see photos of this year's celebrations!
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St. Mary of Magdala Celebrations Uplift, Inspire
by Christine Schenk csj
"Our celebration was very beautiful, joyful and fun," writes Liz Mesa describing the first ever Mary of Magdala celebration held in Joplin, MO. "We had 33 people participate and many said that they were glad they came." Sr. Susanna preached " a very powerful and positive message about the importance of women in the Church," and Liz especially appreciated support received from a transitional deacon seminarian assigned for the summer.
Special celebrations of this much maligned "Apostle to the Apostles" show no signs of abating but have become traditional summer events in many parishes, church reform groups, and small faith communities. Over 200 celebrations, some attracting 100- 200 people were held in the U.S. and abroad, including England, Australia, Canada and Germany.
Nine celebrations were held in Canada with over 100 people attending parish services in in Sarnia, Toronto and Edmonton. The Edmonton celebration also addressed issues related to the priest shortage. Many groups included special prayers for healing and distributed FutureChurch's green lapel ribbons and prayer cards. Mychal Aguilar from the Koinonia Catholic Community Oregan wrote original music for their celebration, while other groups created special prayers, poetry and vignettes. Still others incorporated resources from the popular FutureChurch/CTA Celebrating Women Witnesses packet.
Cardinal Ratzinger's untimely selection of July 22nd to excommunicate seven women ordained in Austria did not squelch the joyful spirit of the estimated 15,000 people participating. Instead, his edict led to renewed interest by the media with stories appearing in New York Newsday, National Catholic Reporter, the Cleveland Free Times, the Gainesville Sun and the Kansas City Fox TV affiliate,WDAF. Many quoted FutureChurch's Sr. Christine Schenk's lament: "Why would you choose this day to deliver bad news to women? It seems very counterproductive to be using the feast date of this woman who witnessed Christ's resurrection and who preached the good news to the other apostles, to tell women what they can't do in the church."
Call To Action groups and affiliates once again led the way with 21 local chapters participating as sponsors or cosponsors. Dignity also sponsored or cosponsored celebrations in Hawaii, Boston, New York, the Twin Cities, San Diego and other venues. Well over half of the celebrations were held in Catholic settings with about 20 churches choosing to incorporate their celebrations during Holy Week. Many celebrations were held in small faith communities and a few celebrations were sponsored by Protestant churches.
Aside from Canada, large gatherings were spearheaded by local independent groups as well as CTA'ers. A Cincinnati coalition of 15 cosponsors, including the peace and justice offices from the diocese, attracted 200 people to the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity. The Magdalene Group in Atlanta featured Edwina Gateley, CTA Chicagoland invited Tom Fox and Cleveland FutureChurch heard Barbara Reid OP. Detroit CTA professionally videotaped their event and sent it by request to Religion and Ethics Newsweekly. The Genesee Interfaith Community attracted many ecumenical participants as did Saginaw CTA.
CTA Pittsburgh's fourth celebration "was our best in terms of relevance, inspiration, aesthetics and attendance," reports Sarah Wellinger. Sr. Judy Rinek of Sierra Madre's (CA) Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center sponsored a special invitation to Roll Away that Stone! to the unexpectedly large number of people who attended their event. Rinek's early publicity stated: "There is much within us as well as in our society that can block the development of women as strong and faithful leaders. Let's roll away that stone! Mary of Magdala can show us how to move it!"
Judging from feedback received this year, that stone is already rolling aside, making room for women to preach and proclaim the Good News, just as St. Mary of Magdala did.
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