On September 10, 2022, one hundred and twenty people gathered to celebrate the ordination of Rosemary Ellis Robinson as a Roman Catholic priest. Family, friends, parishioners, people of other faiths and supporters came to honor Rosemary’s call to ordination. The inspiration of the sacrament, the liturgy, and the people gathered awakened a new Catholic community. When leaving the church that day, people asked themselves and one another: what do we do with this graced experience; where do we go?
On September 30, 2022, people who attended the ordination gathered together to consider how to proceed. Prayer, discernment, and discussion led the group to form The Genesis Leadership Team. Meeting monthly, the efforts of the team reflected on the vision, direction, service, and goals of the community. The Genesis Team continues to meet and support the community.
On December 10, 2022, Rev. Rosemary celebrated our first Mass in a home in San Geronimo, California. Shortly after, a community member introduced us to the Rev. John Kirkley, Rector of St. James Episcopal Church in San Francisco. The Rev. Kirkley generously invited us to celebrate our community’s liturgies at St James.
In January 2023, we began celebrating Masses on the third Wednesday of the month at St. James Church. We were welcomed and joined by several St. James parishioners. An ecumenical worship community was emerging. Our Advent Vigil that year was attended by both communities.
The Genesis Leadership Team continued to meet and consider where the Holy Spirit was leading us. We had a retreat in November which was both inspiring and reassuring, reminding us “Above all, trust in the slow work of God… Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be.” 1
In September of 2024, our name was chosen. Mary of Pentecost was selected to identify and characterize our Catholic community. In August and September of the same year Catherine Murrin Collins, and Sharon Aline Brannen were ordained Roman Catholic priests and began serving the Mary of Pentecost community. We continued through the year with our third Wednesday of the month Masses and initiated a first Saturday of the month Home Mass in October. We concluded the year with an ecumenical Advent Retreat.
In 2025, we continued to work to expand the community and offer more liturgies. We entered into Lent with an Ash Wednesday service, extended the Home Masses to every Saturday, and concelebrated the Triduum with St. James.
Our History
Into the Future
We knew from the beginning that our Catholic tradition, the sacramental practice of our Catholic faith, and fidelity to Scripture are fundamental to who we are as a community. These foundational beliefs anchor and guide our path for the future.
As we move forward in the process of understanding who we are in these new circumstances, several truths of the community are clear. Our identity is rooted in the Catholic church, supported by the vision and prophetic spirit of Vatican II, and the call to adapt to Christ’s mission in a wounded world.
Mary of Pentecost toils with the Catholic church in its efforts to move forward toward an expanding presence and relevance. Mary of Pentecost welcomes and encourages the community to engage with their gifts, passions, and talents. Ministries for the community include the choir, greeters, hospitality and breaking open the Word as lectors or homilists, or offerings of your own creation. We worship in the freedom of Jesus’ radical inclusion, love, and friendship.
You are welcome here.
We look forward to being with you.
For further information, we invite you to read Brief History of Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests link offered below.
https://arcwp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Brief-history-of-ARCWP-English-1.pdf
1 Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, The Making of a Mind: Letters from a Soldier Priest 1914-1919, (New York: Harper & Row, 1961), 57.
