Olga Lucia Alvarez
has advanced degrees in religious studies and pastoral ministry. She
was ordained a priest in Sarasota, Florida on Dec. 11, 2010. In her
native Colombia she serves several communities with an emphasis on healing,
community building, and youth and family ministry. Author of several
books and a blogspot, she fosters the movement for justice for women
in the Catholic Church in South America. She is a leader of progressive
ecumenical communities.
Email: olalbe0441@yahoo.es
Cheryl Bristol,
lesbian by birth, Catholic by choice, felt called to ministry for many
years. She was born on an apple farm north of Detroit and currently
lives in southeast Michigan. She worked as a paralegal while raising
her son, Richard. Living in Jerusalem from 1999-2002 deepened her interest
in justice and interfaith relations. In 2005 Cheryl served as a St.
Joan’s International Alliance delegate to the United Nations Non
Governmental Organization Conference. She is currently a lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender rights activist working with Catholics and other
groups to end intolerance and religion abuse. Other ministries include
weddings, holy union ceremonies, memorial services, baptisms, and playing
the harp. She was ordained deacon in 2006 and priest in 2007.
Email: dvnsource@gmail.com
Diane Dougherty
has worked in educational ministries in Catholic Schools, parishes and
dioceses in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Georgia. Not only has she taught
children in classroom settings, she was a sacramental coordinator, developed
a parish family catechetical program, collaborated in developing preschools
of religion for two dioceses, and, as an Archdiocesan Director of Catechesis,
worked to develop liturgical, sacramental, catechetical and spiritual
formation programs that empowered and certified diocesan catechetical
leaders. She began an Education Center focusing on lifelong parenting
skills. She has written professionally and maintains her own blog. Presently,
she is working at First Metropolitan Community Church empowering leaders
in ministry. She will begin house churches around Atlanta and continue
to promote equal roles for women within the Catholic tradition. She
has a BSE and MSE in Elementary Education, a MAE in Pastoral Formation
and Religious Education, and an EdS in Neuroscience of the Brain. She
was ordained a deacon in ARCWP in Sarasota, Florida on April 2, 2011,
and a priest in Atlanta, Georgia at First Metropolitan Community Church
on October 20, 2012.
Email: add57@numail.org
Barbara Anne Duff,
lives in Macon, GA. She was a Maryknoll Sister for 12 years earning
a BSE while she taught in Bronx, NY. After leaving community life, she
pursued a nursing degree from Loyola in Chicago, IL, where she became
an Air Force Flight Nurse during the Vietnam conflict. Following military
service, she worked in the Manchester VA Medical Center in New Hampshire
where she obtained a Master’s Degree in Human Services. She transferred
to the Dublin VA Medical Center and served there as the Nursing Home
Care Unit Supervisor and subsequently became the Assistant Chief Nurse.
During that time she got a BS in Information Technology from Macon State
College. She retired several years ago and is fulfilling her call by
preparing for the priesthood. She supports and attends the Call to Action
movement. Barbara was ordained a deacon on October 20, 2012
Email: barbara.duff@cox.net
Adele Decker Jones,
MTS, DMin. is a proud native of New Orleans, received a Catholic education
throughout her formative years. She joined the United States Nursing
Cadet Corp in 1944 during WWII and became a Registered Nurse with a
specialization in psychiatry. She married a medical student in 1947
and moved to Victoria, Texas, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science
degree in psychology while helping her husband start a medical practice
and raising a family. She was the Founder and Director of St. Christopher’s
Hall, a school program for children with LLD. Upon moving in 1980 to
San Antonio she originated the Office of Development for Catholic Television
of San Antonio and wrote a history of its origins. In 1986 she began
post graduate studies at Oblate School of Theology which included a
Master's Degree in Theological Studies writing her Master’s thesis
on “World Hunger in the Light of Social Justice.” In 1991
she completed a Master's in Divinity and in 1997, at the age of seventy,
she obtained a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling and Psychotherapy
from Garrett Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. Adele then became a Licensed
Professional Counselor and founded “Made for Joy”, an outreach
of her Doctoral research. She was on the staff of Grace Counseling Center,
developed a private counseling practice and taught workshops, seminars,
and retreats. She taught several courses to students at Oblate School
of Theology on “Sophia as Divine Wisdom.” In 1988 Adele
professed as a member of the Secular Franciscan Order and served as
Minister of St. Francis of Assisi Fraternity. The basis of her spirituality
has become the Franciscan charisms, especially simplicity, peace, love,
and joy. Adele has two sons, five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren,
and two more very soon on the way. Ordained a Priest on September 10,2011
in Falls Church, Virginia, Adele is the first ordained Priest in Texas.
