesus gave his blessing and affirmed her call to ordination.

After the skit, the group sang “Holy Ground” and Gerry Rauch, Ruth Steinert Foote and I danced in the board for our altar, a tablecloth, the bread and wine to begin our Eucharist Liturgy. Victoria, Celine and I led the liturgy written by Victoria, Aisha Taylor and I.    

It was a memorable liturgy.  I felt blessed to be among people who give so much of themselves to re-make our church community. I could see the appreciation in the eyes of all who participated as we sang "We are a gentle loving People,” “Dona Nobis Pacem,” “Holy One” and “Ubi Caritas.” Our courage was renewed.

During Prayers of the Faithful, each of us called out the needs of our communities today. We named our foremothers and those people today whose lives witness for justice. At the Final Blessing, Victoria reminded us "The Mass is ended. The service has just begun."

None of the bishops joined us, and neither did Sr. Mary Ann Walsh.

At the conclusion of the liturgy, three large armloads of long-stemmed roses of striking autumn shades were brought forward to be blessed by all participants before they were presented to the bishops. Each rose had one or two purple postcards attached to it with a message to a particular bishop and signed by a woman called to the priesthood.

In my research for our Rose Ritual, I learned that St. Thérèse had been the inspiration of both Dorothy Day and Mother Teresa. We prayed: "St. Thérèse, our friend and patroness. You encouraged the women around you to be bold and strong. You did not hide your desire to become a priest. Be with us women called to the priesthood. Strengthen our resolve as we go forward speaking truth to power and modeling a servant priesthood. Journey with us as we witness to the bishops. Bless our Women's Ordination Conference on its 30th anniversary and all women who have worked for equality in our church and world community. Shower us with your roses that teach us how to love."

Afterward, Celine read the names (some anonymous) of the 86 women from across the country who wrote in to tell us they experience calls to the priesthood. The roses were placed in the waiting arms of Regina Nicolosi, Victoria Rue, and Gabriella Velardi Ward, a member of RAPPORT. We then proceeded to walk to the entrance of the Hyatt to deliver them to the bishops. We were quickly stopped in the driveway by security guards. We explained that we had written a letter to Sr. Mary Ann Walsh, as a representative of the bishops. In the letter we had asked her to deliver to the bishops the roses and cards with names of women called to the priesthood. In other words, we were waiting for Sr. Mary Ann Walsh who knew of our action beforehand.  We were ordered back to the sidewalk, but we held our ground. 

As we were pondering what to do, Mary Hunt went inside the Hyatt. Jim Burch, a non-Roman Catholic bishop, wearing a Roman collar and the bishop’s gold chain, entered the Hyatt after her. The two conferred for a few seconds before Jim walked out the front door of the Hyatt and motioned to us. He said, “It’s okay. Let them in,” and waved from the door to the security force. “They’re fine. There won’t be any problem,” he continued. We heard one of them whisper in his shirt-sleeve microphone to the other guards on ear speakers, “One of the bishops came down to say it’s okay, so we can let them in.”

As we passed him, it occurred to me that he looked familiar, though I did not recognize him at the time. Without missing a beat, we processed down the escalator to the conference room area.

Once in the downstairs lobby, I knew where to lead us from my action with the bishops in 2000. We walked toward the security man posted at the escalator that led to the downstairs conference room where the bishops were gathering. I explained to him that we were looking for Sr. Mary Ann Walsh. Within a few seconds, the hotel security staff appeared and ordered us to leave.  We told our story again and remained steadfast.  I saw Mary Hunt and Dolly Pomerleau nearby. Seeing that we were not going to leave, an unknown man told us in a rather angry voice that Sr. Mary Ann Walsh would soon be here.  We were delighted and a moment later, she stood before us. I reminded her of the letter we sent inviting her and the bishops to our Eucharistic Liturgy and the Rose Ritual.

"We ask you, Sr. Mary Ann, to give these roses to the bishops. Attached to each rose is a purple card with the name of a woman called to priesthood and the diocese in which she lives." She nodded, said she would deliver them to the bishops, and then extended her arms as Victoria, Regina, and Gabriella filled them with the roses and cards.

We laughed at our victory as we were joined by Dolly, Jim, and Mary. I felt that indeed Thérèse of Lisieux had walked with us. Then we learned that Mary had motioned Jim Burch into the hotel since she had just walked in while we were still standing in the driveway with the roses and the security guards would not let us in.  Jim’s collar and gold chain made him look every bit the male bishop, so when he gestured to us to come inside, the security of the Hyatt was fooled into thinking he was a Roman Catholic bishop! Everyone cheered as we appeared triumphantly back outside on the sidewalks without the roses and full of joy!

We said our good-byes with hugs, picked up our things from the sidewalk where we had gathered and thanked everyone for their participation. After we removed our albs, several of us had lunch inside the Hyatt where we talked further about our coup d' etat.

After everyone left, I continued my tradition. I stayed outside on the streets and silently witnessed in my alb, cincture, and stole and with my "Ordain Women" sign as the bishops processed into the buses for their Mass at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. They did see me.

Then, peace activist Tom Siemer and I got a ride from filmmaker Jules Hart who took us to the Shrine for Mass. We sat up in front.  

I was given the Eucharist in my priestly garb. 

Throughout the Mass, the bishops chief security man was a few feet away at the end of the pew. As the Mass concluded, I asked his permission to witness to the bishops. He gave me the nod and I left the pew and walked to the side of the "communion rail." I stood in view of the bishops as they left the sanctuary and processed out. Later, the security chief talked with me about the power of my silent witness to the bishops as a woman priest.

That evening, I gave thanks and rejoiced for our Spirit-filled day. 

Janice Sevre-Duszynska serves on the WOC Board of Directors and co-chairs the Ministry of Irritation. 

| top | back |