Rich Leonardi at Ten Reasons has published an account, complete with videos and a link to photos, of the Installation Mass for Sr. Joan Sobala as Pastoral Administrator for the Our Lady of Lourdes/St. Anne cluster.
St. Joan is a vocal proponent of female ordination and the Women's Ordination Conference has identified her as one who is "key to the survival and success of the movement for women's ordination" and who has kept "the lamp burning in dark times." She frequently wears a white, alb-like robe during Mass and has been observed wearing a crucifix with a female corpus and extending her arms toward the altar during the consecration, as if con-celebrating.
The celebrant of the Mass was none other than Bishop Matthew Clark. Assisting him were at least one priest (my former pastor, Fr. Gary Tyman) and one deacon, according to the photographs. Despite the presence of at least three ordained clergy, a portion of the homily was delivered by the cluster's Pastoral Associate, Sr. Roberta Rodenhouse.
Sr. Joan's appointment as Pastoral Administrator seems to be having an effect on Mass attendance at St. Anne. One comment to Rich's post reports that a recent Sunday Mass had about 70 people in attendance, down from the usual 200 -300 in pre-Sr. Joan times.
I wonder what the Bishop's rationalization will be when he closes St. Anne in the not too distant future.
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