Hopefully she will soon be joined by many others.
Email: adelejonesdmin@aol.com
Eleonora Marinaro
Rev. Dr. Eleonora V. Marinaro, ARCWP lives and ministers in Port Richey,
Florida through Pastoral Counseling and Spiritual Direction. Her sacramental
and liturgical ministry is in two small faith communities, where she
provides teaching and healing services. She is the author of The Life
of the Spirit: In The Convergent Points of Dreams, Spirituality and
Psychology, a book about Jungian psychology and spirituality.
Email: elly@helpwithdreams.com
Dena (Baronn) O'Callaghan,
MDiv. is one of the women who stood at the first Women's Ordination
Conference in Detroit, 1975, when the audience was asked, "Who feels
called by God to a renewed priestly ministry in the Roman Catholic Church?"
After receiving her M.Div at St. John Provincial Seminary in Plymouth,
MI, Dena was appointed Associate Pastor of a newly-found parish community
in the diocese of Saginaw. There she preached at weekend liturgies,
co-celebrated the sacraments of the Church and was Director of the RCIA
for eight years. Dena also served as Pastoral Administrator, instructor
in the diaconate formation program at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit
and conducted retreats for women and lay ministers. She and her husband
John, a retired priest, currently co-pastor the House Church of Mary
and Joseph in Ocala, Florida.
Email: jocallaghan001@cfl.rr.com
Miriam Therese Picconi
was born in the Bronx, NY; then raised in Queens, NY. She entered a
religious congregation and was a Catholic sister for 25 years. After
leaving the community she continued in ministry. Over the last 45 years
she has been in leadership positions in religious education, archdiocesan
youth ministry, retreat ministry, the Rite of Christian Initiation of
Adults on the diocesan and parish level and coordinated and ministered
in all aspects of parish ministry. Miriam also served as a pastoral
associate in a number of parishes and as Parish Life Director. She retired
and moved to Palm Coast, FL in December 2010. Miriam has certification
in teacher training, a B.S. in Special Studies, a Masters in Religious
Studies and over 400 hours in Clinical Pastoral Education. She serves
ecumenically at St. Thomas Episcopal Church where she has preached,
spoken at the Women’s Group and Ultreya gatherings,and facilitated
an adult Sunday school faith sharing using the Sunday scriptures. She
is a volunteer with Flagler Hospital Hospice Care. After ordination
Miriam’s desire is to minister to those who have been alienated
and/or ostracized from the Catholic Church and provide inclusive ministries
and liturgies where all are welcome to celebrate and experience Sophia’s
unconditional love in a community and discipleship of equals. Miriam
was ordained a priest on April 14, 2012.
Email: miriampicconi@gmail.com
Donna LeMaster Rougeux
lives in Lexington, Kentucky and graduated from Lexington Theological
Seminary in 2009 with a Masters in Pastoral Studies. She completed a
residency with Hospice in 2010 earning four units of Clinical Pastoral
Education. She has worked as a Hospice Chaplain since she finished the
residency and plans on becoming a certified chaplain. Donna is married
and has three teenaged children. She taught first grade and fourth grade
in a Catholic School before she got married. She was ordained as a priest
on June 9, 2012 in Lexington, Kentucky. "I am so thankful that God has
called me to work for reform in the Roman Catholic Church. I hope that
my daughters, granddaughters and all women will be forever changed and
affirmed to follow God's call because of the work that this movement
has done and will do in challenging the Church to be the kindom on earth."
Email: dlrougeux@insightbb.com
Wanda Yvonne Lavinghouse
Russell was ordained a priest in ARCWP in Ormond Beach, Florida
on April 14, 2012. Born in Mobile, Alabama she lived most of her youth
in north and southeast states. While living in Montgomery, Alabama she
married and had a daughter, Monica. Wanda is a retired social worker
who has a Master's in Education, Counseling. She now resides in Palm
Coast, FL. Wanda has been in volunteer RCC ministry most of her life.
