Mary of Magdala Celebration—a feast for all women and men!

GATHERING SONG

All Are Welcome by Marty Haugen

 Verse 1:  Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live, a place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive. Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace; here the love of Christ shall end divisions:

All are welcome, all are welcome—all are welcome in this place.

Verse 2:  Let us build a house where prophets speak, and words are strong and true, where all God’s children dare to seek—to dream God’s reign a new.  Here the cross shall stand as witness—and as symbol of God’s grace; here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:

All are welcome, all are welcome—all are welcome in this place.

 GREETING

 Presider:  In the name of God, our mother and father, and of Jesus our savior and healer, and of the Holy Spirit, our wisdom and guide.

ALL:  Amen.

Presider:  May God, the Blessed Holy Three, be with us, as we work together for partnership, justice and equality for women in church and society!

ALL:  And also with you.

 PENITENTIAL RITE

Presider:  O God, may we see your feminine face in our female ancestors and in all women.

ALL:  May we open our hearts, like Mary of Magdala to the Risen Christ.

Presider:  Jesus the Christ, may we see the divine reality in the person of a woman especially in women who are called to serve you.

ALL:  May we, like Mary of Magdala, proclaim the Good News with courage.  

 Presider:  May the God of love, forgive us our lack of trust in your Spirit Sophia moving with us, in us, and through us, leading us to guidance, courage, healing and empowerment.

ALL: Amen.

 LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading:  Romans 16:1-7, 16

 Litany of Women for the Church

Presider:  Dear God, creator of women in your own image, born of a woman in the midst of a world half women, carried by women to mission fields around the globe, made known by women to all the children of the earth, give to the women of our time the strength to persevere, the courage to speak out, the faith to believe in you beyond all systems and institutions so that your face on earth may be seen in all its beauty,  so that men and women become whole, so that the church may be converted to your will in everything and in all ways. We call on the holy women who went before us and who stand beside us, channels of Your Word in testaments old and new, to intercede for us so that we might be given the grace to become what they are and have been for the honor and glory of God.

Please have people respond with, “pray for us” after each petition

ALL: Come, O Jesus, send us your Spirit, renew the face of our Church

• Saint Esther, who pleaded against power for the liberation of the people, pray for us.
• Saint Judith, who routed the plans of men and saved the community, pray for us.
• Saint Deborah, laywoman and judge, who led the people of God, pray for us.
• Saint Elizabeth of Judea, who recognized the value of another woman, pray for us.
• Saint Mary Magdalene, minister of Jesus, first evangelist of the Christ, pray for us.

ALL: Come, O Jesus, send us your Spirit, renew the face of our Church

2.

• Saint Scholastica, who taught her brother Benedict to honor the spirit above the system, pray for us.
• Saint Hildegard, who suffered interdict for the doing of right, pray for us.
• Saint Joan of Arc, who put no law above the law of God, pray for us.
• Saint Clare of Assisi, who confronted the pope with the image of woman as equal, pray for us.
• Saint Julian of Norwich, who proclaimed for all of us the motherhood of God, pray for us.

ALL: Come, O Jesus, send us your Spirit, renew the face of our church

3.

• Saint Therese of Lisieux, who knew the call to priesthood in herself, pray for us.
• Saint Catherine of Siena, to whom the pope listened, pray for us.
• Saint Teresa of Avila, who brought women’s gifts to the reform of the church, pray for us.
• Saint Edith Stein, who brought fearlessness to faith, pray for us.
• Saint Elizabeth Seton, who broke down boundaries between lay women and religious by wedding motherhood and religious life, pray for us.

ALL: Come, O Jesus, send us your Spirit, renew the face of our Church

4.

• Saint Dorothy Day, who led the church to a new sense of justice, pray for us.
• Sr. Joan Chittister, who is passionate for change and challenges us to take the leap, pray for us.
• Sr. Simone Campbell, who brings commitment and humor to the serious business of social justice, pray for us.
• Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan, who leads Catholic women everywhere to honor their call to Ordination, pray for us.  
• Mary, Mother of Jesus, who turned the Spirit of God into the body and blood of Christ, pray for us. Amen.

ALL: Come, O Jesus, send us your spirit, renew the face of our Church

Joan Chittister, OSB, Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Pennsylvania; amendments by G. Mog

Gospel Acclamation:  ALLELUIA!    (sung)

Reader:  A reading from the Gospel according to John 20:1-2, 11-18

ALL:  Glory to you O God.

Reader:  The good news of Jesus, the Christ!

ALL:  Glory and praise to you, Jesus the Christ!

