Category: Discussions

Mary Magdala Community

From ‘Yes, but’ to ‘Yes, believe’

1st Sunday of Lent,  2021  — Combined Eucharist of Inclusive Catholics, Melbourne and Mary of Magdala, Apostle to the Apostles Community, Wisconsin Rev. Jim Ryan, M.Div.,Ph.D.  jimryan6885@gmail.com January 6 will become in the United States, I’m afraid, a National Day of Shame, just as November 22 is a Day of Loss.  To this day the…
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On the Road with Jesus – Road Trip Ecclesiology II

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Feb. 14, 2021 Rev. Jim Ryan, M.Div.,Ph.D.  jimryan6885@gmail.com Mary of Magdala, Apostle to the Apostles Community Two weeks ago I invited us to consider the Gospel of Mark to be the map of what I call Road Trip Ecclesiology.  Jesus is constantly on the move in this gospel.  The Teacher…
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Sr. Nativa, CSJ my 2nd Grade Teacher

Sr. Nativa, CSJ was my 2nd Grade Teacher                     Rev. Jim Ryan In 1955 Sr. Nativa was the only African-American Sister in the Congregation of St. Joseph (CSJ), Rocky River, Ohio.  My family moved on January 1, 1955 into St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish, Cleveland where Sr. Nativa taught.  There were two reasons why we moved. …
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Belle’s Story

Belle’s Story  by Belle Snyder, Member of Mary of Magdala Community Belle Snyder, Mary of Magdala Community Member, recently quoted Ram Dass in a letter to me:  “We walk each other home sharing our stories.”  ( Ram Dass and the Seva Foundation are one google search away.) Belle has been thinking about this story for…
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Jesus on the Move – a Road Trip Ecclesiology

Rev. Jim Ryan, M.Div.,Ph.D.  jimryan6885@gmail.com Mary of Magdala, Apostle to the Apostles Community In the wake of cancelling our 10th Anniversary celebrations I have retained lingering as well as exploratory thoughts about community and our gathering in faith.  A favorite scripture quote for me that guides my view of who we are and why we…
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Rev. Bill Poole – a friend in deed

Rev. Jim Ryan, M.Div., Ph.D.     jimryan6885@gmail.com Rev. William G. Poole – or as everybody knew and called him, Bill – was a man of persistence toward and fixed visage on life’s qualities which he viewed as correct to hold.  Though his first career goal was to be a journalist he accepted the vocation of priest…
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True Community: invoked, awakened, …………..assembled

Rev. Jim Ryan, M.Div.,Ph.D.  jimryan6885@gmail.com Mary of Magdala, Apostle to the Apostles Community John O’Donohue in Divine Beauty (2003) on True Community: “As in the rainforest where a dazzling diversity of life-forms complement and sustain each other, there is secret oxygen with which we unknowingly sustain one another.  True community is not produced; it is…
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Sister Marie Gangwish, Sidekick in Ministry

Rev. Jim Ryan, M.Div., Ph.D.     jimryan6885@gmail.com Sister Marie Gangwish was a most enlightening mentor to me in the time I ministered in eastern Kentucky.  Marie was a Sister of the Congregation of Divine Providence (CDP), Melbourne, Kentucky.  While her community styled themselves among the pioneers of Catholic presence in the mountain counties of eastern Kentucky…
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Epiphany 2021- Myth, Meaning, and the Rule of 3

Rev. Jim Ryan, M.Div.,Ph.D.  jimryan6885@gmail.com Mary of Magdala, Apostle to the Apostles Community Today I plan to slide right on by the question of historical fact and “Did this really happen?” as we celebrate this Feast of Epiphany.  We will not dwell on the stargazing puzzle of whether the Star in the East was possibly…
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Christmas 2020 – “God pursuing Godself, and that would be us”

Rev. Jim Ryan, M.Div.,Ph.D. Christmas is, at the level of human experience, fundamentally personal.  I’m not talking theology, history, sociology, psychology or even philosophy.  I’m talking practicality about Christmas Spirit and doing for others, acting for peace, and carrying out the work of justice.  However, I would like to make the point that at its…
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