As an active, progressive Roman Catholic, she has ministered as Eucharistic
minister, lector, prayer group leader, RCIA team leader, and charismatic
healing ministry prayer team leader. Wanda taught a bible study group
at her work and in the parish, facilitated faith sharing groups, worked
on a youth ministry team, co-chaired a diocesan youth convention with
over 700 participants, and led many workshops including Life in the
Spirit and the Beginning Experience. Wanda works ecumenically to bring
all God's peope of many faiths and backgrounds together. When she completed
her education, she served in parishes in Kentucky. She now co-leads
a theology reflection group in Palm Coast, FL.
Email: tawandarussell0504@aol.com
Dorothy Shugrue
was born in Providence RI and has lived in Connecticut since 1962. Dorothy
is a former member of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, a graduate
of Emmanuel College, Southern Connecticut State University, Antioch
University and Drew University. Dorothy taught school in her early religious
life and serve as a chaplain at the University of Bridgeport and St.
Joseph College West Hartford. Since 1986 Dorothy has worked in the field
of Behavioral Health and Addiction Services with a particular focus
on adolescents, young adults and young pregnant women. Dorothy continues
this ministry today as she builds a presence as a Roman Catholic Woman
Priest in Connecticut. Presently living in Cheshire, Dorothy is providing
"Home Church" for groups with the hope of developing an inclusive parish
community. The love and support of family and friends and many Sisters
of Notre Dame continues to be a source of strength and joy as Dorothy
forges ahead as part of this life-giving movement in our Church today.
She was ordained a priest on Sept. 10, 2011 in Falls Church, VA.
Email: dshug7@gmail.com
Katy Zatsick
received her Masters of Pastoral Studies in 1997 from Loyola University
in New Orleans, LA. Since then she has worked as a pastoral coordinator
for the Diocese of Richmond 1995 -1996 and later served seven years
in hospice chaplaincy ministry until her retirement in May 2009. While
in Chicago she was active in peacemaking activities with MFSO and IVAW
and continues to be a life-long peace activist. In 2005, she lived at
Walter Reed Army Medical Center while her son recovered from being very
seriously injured in Iraq. During her time at Walter Reed, she also
ministered to other patients and their family members for eight months
and was an advocate for their many needs. Katy now resides in Brandon,
FL and is a co-presider at liturgies of Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive
Catholic Community. She also spends her time advocating for National
Health Care.
Email: katyrcwp@tampabay.rr.com
Judy Beaumont
has led her entire life in service to God's people. She entered the
Benedictine Sisters of Chicago at seventeen and remained a Benedictine
in loving service for 35 years. She was a teacher, a refugee worker
resettling Vietnamese refugees and a peace activist. She attained a
bachelor's degree from Mundelein College and a MRE degree from Loyola
University. In 1981 she left Chicago for Connecticut to participate
in the anti-nuclear peace witness near Groton and in 1982 was a member
of the Trident Nein Plowshares Action. Her story about this is in Swords
Into Plowshares: Nonviolent Direct Action For Disarmament, First Edition,
edited by Arthur J. Laffin and Anne Montgomery,( Harper and Row, Publishers,
New York: 1987, pp.80-86). When released from prison she helped establish
My Sisters' Place, a shelter for homeless women and children in Hartford,
Conn, retiring as Executive Director of MSP in 1998. Judy then moved
to Fort Myers, Florida and began work in a mission parish and also became
the Director of Religious Education for a large parish in Estero, Florida.
In 2003, she helped establish Good Shepherd Ministries of SW Florida
and continues to serve the poor and homeless of greater Fort Myers.
She co-pastors the Church of the Good Shepherd: An Inclusive Catholic
Community. She was ordained a Priest in Fort Myers, Florida on January
21, 2012.
Email: judybeaumont@embarqmail.com
Michele Birch Conery, born in Vancouver, BC, grew up in Trail, a small town in the mountainous interior. She then attended St. Mary`s H.S. in Calgary and remained there to study in a 3-year RN program. After a year working as an RN, Michele immigrated to Oregon and then lived in Washington in a religious congregation of teachers. There she obtained a BA degree. Her literary studies uncovered a passion for writing poetry and thru a colleague and friend at the University of Montana, she was invited to apply in the MFA program, and there she completed a Master’s of Fine Arts degree. It was then that she chose to leave the religious congregation. It was a time when college English teaching positions were difficult to find and so she re-entered nursing to support herself and to pursue a doctoral program at the University of Iowa. Then, with new philosophical, theological and literary historical questions at the forefront of her consciousness, her study of literature led her to Feminist Literary Criticism.
