In the telling of this story, it is important to pause and to remember and name persons and groups who have been key to the survival and the success of the movement for women’s ordination over these many years. There are literally hundreds I could name. This movement is living proof that it takes a village! But I will name a few whose vision, tenacity and courage have inspired and empowered us all: Dolly Pomerleau, Bill Callahan, Ruth Fitzpatrick and Maureen Fiedler-present at the creation, fearless and powerful spokespersons against the injustice of the ban on women’s ordination. Marjorie Tuite, OP, brilliant analyst and truth-telling empowerer; Joan Sobala, SSJ and Marsie Silvestro, Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz and Rosalie Muschall Reinhardt-faithful women, keeping the lamp burning in dark times ...
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
In these dark times
Sister Joan Sobala, named by the ladies at the Women's Ordination Conference as a person "key to the survival and success of the movement for women's ordination," is about about to become pastoral administrator, i.e., priestess, over Rochester's St. Anne Church, a parish with a hitherto decent reputation for orthodoxy. As Gene Michael over at Rochester Catholic says, it may be time for Our Lady of Victory/St. Joseph to consider an expansion project to handle the likely flood of refugees.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
34 comments:
Oh for Goodness sake! There is so much I can say, but I ought not to out of charity....
here's a little truth telling: GET THE HELL OUT OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. go get yourself ordained by some womyn bishop and be done with it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wrote about another "priestess" pastoral coordinator here. Since I wrote that piece, parishioners from that parish have formed a committee to try and have her removed because of repeated abuses of her power. The pastoral coordinator fired the music minister because the music minister refused to get in her line for communion when the pastoral coordinator served as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist. I have yet to hear of a female pastoral coordinator that provided leadership for the parish while still keeping the hunger for a priest alive--as Cardinal Arinze exhorted us to do. They are always a death knell for vocations and an enemy of orthodoxy.
Are they always named Joan?
Write to the Holy Father. I'm serious. He uses email and I am told by a Vatican "insider" that he's had his eye on Bishop Clark. And with Pope Benedict's forthcoming trip, the timing couldn't be better.
benedictxvi@vatican.va
Rich - I can imagine it now...after the Mass at Yankee Stadium, the Holy Father gets into his vehicle, tells the driver:
"Tell President Bush ve'll be late for dinner. Ve're taking a little detour to Vestern New York."
I know it would never happen, but wouldn't that make for an interesting article in the Catholic Courier....
Is that St. Anne's on Mt. Hope Ave? We put up with her here for awhile, I wondered who got stuck with her.
Hennepin
Yes, on Mt. Hope.
~Dr. K
I'm a Rochester Catholic. It seems that the leadership in the DOR realizes that the handwriting is on the wall- our bishop has about 5 years left and they see the way things are going with Benedict. So in their desperation, they want to put their imprint on the diocese in such a way that it will take years and years to restore Catholicism here.
However, on the bright side, there is a growing core of faithful Catholics- growing stronger because we actually have to fight for our faith. When that day arrives when we get a new bishop, we'll be already prepared to help him restore the faith here.
It seems that the leadership in The DOR realizes that the handwriting is on the wall- our bishop has about 5 years left and they see the way things are going with Benedict. So in their desperation, they want to put their imprint on the diocese in such a way that it will take years and years to restore Catholicism here.
Good luck with that. Yes, enormous damage will be done, but it's surprising how fast things can revive with the right vocations-friendly leadership. The Saginaw Spring should be of some hope.
Also, never underestimate the ability of careerism to help the recalcitrant do the right thing.
Finally, a question for Rochester folks--does the Bishop ordain deacons? Untener shut down the diaconate during his quarter century in Saginaw. That's not an exaggeration--he quite literally took on no candidates for formation, and the last guys ordained were already in the system when he was appointed. There's your vocation suppression right there. Coupled with the asphyxia of priestly vocations, this gave him the "excuse" to appoint female pastoral admins.
Needless to say, Carlson restarted the diaconate almost the instant after he was installed, and now Saginaw is getting deacons again.
Dr. K:
What has happened to Fr. Steger? He was a frequent guest at my sister's house and a visitor every Thanksgiving, when I would return home and have dinner there. My nieces loved him very much.
John J. Simmins
John,
Fr. Steger died about a month ago.
