https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81534075389?pwd=TTdGY2NxS3AzTW13ODJESkdYME9aUT09
Meeting ID: 815 3407 5389
Passcode: 803326
Women in many ways are the foundation of the Catholic Church. We are mothers, nuns and sisters, teachers, nurses so many others who provide services that enrich our world. We build schools and hospitals, we travel to all parts of the world, especially in third world countries to serve the needs of the people. We work for freedom and justice for all.
Today we focus on the Roman Catholic Women Priest Movement. A movement that calls women of courage and conviction to defy the injustice of the Catholic hierarchy and step up to let their voices be heard.
Whoever you are,
Wherever you are,
Just as you are,
You are welcome at this table.
You Raise Me Up – Vanny Vabiola
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THS6Am0ZiDY&list=RDTHS6Am0ZiDY&index=2
Rite of Transformation:
Suzanne Bires: Called to see, embrace, and recognize the power within us to change the world with each step we make toward peace, harmony, acceptance, and love.
Transform us Holy One
Called to believe in infinite possibilities as we make choices that contribute to greater equality for those who struggle to support families, care for their children, and make a fair income.
Transform us Holy One
Called to celebrate the gift of creation in all its beauty and magnificence as we choose to be wise in protecting our planet for future generations, for the future of all life.
Transform us Holy One
Opening Prayer: As we gather round the table of friendship, we come with profound thanksgiving for the countless times we have been welcomed by the Holy One dwelling in another person. Because of open minds & hearts we have been received with warmth & kindness. We bring our intention to continue our efforts to accept those with whom we have differences. We welcome those who live among us whom we would rather not welcome. We pray to grow stronger & live more fully the vital qualities of hospitality: kindness, non-judgement, understanding, generosity, acceptance & good cheer.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Joan M: The First Reading is taken from Daily Reflections written by Richard Rohr
God’s major problem in liberating humanity has become apparent to me as I consider the undying recurrence of hatred of the other, century after century, in culture after culture and religion after religion.
Can you think of an era or nation or culture that did not oppose otherness? I doubt there has ever been such a sustained group. There have been enlightened individuals, thank God, but seldom established groups—not even in churches, I’m sorry to say. The Christian Eucharist was supposed to model equality and inclusivity, but we turned the Holy Meal into an exclusionary game, a religiously sanctioned declaration and division into groups of the worthy and the unworthy—as if we were worthy!
Eucharist is meant to identify us in a positive, inclusionary way, but we are not yet well-practiced at this. We honestly do not know how to do unity. Many today want to make the Holy Meal into a “prize for the perfect,” as Pope Francis observed. Most Christians still do not know how to receive a positive identity from God—that they belong and are loved by their very nature! The Eucharistic meal is meant to be a microcosmic event, summarizing at one table what is true in the whole macrocosm: we are one, we are equal in dignity, we all eat of the same divine food, and Jesus still and always “eats with sinners,” just as he did when on Earth.
These are the inspiring words of Richard Rohr, and we affirm them by saying,
ALL: Let it Be So
Mary Al: Second Reading: A Reading of ALiberation Psalm for Women by Miriam Therese Winter.
Where shall we find a liberated woman?
In the public square,
in the corridors of power,
in the pulpits,
and in our midst.
She dares to stand up for freedom,
not only for her gender,
but for all who are oppressed.
Challenging those who oppose her,
she puts her hand to systemic change,
knowing that only time will tell
how effective are her ways.
If married, she is a wholesome wife
who loves and supports her husband,
yet has a life of her own,
a separate identity,
personal plans and goals.
If single, she has a sense of self,
and rock-solid relationships
that nourish and enrich her
and help to make her whole.
If permanently bound to another
in a covenant of love,
she seeks to share
her inner strength
and vision
with the world.
She shares herself with all who hunger.
for meaning and for love, sinking her roots
in a rich and personal experience of her God.
Who is the strength of a liberated woman?
Her God,
her family,
her friends,
for she grows by their affirmation,
and succeeds through support,
and a helping hand,
all the days of her life. Amen.
Yes, let us say:
ALL: Let it Be So
CELTIC ALLELUIA
https://youtu.be/o1rc7ojQtJU
Joan P: A reading from the Gospel of Luke Chapter 9.
Jesus spoke to the crowds about the kingdom of God,
and he healed those who needed to be cured.
As the day was drawing to a close,
the Twelve approached him and said,
"Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions;
for we are in a deserted place here."
He said to them, "Give them some food yourselves. They replied, "Five loaves and two fish are all we have,
unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people."
Now the men there numbered about five thousand.
Then he said to his disciples,
"Have them sit down in groups of about fifty."
They did so and made them all sit down.
Then taking the five loaves and the two fish,
and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing over them, broke them,
and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.
They all ate and were satisfied.
And when the leftover fragments were picked up,
they filled twelve wicker baskets.
This inspiring story about Jesus is told to us by the Gospel writer known as Luke. We affirm its deepest truth by saying;
ALL: Let It Be So
Shared Homily/Community Reflections– Dotty
Suzanne Bires: Let us pray together our Statement of Faith
We believe in one God, a divine mystery
beyond all definition and rational understanding,
the heart of all that has ever existed,
that exists now, or that ever will exist.
We believe in Jesus, messenger of God's Word,
bringer of God's healing, heart of God's compassion,
bright star in the firmament of God's
prophets, mystics, and saints.