Beneath these studies she ruminated on central but political theological questions, “Why could we not uncover the discourses that hide the realities of our RC clericalist church culture? What are the power dynamics that thrive in cultures of secrecy and silence and how do these affect our relationships in communities and with God? How has this kept us as women from fully engaging the evolving RC Church? Gradually, she knew that feminist theologians were working diligently on such questions and thus she continued reading feminist theology and liberation theologies.
On completing formal class studies in the doctoral program, she joined Flying Nurses and worked in short terms assignments in General Nursing at understaffed hospitals in the US. Michele returned to Canada in 1985 with dual Canadian American citizenship. She obtained a teaching position at North Island College in Port Alberni where she taught until her retirement in 2007. At the college, she also acquired union experience in working for fair and equitable employment practices in colleges. On the Status of Women Committee for the Colleges in BC she was instrumental, in obtaining a unified sexual and personal harassment policy.
She now lives in Nanaimo, BC. She is advancing in theological studies
at Catherine of Siena Virtual College where she is on the faculty as
an adjunct professor. Her long term plan is still to do a PHD in theology.
She is deeply committed to advancing an inclusive non-clericalist model
of priesthood and in promoting faith communities of gospel equality.
Ordained deacon in 2004 (Passau, Germany) and priest in 2005 (St. Lawrence
Seaway).
Email: wpconversations@gmail.com
Jim Lauder,
BSW, MA, D.Min (Candidate), Secular Franciscan Order leads the St. Iris
Faith Community in Victoria, BC that was named after Dr. Iris Muller,
a “grandmother” of RCWP. In addition to this ministry, Jim
is the creator of Life's Circle Ceremonies for All Occasions
(www.lifescircle.com)
and he offers inspirational services that are person-centered, spiritually
meaningful, and based on peoples religious, semi-religious, or secular
beliefs. He has over twenty years’ experience in counseling and
facilitation. Additionally, he is a cancer survivor and author of Fear,
Valor, Humor, a story about his healing experience. Jim is married to
Janine, and they have two Border Collie daughters, Sadie and Grace.
Being a “dog father” is a true blessing in his life. His
mission is to affirm and inspire the creative potential in all his relationships,
and he loves to bring to his work a deep sense of compassion, sensitivity
and spirituality. He is so honored to advocate for equality in our church,
and be a part of a strong community and movement that models a renewed
priestly ministry.
Email: jimlauder@telus.net
Judith A. B. Lee,
DMin, MS, DSW is the Pastoral Director of Good Shepherd Ministries serving
the culturally diverse poor of Southwest Florida. Called to serve early,
she continues to follow Jesus whose inclusive love, call of women, and
revolutionary poor people’s movement turns the world, including
the religious establishment, upside down. She combines her social work
background with healing and liberating ministry with the poor and outcast.
Judy has been active in homeless ministries since 1982. She is co-pastor
of the Good Shepherd Inclusive Catholic Community that meets regularly
in a house church that also houses Joshua House a small transitional
residence for homeless people. She is Professor Emerita at the University
of Connecticut and is a prolific writer whose work includes Come By
Here: Church with the Poor (Publish America, 2010); The Empowerment
Approach To Social Work Practice: Building the Beloved Community (Columbia
University Press, 2001) and The Flame Keeper And Other Poems (PublishAmerica,
2007). She was ordained a priest in Boston, Massachusetts, July 20,
2008.
