Women’s Ordination Advocates celebrated Feast Day of Mary Magdalene in Krakow

Miriam Duignan: (UK): +44 7970 926910 miriam.duignan@wijngaardsinstitute.com

Kate McElwee: (Italy) +39 393 692 2100 kmcelwee@womensordination.org

Pat Brown: (UK)  pat@patbrown-at.co.uk

For Immediate Release:

Krakow, Poland: Women’s Ordination Worldwide (WOW) celebrated their 20th Anniversary on the newly created liturgical Feast Day  of St. Mary Magdalene outside the Bishop’s House in Krakow where Pope John Paul II lived for 15 years.

With an official permit from the city and assigned police protection, WOW advocates wore purple stoles marked with “Ordain Women” and held posters of an image of Mary Magdalene preaching to the Apostles. Our signs, written in Polish, read: “Priestly Ordination for Women,” & “Mary Magdalene, Apostle and Priest.”

The international delegation from WOW requested a meeting with Cardinal Dziwisz and hand delivered a follow up letter to his office this afternoon. We are still waiting for a response, no meeting was granted so far.

Outside his former home, members of WOW appealed for a rejection of Pope John Paul II’s 1994 ban on the ordination of women and celebrated Mary Magdalene by calling for women’s full equality in the Church, including as ordained ministers.

As Pope Francis prepares for his flight to Poland for World Youth Day, WOW stood in witness to call on the Church to restore the priesthood for women who have the talent and vocation to serve their communities as St. Mary Magdalene did.

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