We believe that we are called to follow Jesus
as a vehicle of God's love,
a source of God's wisdom and truth,
and an instrument of God's peace in the world.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
The life of God that is our innermost life,
the breath of God moving in our being.
The depth of God living in each of us.
We believe that God's kin-dom is here and now,
stretched out all around us for those
with eyes to see it, hearts to receive it,
and hands to make it happen.
Prayers of the Community
Beth Ponce: As we prepare for the sacred meal, we bring to this table our blessings, cares, and concerns.
We Bring to the Table… all women priests and all women preparing for priesthood in the Peoples Catholic Seminary that they may experience the support and love from all those who believe in their call.
We Bring to the Table…all priests throughout the world who live the Ministry of Jesus through their work with the people of God. For all those who serve the spiritual, physicaland emotional needs of people everywhere and whose commitment to provide spiritual leadership, meaningful prayer opportunities, and their support in caring for poorest of the poor.
We bring to the Table… all women who have wonderful gifts, a good education, perfect experiences of leadership, and a commitment to serve others who are passed over for leadership positions because of gender inequality.
We bring to the Table. The LGBT+ Community, all people of color, immigrants seeking asylum, abused women and children,plus so many more who are alone with little support and without opportunities for success.
We bring to the table the needs of the MMOJ community as requested in the Book of Prayer Requests (Joan Meehan)
Please feel free to voice your concerns beginning with the words “I bring to the table….”
These are our prayers, our needs and our concerns, O Holy One. Strengthen us as we seek to be Christ to our broken world. Help us, as people of faith, to be a light to or world in darkness that Light may shine the way to peace.
ALL: Let it be so!
Offertory Song: Come As You Are
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLQsfto8LyE
Joan M. We are a priestly people. We are anointed. With open hands let us pray our Eucharistic prayer:
Christ has no body now but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world. You are His body; Christ has no body now but yours.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Karen Drucker
https://youtu.be/kl7vmiZ1YuI
MaryAl: Sacred Spirit we cannot grow in the darkness of this world without Your Light. Our desire is to be Your light with compassion and love for all those whose path we cross on our journey together. Help us keep our hearts and minds open to You through our love and care for each other and all creation.
Please extend your hands in blessing of bread and wine.
We call on Your Spirit, present in these gifts - bread that satisfies our hunger and wine that quenches our thirst – to make us more deeply One, living in the fullness of holy compassion and Sophia wisdom.
Dotty: The disciples, women and men, were gathered together with Jesus for the Seder meal.
Anticipating the likelihood of betrayal, arrest and pain, Jesus wanted more than anything to be with his friends, to share a meal, exchange stories and create memories.
On the night before he died, Jesus gathered for the supper with the people closest to him. Like the least of household servants, he washed their feet. Once again, he showed us how to love one another.
Back at the table, he took the Passover Bread, spoke the grace, broke the bread, and offered it to them saying,
Take and eat, this is my very self.
Then he took the cup of blessing, spoke the grace, and offered it to them saying:
Take and drink of the covenant
made new again through my life in you.
Whenever you remember me like this,
I am among you.
Joan P. Please join in praying the Litany for the Breaking of the Bread
Holy One, you call us to speak truth to power; we will do so.
Holy One, you call us to live the Gospel of healing and justice; we will do so.
Holy One, you call us to be Your presence in the world; we will do so.
Receive/share the Bread of Life and the Cup of the New Covenant with the words: “I AM THE BODY OF CHRIST.”
Communion Reflection Song: Bread For the Broken
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHx0YEWhq3w
MaryAl: Like Jesus we are inspired and come before this altar with open hands and open hearts. We will live a life rooted in compassion as it is living as Jesus lived, that we awaken to your Spirit within, moving us to glorify you, O Holy One, at this time and all ways.
ALL: AMEN
The Apostles said to Jesus TEACH us to pray. Here is what Jesus said.
Let us pray together the prayer of Jesus:
O Holy One, who is within, around, and among us, we celebrate your many names. Your wisdom come. Your will be done, unfolding from the depths within us. Each day you give us all that we need. You remind us of our limits, and we let go. You support us in our power, and we act with courage. For you are the dwelling place within us, the empowerment around us, and the celebration among us, now and forever. Amen.
(The Prayer of Jesus as interpreted by Miriam Therese Winter)
Introductions – Thanksgivings - Announcements
Dotty and Joan: Together we pray a final blessing.
We pray for harmony amid divisiveness and for hope in the middle of hurt. We bless our leaders and ourselves and all peoples with a call for harmony and deep peace.
May Deep peace be a blessing unto you. May we know the deep peace of the running waves. May we know the deep peace of the flowing air. May we know the deep peace of the quiet earth. May the moon and stars pour their healing light upon us all.
As we have been blessed by our gathering today, may we be a blessing to others byliving generously, graciously and lovingly toward others as the Divine lives within us, making room for everyone, always.
ALL: Let it be so!
Closing Song: I Am Woman – Helen Reddy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu4xpDuf84A
We are the Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community.
If you wish to add an intercession or Thanksgiving to our MMOJ Community Prayer book, please send an email to Joan Meehan jmeehan515@aol.com
To support our community, please send your check to:
Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community
5342 Clark Road #3079, Sarasota, FL 34233