I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to our Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Tina Thompson’s reflection on the path to Roman Catholic Women Priesthood.
Have you heard of the international movement, Roman Catholic Women Priests (RCWP)? Until April 20, 2022, I knew nothing about this movement. Since that day, however, I have come to love this group of women (and men) whose mission is to prepare, ordain in Apostolic Succession, and support primarily women (although men are included), who are called by the Holy Spirit and their communities to a priestly ministry rooted in justice and faithfulness to the gospel; a ministry where all are welcome. RCWP was birthed on June 29, 2002, when seven women, known as the Danube Seven, were ordained on the Danube River. Since that day, RCWP has grown to over 300 priests serving in communities worldwide.
Before I describe how RCWP has shaped me to” live as a monk in the world,” and how I bring “contemplative presence to my work and/or family” I must return to the day where my life was upended by a phone call.
November 29, 2021 was pivotal. On that day, I received a phone call letting me know my younger brother, Tom, had gone to sleep and did not wake up. He was living temporarily in a rehabilitation facility after suffering a heart attack. He was barely a month into his 63rd year. I was the last person in our family to spend time with him. As children, I viewed Tom as my best buddy or my maddening nemesis, depending on the day.
As a young adult, Tom slipped into a world of addiction and battled sobriety most of his life. His wife divorced him early in their marriage and took their two young sons to live in a different city. Tom continued to spiral into the depths of alcoholism and drugs. Yet, even with the challenges he faced, Tom remained a prayerful Catholic, imitating the model established for us by our maternal grandfather. As adults, Tom and I continued to cherish the image of our grandfather praying faithfully each morning, which we witnessed during our annual summer visit in childhood.
As for me, I moved in and out of the Roman Catholic Church during my adult years. I did not, however, turn my back on the church. I felt rejected by the church because of my attraction to women. Still, when Tom died, I faced an interior reckoning. Through his untimely death, Tom helped me realize that I had a decision to make. I could continue to loathe and disparage the Roman Catholic Institutional Church or I could reconnect to the parts of my faith that are good: the communal aspect of celebrating Mass, the joy of a prayerful life, the common rituals and symbolism, the focus on social justice, and perhaps most importantly, connecting with other Catholics who may have fallen away from the Church for reasons similar to mine.
Four days after we buried my brother, on April 20, 2022, for reasons still unexplainable to me, I decided to search online for “women priests,” although I knew the Roman Catholic Church did not ordain women priests. I was looking for a community of believers who accepted me as I am. Amazingly, I discovered Roman Catholic Women Priests! With more searching, I found a priest who lived just one hour from me. I was thrilled! I emailed her, and from that initial contact, subsequent phone conversations, and eventually meeting in person, I felt I was being called to become a Roman Catholic Women Priest. Never would I have guessed I would begin this transformational journey at age sixty-six.
Through RCWP, I have found a community of women and men who are working to establish a renewed Roman Catholic Church, rooted in social justice and serving those on the margins. They have welcomed me, advocated for me, and supported me as I have journeyed toward priesthood. They have modeled compassion, inclusion, getting into “good trouble,” service, and love. They have encouraged me to continue creating art; a practice that brings me great joy and connects me to the Divine.
Since retirement in 2017, I’ve created art in many different forms. The latest form, mandalas, brings me incredible peace, serenity, and purpose. As I sit with my protractor, ruler, compass, paper, illustration pens, and erasers, I never know what the mandala will look like until it is complete—there is no pre-planning. When I create a mandala, I start with a large outer circle. For me, this symbolizes the women and men who comprise RCWP, as they stand together embracing the diversity of life and experiences that exist and have existed throughout humanity. As I draw from the center to the outer edges using different shapes and colors, I feel the diversity of people who live and breathe in the world represented on my drawing paper. As women priests, we symbolize acceptance and love for all in the circle.
Being part of Roman Catholic Women Priests has shown me a different form of Catholicism and led me down a new path; a path where I am a part of movement much larger than myself. I’ve learned about what it means to live a contemplative life; a life of intention, presence, and meaning. I was ordained a deacon August 22, 2024, and a Roman Catholic Women Priest Nov. 1, 2025. I am a beloved daughter of God and together with the Spirit, She will continue to guide the way.
Before beginning the unexpected journey to priesthood, Tina Thompson served in public schools as a teacher, principal, and administrator. With her loving partner of twenty-five plus years, she enjoys life in the Midwest. Tina loves her wife, her dog, her five grandchildren, Abbey of the Arts, RCWP and creating art.