Email: judyabl@embarqmail.com
Bridget Mary Meehan,
Bishop ARCWP, a Sister for Christian Community, serves Mary Mother of
Jesus Inclusive Catholic Communities in Florida and in Virginia. She
presides at liturgies, officiates at weddings and offers sacramental
ministry in both communities. Bridget Mary is author of twenty books
including Living Gospel Equality Now: Loving in the Heart of God, a
story about her journey to priesthood in the women priest movement that
is rocking the foundation of the Roman Catholic Church, a holy shakeup
that is bringing new life, creativity and justice to the church and
beyond. Bridget Mary has a MA in Religious Studies and a DMin from Virginia
Episcopal Seminary. She is currently Dean of the Doctor of Ministry
Program for Global Ministries University. Her work in communications
media include programs about women priests on Google and youtube and
articles on BridgetMary's Blogspot. Bridget Mary was ordained a priest
in the first USA ordination in Pittsburgh on July 31, 2006 and was ordained
a bishop in Santa Barbara, California in the historic ordination of
our bishops in the United States on April 19, 2009
Email: sofiabmm@aol.com
Debra Meyers
has published several books as a professor of history and women’s
studies at Northern Kentucky University. She has studied at a Roman
Catholic seminary and is currently working to complete a master’s
degree in Religious Studies. Her ministry focuses primarily on single
mothers and their children who make up the vast majority of impoverished
people in our country today. Debra is a wife, the mother of two successful
children, and a grandmother. Debra was ordained a deacon on October
20, 2012.
Email: drmeyers@aol.com
Joleane Presley
works full time at the Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland
as a Senior Chaplain in Manassas, VA. Her ministry involves providing
pastoral care to patients who are recovering from physical disabilities
such as stroke, amputation, head injury and spinal cord injury. She
graduated from Duke Divinity School Seminary in 2001 with a M.Div. She
has an undergraduate degree in rehabilitation counseling. Joleane has
been married for fourteen wonderful years to husband Scott. She is a
devoted "fur mommy" to her three terriers! She was ordained a deacon
on October 20, 2012
Email: joprsly@gmail.com
Irene Scaramazza
was born in western Pennsylvania. She entered a religious congregation
and was a Catholic sister for 21 years. Irene has been involved in various
ministries: education (teaching and administration); community mental
health counseling; preceptor for Doctoral students enrolled in Marriage
and Family Therapy program; retreat and spiritual director, hospice
chaplaincy, and presider for home church and other local groups in Columbus,
Ohio. Irene has a Master of Divinity degree from Weston School of Theology,
a Doctor of Ministry degree from Boston University, Marriage and Family
Therapy certification from Kantor Family Institute. Irene is currently
completing a year-long Residency Program in Clinical Pastoral Education
and plans to use it in hospice ministry. She was ordained a deacon on
October 20, 2012.
Email: irenes@columbus.rr.com
Janice Sevre-Duszynska,
DMin. was ordained a priest in 2008 in Lexington, Kentucky. From teaching
ESL to children from around the world she says she learned about the
value of nonviolence. A local and national peace activist, she is a
former Prisoner of Conscience for the School of the Americas Watch and
a former board member of the Women’s Ordination Conference. She
completed a Christian Peacemakers Team delegation into the Sonora Desert
of Mexico and Tucson in solidarity with Mexican migrants as part of
the Migrant Trail Walk. She enjoys writing and is the media representative
for ARCWP. She presides at liturgies in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Lexington,
Kentucky.
Email: rhythmsofthedance@gmail.com
Mary Ellen Sheehan,
MDiv. was ordained a deacon in Feb. 2010 in Sarasota, Florida. A devoted
Montessori teacher, she has promoted early childhood education in many
states. She is currently living in Tucker, GA. Her ministry experience
includes working with abused women.
Rosemarie Smead
, of Bedford, KY, is a couples and family therapist and has worked
for 40+ years with adjudicated delinquent teens and youth with psychological
and educational issues. She is a retired Distinguished Teaching and
Service Professor after 26 years at Indiana University, and author of
6 books and videos on training therapists to work with youth. Rosemarie
was a Discalced Carmelite nun before gaining a BA in Theology from Marquette
University. A Master's in Psychometrics and Doctorate in Counseling
Psychology and Family Therapy allowed her to live her vocation to serve
the Church by helping young people and families learn more Christ-like
ways to live. As a deacon,, Rosemarie will be working with sister priests
to bring inclusive Christ-Sophia communities to the Louisville area,
as well as helping young girls and women develop their full potential.
Rosemarie was ordained a deacon on October 20, 2012.
Email: shanti.rosemarie@gmail.com
Martha Soto
was ordained a priest in South America on March 20, 2011. She has advanced
degrees in religion and education. Martha is a teacher and counselor.
She ministers in two communities. Her pastoral work is the empowerment
of poor women. (Catacomb Status)
