Please join us in celebrating Deacon Uschi Schaefer and Deacon Maryanne von Essen, who were ordained by Bishop Jean Marchant in Cape Town, South Africa, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. With deep gratitude for their courageous “Yes!” to the Spirit’s call, Uschi and Maryanne will be ordained as priests on Sunday, May 4, 2025. Image left-to-right: Deacon Uschi Schaefer, Bishop Jean Marchant, Deacon Maryanne von Essen, Photo credit: Kathleen Gibbons Schuck. #OrdainWomen #RCWP #CourageousYes #SpiritLed #InclusiveChurch #RootedInHope #WomensOrdination #CatholicAndCalled (fb)

The North American Bishops of Roman Catholic Womanpriests join millions around the world in prayer and mourning for the loss of Pope Francis. His accomplishments were many. The simplicity with which he lived his life as Pope and his commitment to Biblical Gospel Values were inspiring. His willingness to meet and dialogue with political leaders, whose policies were clearly at odds with Gospel values, gave concrete evidence of his commitment to pursue justice for the marginalized and oppressed. His last public words were dedicated to the transformation of the treatment of migrant peoples. Though he did not take the courageous step to ordain women to the diaconate or priesthood, he did begin the discussion of women’s ordination to the diaconate. In an institution with a two-thousand-year history, the future may disclose that he laid the groundwork to prepare the church for women’s ordination. His death is a monumental loss, not only to the Gospel oriented Roman Catholic community but to the world at large. Many of us feel this loss in a deeply personal way. Consequently, we pray for the Spirit’s guidance of College of Cardinals as they move forward with election of a new pope. We believe people of all genders around the world will not be treated as equal until the Church recognizes all people as equally blessed by God and equally eligible for ordination. We pray for the enlightenment of all leaders, religious and secular. We pray all our hearts will be filled with a longing for equality and justice, and that all leaders will discover the joy of divine diversity and the wealth of humble service to others. We pray all Christians, particularly those in leadership, will become faithful servants of the body of Christ. The Roman Catholic Womanpriest community will continue our work as a community already committed to the equality of all human beings. We pray that the next pope will lead the church yet further toward liberation, universal equality, and social and financial equity for all. Yours in the love of God and of the Christ, Jean Marchant, Bishop Eastern Region Paula Hoeffer, Bishop-elect Great Waters Region Martha Sherman, Bishop Midwest Region Jane Kryzanoski, Bishop of Canada Jane Via, Bishop Region for the Holy Margins Suzanne Theil, Bishop Western Region (fb)