St. Mary of Magdala, an Inclusive Catholic Community
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Helen Weber-McReynolds, RCWP, Pastor
Maria Thornton McClain, RCWP, Retired Pastor

Our Ecotheology Retreat on November 8-10, 2024 centered around Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants. Many thanks to Kathleen, who contributed most of these photos!

Call to Transformation​
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God invites us to participate in the ongoing creation of the world.
       The art we make. The stories we tell.
We are creating new worlds
       The tenderness we show.
       The solidarity we practice.

The world is creating us.
         Elder Oak Tree, exhaling our next breath.
          Blue Heron teaching us presence.

The world is making us new.
         Each evening luring us to the womb of rest;
         Each sunrise beckoning us to begin again.

May God help us all continually evolve and be transformed in wholeness and holiness. In the name of God, who blesses and calls us all, we pray.

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On July 21, 2024, RCWP-USA hosted an international hybrid liturgy in counter witness to the USCCB's Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, IN.   For more information on the USCCB intentions, please peruse their link, here. It is of no surprise that they focused on an institutionalized rendition of Real Presence in a massive golden monstrance, following a procession of increasing hierarchy to Lucas Oil Stadium.

This, shortly after the Pope has given his "no" to Holy Orders for women, stated that gay men should be denied entry to seminary, and Pew released a new study that shows a high percentage of U.S. Catholics support greater equality in the church, including women's ordination, same sex marriage, and unrestricted access to women's reproductive healthcare. That same survey also shows that a large percentage of people who identify as Catholic and hold these reform ideals are no longer weekly Mass goers. We can imagine why!  As RCWP-USA, we  discussed the importance of our response to this moment and discerned that action and visibility were critical. RCWP Midwest  hosted this gathering due to the location of the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, with StMMCC and our sister communities taking special responsibilities.  The actual site of the liturgy was not publicly disclosed, in order to preserve the space as a sanctuary for spiritual safety and prayer.

RWCP has posted a report and some excellent photos on Facebook , as well as a video of the Liturgy of the Word on Zoom.  208 persons from around the globe were present on Zoom, and close to 100 in person.  We thank all of those who helped to sponsor this joyous and prayerful liturgy, both behind the scenes and as speakers, readers, choir members and concelebrants.

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On Saturday, July 20, RWCP was represented at a social action sponsored by RWCP and allies along the route of the procession to the Eucharistic Congress. They were pleased to report that some attending the Congress also thanked them for their witness.

Easter Vigil

                          Community Special Events
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Washing of the feet

Holy Thursday

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Interfaith Activities
Joint Good Friday service at Progressive Spiritualist Church
Festival of Faiths, 2019
Protesting for justice
Sen. Donnelly's Office, Immigration, 2018
Against Border Detention, 2019
Ordain Women Now, Vocation Awareness Week, Cathedral, Indianapolis, November 14, 2021
Community Involvement and More


Helen Weber-McReynolds, Pastor
317-691-1016/ Email
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hwebermc@gmail.com