Celebrating women's ordination in OH

Last week, four women were ordained as priests and two as deacons in Brecksville, Ohio. CTA members and other supporters of an inclusive priesthood were among the ordained and those celebrating with them. Several carfuls of friends drove from Columbus to celebrate with Rev. Irene Scaramazza, who often leads the worship services of their small faith community. Sharon, a CTA Columbus member, was excited to see her friend ordained and said it was a beautiful weekend.

The women were ordained by Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan, a Bishop with the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests and friend of CTA. In her homily, she spoke of Jesus' inclusive ministry and the need for justice in our Church. "I am becoming a priest because God asked," Rev. Marianne told reporters. "God’s inclusive love cannot be expressed or shared from a strictly male point of view. That was not the message of Jesus."

The priests and deacons ordained last week will go home to do the ministry of our Church in the world. Many worked as lay ministers, chaplains or in vowed religious life as part of their journey to this day. We celebrate with them as they answer the call to ordained ministry!