HOMILY

PROFESSION OF FAITH

ALL:  We believe in God who is creator and nurturer of all. We believe in Jesus, the Christ, who is our love, our hope, and our light. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the breath of Wisdom Sophia, who energizes and guides us to build caring communities and to challenge oppression, exploitation and injustices. 

 We believe that God loves us passionately and forgives us everything.  We believe that we are radiant images of God who calls us to live fully, love tenderly, and serve generously.  We believe in the communion of saints our heavenly friends, who support us on life’s journey.  We believe in the partnership and equality of women and men in our church and world.  We believe that all are one in the Heart of God.  We believe that women’s liberation is human liberation.  Here we dwell in loving relationships.  Here we live our prophetic call of Gospel equality.

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

Lector:  Jesus healed St. Mary of Magdala of a very serious illness and then she chose to follow him, supporting his mission with all of her resources.  Thank you O Christ, for all the ways you heal us.  Open our hearts to receive your healing grace and let us, like St. Mary of Magdala, put all we have at your service.  For this we pray.

 Response:  Loving God, hear our prayer.

 Lector:  Mary and the other women and men disciples persevered with Jesus, even when he was persecuted by his own religious leadership and government authorities.  God of Strength, help us stand in Jesus’ truth and healing love especially when we experience persecution for justice’ sake.  For this we pray.

Response:  Loving God, hear our prayer.

 Lector:  Because of her witness and fidelity, St. Mary of Magdala is known as the Apostle to the Apostles.  Help us, O God of Righteousness, to accept your apostolic call “to go and tell our brothers and sisters of Jesus’ power to heal… even wounded structures which exclude.” For this we pray.

Response:   Loving God, hear our prayer.

 Lector:  Women were faithful disciples of Jesus and significant leaders in the early Christian communities.  Help us Most Inclusive One, to reclaim our baptismal call to leadership.  For this we pray.

 Response:  Loving God, hear our prayer. 

ALL: Amen

Liturgy of the Eucharist

 Preparation of the Gifts—(Reminder to the people—here we bring and offer all that we are along with the bread and wine)

 (Presider lifts the bread)

Blessed are you, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.

All: Blessed be God forever.

 (Presider prays alone—pouring a few drops of water into the chalice along with the wine)

(By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity).

 (Presider lifts the chalice)

Blessed are you, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink.

All: Blessed be God forever.

 Presider:  My sisters and brothers; let us pray that these our gifts may be acceptable to God, our Creator.

Prayer over the Gifts [all stand]

 All: Holy One, accept these gifts from our hands for the praise and glory of your name, for our good and the good of all your people.

Presider:  God dwells in you.

ALL:  And also in you.  

 Presider:  Lift up your hearts and pursue justice.

ALL:  We lift them up to God, Pursuer of Justice.  

 Presider: Let us give thanks to the Creator of all.

ALL: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

 Part One:  Presider: O loving God, O blessed Holy Three, who brings to birth the world of our dreams for mutual respect and partnership, we do well always and everywhere to give you praise.  Give us courage to act justly and work collaboratively to change systems that keep people poor and marginalized in our society. We thank you for the women and men who are working for justice and equality in our church and world. Your gift of the Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, gives us hope that one day all will be one at the eternal banquet of heaven. With thankful hearts in the company of the angels and saints, we praise you, God of Abundance and Welcome.

ALL:

Holy, holy, holy, Christ Sophia.

Gentle pow’r, merciful might, your glory fills heaven and earth.

Blessed are you who comes in God’s holy name.

Hosanna, hosanna in the highest. 

Part Two:  Presider: You are holy indeed O Mothering God. You are the Heart of Love. You affirm women’s bodies as holy and women’s stories as sacred.  Pour out your Spirit upon all who work for justice and equality.  Pour out your spirit upon this bread and wine so that we may become the body and blood of Jesus, the Christ, in whom we have all become your daughters and sons.

(please all extend hands as we recite the consecration)

Presider:  On the night before he died, Jesus came to table with the women and men he loved.  Jesus took bread and praised you, God of compassion. He blessed and broke the bread, gave it to all his friends and said:

ALL:  “Take, eat, this is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. 

Presider:  After supper, Jesus poured the final cup of wine and blessed you, God the Creator.  Jesus shared the cup with his friends, and said:

ALL:  This is the cup of the covenant of my love poured out for you.  As often as you drink of it, remember me.

Presider:  Let us proclaim the mystery of faith.

ALL:    Christ has died.  Christ is risen.  Christ will come again.