I am at St. Anne Church in Rochester NY. The parishioners are EXTREMELY unhappy about Joan Sobala's appointment as Pastoral Administrator.
But it is a losing battle, since 'good old Matthew who is not worthy to be Bishop' has it in for any good liturgy and music.
Here they are gradually going to just close down the LAST church in the DOR that does Classical Music, Renaissance Polyphony and Gregorian Chant (everything that the Holy Father wants to restore in the Church). Unfortunately by the time Rome intervenes and the DOR will FINALLY get a new bishop, this parish is going to be dead.
Matthew Clark has ruined the DOR and has run it into the ground.
All I can say is please pray for St. Anne Church, and if any ideas for survival of this Church exists, please pass them on.
Bishop Matthew Clark is an idiot. I can say a lot more, but better not.
My heart really goes out to the faithful in Rochester.
From the point of view the person in the pew Sister Joan Sobala cares not one iota for parishioners. She is interested in only one thing --the ordination of women. To that end she will do ANYTHING to risk the peace of a parish in pushing forward her ideological agenda. Along the way she will destroy whatever is good and decent. She has no sensitivity to the wishes of the folks in the pew for liturgical rules, regulations, and rubrics. SHE is the body of Christ, we are just dumb, stupid pawns. Many other sisters and priests in the Rochester Diocese know how she is but they just throw up their hands --"Well, she has a big heart." She has a big something alright but it isn't a heart; it's an ego the size of Texas! Humility does not appear to be one of her strengths.
Great post.
Requiescat In Pace, Fr. Steger.
I believe in you.
John J. Simmins
Before you start building the pyre as the Church and its patrons built for Joan of Arc (as of 1920 a saint). Perhaps you should try attending a service rather than feeding yourself on rumors. I assure you that God will find you under the eaves of St. Anne's. God be with you.
It's more than rumors, Melissa. We've had almost a year now to observe Sister close up. Sister Joan has been doing the following as current pastoral leader at Our Lady of Lourdes (soon to be merged with St. Anne's: 1) she routinely wears an alb during the Mass --she calls it her "baptismal gown" and stands near the priest during the Eucharistic prayer, extending her hands giving the appearance of con-celebrating. (Even a deacon is supposed to kneel during the Eucharistic Prayer) Redemptionis Sacramentum says: "Furthermore, it is never licit for laypersons to assume the role or the vesture of a Priest or a Deacon or other clothing similar to such vesture." I'm not going to paste all the applicable passages from Redemptionis Sacramentum; much of the document deals with keeping clear the distinction between the roles of the laity and those in Holy Orders 2)she routinely delivers homilies at Mass (every other Sunday)even though it has been explicitly forbidden. Redemptionis Sacramentum says: "The homily, which is given in the course of the celebration of Holy Mass and is a part of the Liturgy itself,142 "should ordinarily be given by the Priest celebrant himself. He may entrust it to a concelebrating Priest or occasionally, according to circumstances, to a Deacon, but never to a layperson.143 In particular cases and for a just cause, the homily may even be given by a Bishop or a Priest who is present at the celebration but cannot concelebrate.144 [65.] It should be borne in mind that any previous norm that may have admitted non-ordained faithful to give the homily during the Eucharistic celebration is to be considered abrogated by the norm of canon 767 §1.145 This practice is reprobated, so that it cannot be permitted to attain the force of custom. [66.] The prohibition of the admission of laypersons to preach within the Mass applies also to seminarians, students of theological disciplines, and those who have assumed the function of those known as "pastoral assistants"; nor is there to be any exception for any other kind of layperson, or group, or community, or association." (Sorry, Bishop Clark never received an exception from the above instruction.) Do I really need to go on? Melissa, maybe you haven't noticed these goings on.
From the Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy 2004 newsletter (4 years ago!!!) summary of Redemptionis Sacramentum: "Of special note is the role of 'pastoral assistant,' temporarily deputed to coordinate the evangelization and administration of a given parish or region. While many pastoral assistants “have undoubtedly served the good of the Church by providing assistance to the Bishop, Priests and Deacons in the carrying out of their pastoral activity,” (no. 149) all ambiguity concerning the nature of this function as truly extraordinary, especially in regard to the liturgy, should be carefully avoided. The faithful may never wear the vesture of deacons or priests and must carefully avoid anything which would blur the extraordinary character of their ministry." What part of this is difficult for the Bishop of Rochester, NY and his pastoral administrator at Our Lady of Lourdes to understand? Seems clear enough to me: don't wear an alb or any article of clothing approaching the appearance of an ordained minister's vestments and don't make yourself the centerpiece of the liturgy. Sit well off to the side in the sanctuary or not in the sanctuary at all. Otherwise, what are you trying to prove?
