September 2002 Call to Action News
Ratzinger aside, over 200 Magdala celebrations extol women
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. Sr. Susanna preached "a very powerful and positive message about the importance of women in the Church."
Special celebrations of this much maligned "Apostle to the Apostles" 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 other countries, including England, Australia, Canada and Germany.
Nine celebrations were held in Canada, the largest at parishes in Sarnia and Edmonton. The Edmonton event 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 in Oregon wrote original music for their ritual. Other groups created special prayers, poetry and vignettes. Some used resources from the popular FutureChurch/CTA Celebrating Women Witnesses packet (available through FutureChurch).
Excommunication stirs interest
Cardinal Ratzinger's untimely choice of July 22, the feast of Mary of Magdala, to excommunicate seven women ordained in Austria in June did not squelch the joyful spirit of the estimated 15,000 people participating in Magdala services. 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 on a Kansas City TV station. Many quoted FutureChurch's Sr. Christine Schenk: "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."
CTA chapters were instrumental in 21 local celebrations. Dignity sponsored or cosponsored celebrations in Hawaii, Boston, New York, the Twin Cities, San Diego and other cities. Well over half of the celebrations were held in Catholic settings. Some 20 churches incorporated their celebrations into Holy Week.
Large gatherings were held by local independent groups as well as CTAers. 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 Dominican scholar Barbara Reid. Detroit CTA professionally videotaped their event and sent it by request to Religion and Ethics Newsweekly, a public television program. 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. In Sierra Madre, Calif., Sr. Judy Rinek of Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center drew a sizeable crowd with publicity that said: "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 this year, that stone is already in motion, making room for women to preach and proclaim the Good News, just as St. Mary of Magdala did.