Part Three:  Presider: In memory of Jesus, who showed us the path to liberation and empowerment, we offer you, Loving Creator, the bread of life, this saving cup. We give thanks that we live in your Enfolding Presence and serve you with grateful hearts.  May all of us who share in this sacred banquet of Christ be brought together as one in the Holy Spirit and be filled with courage to live Gospel equality in inclusive communities working for justice and peace in our church and world.

Part Four: Presider:  God, remember your holy people throughout the world, make us one in love, together with Francis, our pope, our female and male bishops, and all God’s people. Remember our sisters and brothers, who face oppression, discrimination and joblessness, who have lost homes, partners, and hope.  Remember all those who work for justice. Remember those who have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again, bring them and all the departed into your everlasting arms.

Part Five:  Presider: Have mercy on us all; make us one with Mary, Mother of Jesus, our sister and champion of the oppressed, and the apostles through the ages, especially Mary of Magdala, Junia and Andronicus, and all the holy women and men who have done your will throughout the ages.  May their courage inspire us to confront patriarchal systems that discriminate against women.  God, may we be free at last from all bondage and injustice, and give you glory through Jesus the Christ.

ALL:  Through Christ, With Christ and In Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, may our work for justice, peace and equality give You glory and honor, Holy God forever and ever.  Amen.

THE PRAYER OF JESUS

Join hands all around and across the isles and continue holding hands until the concluding prayer.

 ALL:  Our Father and Mother, who art in heaven…

Presider:  Protect us, God, from all evil and dismiss all anxiety from our minds.  May a thousand angels guide our steps to live justice, partnership and equality now as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of God in our time where all can say “thank God we are free at last!”

 ALL:  For the kindom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

 THE SIGN OF PEACE

 LITANY FOR THE BREAKING OF BREAD—(Lamb of God)

Loving God, you call us to speak truth to power.

ALL:  Have mercy on us.

Loving God, you call us to live the gospel of justice and peace.

ALL:  Have mercy on us.

Loving God, you call us to be your presence in the world.

ALL:  Grant us your peace.

 Presider:   This is Jesus, who called women and men to be partners and equals, and who liberates, heals and transforms us and our world. All are invited to partake of this sacred banquet of love.

ALL:  Jesus you make us worthy to receive you and become you for others.  We are the Body of Christ.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Our God of love and compassion, just as you called Mary of Magdala, you also call us to go forth and to tell the Good News.  We answer you as people who are often unsure of our desire to be so embraced.  Guide us closer to You and to each other.  Strengthen us in our walks of life and build us into the Reign of God and seal us with the Spirit of your promise.  We ask this through our Holy Sophia.  Amen.

CONCLUDING RITE

BLESSING

Presider:   Our God is with you.

ALL:  and also with you.

 (extend your hands over one another)

ALL:  May the fire of God’s love warm our hearts.  May God grant our prayers for justice and equality in our church and world.  May the love of Christ fill us and radiate through us forever.

 DISMISSAL

Presider:   Go in the peace of Christ.  May Mary of Magdala be our model of courage and faithful service.  By her example may we delight in the presence of Jesus and shout with joy:  “I have seen the Lord!”

ALL:   Thanks be to God.

CONCLUDING HYMN

All Are Welcome by Marty Haugen

Verse 4:  Let us build a house where hands can reach beyond the wood and stone—to heal and strengthen, serve and teach—and live the Word they’ve known.  Here the outcast and the stranger—bear the image of God’s face; let us bring an end to fear and danger:

All are welcome, all are welcome—all are welcome in this place.

Verse 5:  Let us build a house where all are named, their songs and visions heard—and loved and treasured, taught and claimed—as words within the Word.  Built of tears and cries and laughter, prayers of faith and songs of grace—let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:

All are welcome, all are welcome—all are welcome in this place.

Bridget Mary Meehan Association of Roman Catholic Woman Priests

http://bridgetmarys.blogspot.com/

www.arcwp.org

Dear Friends,

I got the following email from Anne Morse who heads up MOMS DEMAND ACTION here in Winona about something pro-active we can do to let our MN senators and reps know how we feel about making our state safer from gun violence. Anne gives us a quick response through emails and also the option of phone calls to the senators on the committee looking at these bills. Do as much or as little as you can, but consider doing something. I found if I used my computer to have the phone numbers handy and called on my cell phone, it was pretty slick!

Thanks for whatever you can do!

Below is the list of members of the conference committee that will determine if our two bills – Red Flag Law and Criminal Background Checks on all Gun Sales – are kept in the public safety bill, or not.  This is our big moment!!!  Contact them in the order listed, as the Republicans are listed first, and they need to hear from us even more than the dems!  Just email all six of the dems in one email, but call the top six, and if you can only make one call, call Sen. Gazelka!   The vote might come as soon as tomorrow, so please do it now!!!!