Sister Joan joins a crowded field of women in Rochester longing to be or pretending already to be a priestess. The Spring issue of the Rochester Catholic Worker newsletter has an article by Chava Redonnet who has just finished her studies at St. Bernard's here in Rochester. She writes about her hopes to be a deacon in six months and a priest after that, after finding a bishop to ordain her. She hopes to "administer the sacraments" at the Rochester Catholic Worker. All of this is going on and only silence from those who should be clarifying this and other Catholic teachings in our diocese.
I've just put up a new post. Sr. Joan is about to be joined by vertical inclusive language fan Fr. Gary Tyman. They ought to get along real well.
See http://dorcatholic.blogspot.com/2008/04/fr-tyman-leaving-olm-will-not-be.html
When Sr. Joan first came to Our Lady of Lourdes she announced that she would be giving the homilies on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and occasionally on Sunday. Since I was familiar with the rubrics of the church and knew that this was not permitted, I contacted the diocese by phone calls and then by follow up letters. I also wrote a letter to Sr. Joan and followed it up with a phone call. I kept going up the chain of command until I got to the Bishop.
The Bishop responded with a letter full of double talk. He basically quoted the exact same passages from Redemptionis Sacramentum which prohibit all the abuses he allows.
I wrote to him again, thanking him for his prompt reply and telling him that he did not answer any of my questions. After 4 weeks I received a reply. He admitted that he had given Sr. Joan permission to preach.....but he didn't use the word 'homily'. In doing so he could always cover his actions by saying that he didn't say he had given permission for her to preach homilies ..... only 'dialogues'.
However, Sr. Joan did stop preaching homilies during the weekday Masses.
I asked her what had changed and she told me that "Matthew" thought it best that she not do that.
An inside source said that the Bishop contacted her and requested that she lighten up on the frequency of her preaching.
Ironically I mentioned in my letter to the Bishop that the laws state when a 'dialogue' is used it is to be used 'infrequently' and not to promote lay preaching. I asked the Bishop "what part of 'infrequent' don't we understand??"
All of this is just to say that I did make some progress because I was persistant and I was informed as to what the rules state regarding the liturgy.
I also continued to pray for Sr. Joan and I did not engage in gossip about her. I simply persisted in educating myself in the rules and laws of our church.
We have to be firm in refusing to allow liturgical abuses but we have to pick our battles. I think the less she speaks the better and that's the abuse I went after.
I continue to pray.
ON MY KNEES
I am a PAST member of Saint Anne's Church, (having just recently left) and I did so because of the blatant audacity of the woman newly in charge, Sr. Joan Sobala.
At the "third informational meeting" held before she was officially acting as the administrator, she made 2 statements, in front of a good size representation of the congregation, when asked if some of the previous traditional liturgical practices would remain the same at Saint Anne's. She replied, "I AM what I AM and it IS what it IS".
When asked about wanting to become a priest, she announced quite boldly, "It is no secret that since 1975, I have wanted to become a priest." When asked by a parishoner if she understood that this was against the acceptance of the Catholic Church, she told the parishoner that he was "out of line". This was very confusing to many of us, as we still cannot figure out exactly what or who, it IS she THINKS she IS.
The running joke now is that "Father Joan" and "Sister Tyman" are running this parish.
(Incidentally, in his welcoming address printed in the church bulletin,) Father Tyman, as he mandates being called, (and does not EVER want to be referred to as Father Gary,) stated that one could call him Gary, or Father Tyman, but never Father Gary; reason being that one would never think to call their OWN doctor by his or her first name, preceded by his or her title. I beg to differ, as some of the most famous doctors and clergy are called by "Dr." followed by their first names, such as "Dr. Phil", "Dr. Laura", and of course, Padre Pio, Mother Teresa, Saint Mary, Saint Joseph, Saint Anne and the list goes on.
