Letters to the editor
Reflections on Vocations
Bishop Jane Kryzanowski, Regina
Volume 33 Issue 4, 5 & 6 | Posted: June 14, 2019
The Fourth Sunday of Easter is designated as the World Day of Vocations. This year the theme is “the courage to take a risk for God’s promise.”
In the early church women took a risk for the kin-dom Jesus proclaimed. They were leaders among the early followers of Jesus. Mary Magdalene, was a faithful and loving companion of Jesus who understood his message better than anyone else. She was witness to the resurrection and was sent by Christ, Apostle to the Apostles, with the news that Jesus is risen, that love is stronger than death. Phoebe, deacon of Cenchreae and Junia, the apostle, are among those commended in the Letter of Paul to the Romans. Lydia, was the leaders of a house church; and Prisca, with her husband, Aquila were missionaries with Paul as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles.
The Fourth Sunday of Easter is designated as the World Day of Vocations. This year the theme is “the courage to take a risk for God’s promise.”
In the early church women took a risk for the kin-dom Jesus proclaimed. They were leaders among the early followers of Jesus. Mary Magdalene, was a faithful and loving companion of Jesus who understood his message better than anyone else. She was witness to the resurrection and was sent by Christ, Apostle to the Apostles, with the news that Jesus is risen, that love is stronger than death. Phoebe, deacon of Cenchreae and Junia, the apostle, are among those commended in the Letter of Paul to the Romans. Lydia, was the leaders of a house church; and Prisca, with her husband, Aquila were missionaries with Paul as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles.
Over the centuries women have taken risks for God’s promise. Most are anonymous among the “Cloud of Witnesses,” some were recognized by the church authorities and named Saints. Four women have received the designation “Doctor of the Church” for their spiritual wisdom: St. Hildegard of Bingen, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Teresa of Avila, and St. Therese of Lisieux, who is also the patron saint of women's ordination.
Today, women continue to take the risk that God’s promise to them will also be fulfilled. Women are no longer accepting to be defined by the system of patriarchy that denies them a voice in saying who they are and what they are being called by God to be and to do. A system that denies that the call to ordination comes from God, not men.
When will the patriarchal authority of the church listen to the cries for justice from the women who are oppressed and suppressed by proprietary attitudes and actions that reserve God’s call to men rather that allow the gifts of the Spirit confirmed in Baptism and Confirmation fall fully and freely on everyone?
Bishop Jane is Canada’s Leader of the Roman Catholic Womenpriests.
Bishop Jane Kryzanowski, Regina