Thanks,

Anne

Moms Demand Action – MN

2 hrs

TAKE ACTION: Minnesotans must have a public safety bill with criminal background checks and Red Flag protections. Contact these committee members as soon as possible and urge them to support background checks and the Red Flag protections.

Senator Paul Gazelka, 651.296.4875,
sen.paul.gazelka@senate.mn

Senator Warren Limmer, 651-296-2159, sen.warren.limmer@senate.mn

Senator Ron Latz, 651-297-8065, sen.ron.latz@senate.mn

Senator Mark Johnson, 651-296-5782, sen.mark.johnson@senate.mn

Senator Andrew Lang, 651-296-4918, sen.andrew.lang@senate.mn

Senator Bruce Anderson, 651-296-5981, sen.bruce.anderson@senate.mn

Rep. Melissa Hortman, 651-296-4280, rep.melissa.hortman@house.mn

Rep. Nick Zerwas, 651-296-4237, rep.nick.zerwas@house.mn

Rep. Dave Pinto, 651-296-4199, rep.dave.pinto@house.mn

Rep. Kelly Moller, 651-296-0141, rep.kelly.moller@house.mn

Rep. John Lesch, 651-296-4224, rep.john.lesch@house.mn

Rep. Carlos Mariani, 651-296-9714, rep.carlos.mariani@house.mn

Dear Friends,

Hopefully,  I am not over-whelming you, but I wanted to send this last message with regard to anyone who may want to write or in other ways, be in contact with the Winona Diocesan bishop, John Quinn. (Diocese of Winona, Pastoral Center, 55 West Sanborn Street, Winona, MN 55987  jmquinn@dow.org).

I went out on-line finding The Courier, the diocesan newspaper to see if the bishop has written anything concerning the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report. Indeed, he has and like other bishops, he has expressed horror, shock, and has expressed his sorrow to those who have been hurt and asked for their forgiveness. He says that he has met with all the victims.  He also states in this letter to the Winona people that the diocese has in place programs that will safeguard children in the future. I am not including the letter here as part of it is in very small print and I wasn’t able to enlarge it. But if you would like to check out The Courier  on-line, simply type in those words and you can read more.

Given all that the bishop has written about, when I write him; I will suggest that in order for these first, good steps to ultimately be meaningful, long term;  he must go further. I will remind him that the trust of the clergy has been badly damaged due to the sex abuse by priests and the cover-up of the crimes by bishops and as a result, it is very hard to believe and trust anything that is being said, even when it is being said by people (priests) that you previously did trust.

I will also suggest that the priests and the bishop must earnestly sit down and talk with each other, brain-storming about the best things they can do to gain the trust back. One of those things must certainly be to open up all the hidden documents and cease with the cover-up, and the lying.

Additionally, the priests and the bishop must look at what caused this climate/culture of evil, crime and mistrust to happen in the first place.  Within that discussion they must look at clericalism and celibacy and the part that each has played in the continuation of these evils.

Involvement of qualified laity and women in positions of decision-making must happen if this Church is going to be able to speak to more than the few rather than the multitudes. In setting up new policies for reform, the laity must be involved! In addition, women as ordained members of the Church must happen as part of the needed reforms.

And finally, I again encourage each of you reading these materials to do that which is yours to do–listening to your hearts in prayer will let you know that! Letters can be very simple–just state the facts, let the person you are writing to know of your concern, your love for all that the Church founded in the memory of our brother Jesus means to you–think beyond the clergy and their failures and challenge the clergy person you are addressing to their best self and to do what is right.  

If you write the bishop, let him know that you are looking for his leadership in a very public way. He said that he has talked to all of the victims–good to remind him that he has only met with those who have come forward.  Many have walked away because of their unresolved pain, unfortunately, some have taken their lives.

It is my hope and prayer that what I have written here and your eventual letters can go far and wide and that our beloved Church can once again be something for all of the people.  You may feel that this is beyond you and that you couldn’t address the bishop in this way, but just remember, that each of us as a baptized and confirmed Christian has the duty to speak what is true and good–trust that the Spirit will give you the words–as with the pope, be respectful (your respect is always for more than the person) and to the point.

Thank you all for the part that is yours to do–

Blessings on all,

Pastor Kathy

P.S. Write letters or give calls to every priest you know, respectfully telling them of your concerns and expectations of them! The pope does not receive emails or read them!

Dear Friends,