The final straw was when Sister ("Wanna-be-Father") Joan mandated that a very strategic handicapped parking space located in the front of the church was altered to now read, "Reserved" instead of holding the universal handicapped symbol, as once was. There are many ample parking spaces at Saint Anne's. We are all wondering why Sr. Joan had the RIGHT to "RESERVE" a very necessary parking space that once allowed a handicapped person, to utilize the convenience of parking closer to the church; to now be able to make it HER space, because she refuses to walk a few more feet to get to the church. Is it all because she is "getting off" on the fact that she is, in fact "the boss" as she has so often referred to herself? I may be wrong, but I think there is a violation hiding in there, somewhere. Maybe the Americans with Disabilities Act people should be contacted, and maybe she should be put in her audacious place, once and for all.
Last but not least, on that fateful June 24th day, when there was the very sad but true, "out with the old, in with the new" situation going on, Father Tyman unloaded his personal affects, even before the other two priests were even out of the building. It was 2 in the afternoon, a moving truck was parked in the parking lot and there were Oriental rugs going in, antique furniture, and more things too numerous to mention, that did not resemble the trappings of a priest in residence. What happened to the vow of poverty?
Of course, Sr. Joan did NOT move in, as she is presently living in the RECTORY at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. As any one who knows that church can tell you, there is a very accommodating convent located right on the grounds of the church proper. It is now the situation that no other priest can live in that rectory because of the fact that a woman is living there. Lights and heat and cool air and water for one person living in a whole big rectory? What a waste of money for the DOR. (But of course, closing 13 schools was inevitable.)
My theory is this: there has to be SOMETHING that is being HIDDEN in the Diocese of Rochester. Someone knows SOMETHING, and has threatened to tell it all, if their needs were NOT met. What ELSE could it be, for God's sake! No man in the role of Bishop could ever justify all the lack of judgement that THIS man has shown in the past few months, without having a noose around his neck, waiting for it to be tightened, if he doesn't play the "acceptance" game.
Listen people, all of you, as Catholics, should know that we should be accepting of people. However, I do not see many accepting people of Sr. Joan on this blog. All of you are blind to the fact that God may indeed be sending Sr. Joan to us to help us grow as a church community. Did you ever stop and think about how much work she has done? Or how much persecution she has gone through because of people? Because of yourselves? I think she is brave to still show her face everyday after what you all have said; she is not a coward. She is working to help you, and if you really do not want her in the church, why don't you get out of the chair at your computer desk and actually do something about it rather than do nothing but waste your time writing about it on the internet. Practice what you preach.
Oh, but we are doing things about it. Letters to Rome, letters to the diocese, joining other parishes . . . need I go on?
When I left St. Anne, I was told that I wouldn't be welcome anywhere else. Well, Sr. Roberta was wrong. She did not conisder the fact that people won't just bend in supplication to things which are wrong.
Sobala has NO choice Now because she wants to prove she has the "power" to do all whatever she wants. We are not blind, we are seeing what is happening at Saint Anne. Some of us are still at Saint Anne and we witnessed the happenings, Saint Anne is going down hill...
A love letter to ANON 7:59
("Listen people, all of you, as Catholics, should know that we should be accepting of people. However, I do not see many accepting people of Sr. Joan on this blog. All of you are blind to the fact that God may indeed be sending Sr. Joan to us to help us grow as a church community. Did you ever stop and think about how much work she has done? Or how much persecution she has gone through because of people? Because of yourselves? I think she is brave to still show her face everyday after what you all have said; she is not a coward. She is working to help you, and if you really do not want her in the church, why don't you get out of the chair at your computer desk and actually do something about it rather than do nothing but waste your time writing about it on the internet. Practice what you preach.")
THE ONLY PERSON WHO COULD POST SOMETHING AS OBLIVIOUS AS THIS....HAS TO EITHER BE A RELATIVE OR AN ILLEGITIMATE CHILD OF THIS DESPOT, HERSELF. AND WE ALL KNOW THE LATTER CANNOT BE TRUE....I MEAN.......NOW REALLY, FOLKS !
Whatever written about Saint Anne and Sobala in this blog are not merely stories but reality of events that had happened at Saint Anne.
Saint Anne, come and help us.
Anon 7:59 makes it sound as if anyone who has been wronged by Joan is, in fact, he (or she) who is doing the malicious acts! Dear God, this woman has caused so much pain and anguish for so many, I think we are entitled to our words and blogging!
PS: We are doing much more than just that ;-) Much, much more.
boo freakin whoo
Post a Comment