Midwest Region RCWP Members
| Alice Iaquinta | Mary Kay Kusner | Regina Nicolosi | |||||||
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Mary Kay Kusner, MA, CC has been a chaplain for over 20 years. During this time, she witnessed the openness of people to her as a woman minister. When she graduated from Boston College with her Master’s in Pastoral Ministry in 1987, many of her peers were leaving the Catholic church to become ordained. At that time, Mary Kay said, “I want my presence to speak louder than my absence.” |
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Regina Nicolosi, MA, was born in a small town on the Rhine River. She was a teacher in Germany. 1969 she came to the USA to marry the love of her life, Charles, a radiologist and deacon. Together they raised four children, one of them from Colombia and one from Korea. Regina participated fully in Charles' preparation to the diaconate. She earned her Masters Degree in Pastoral Studies. Regina has worked as a housing manager for seniors, as a chaplain in a correctional facility for boys, in a drug and alcohol recovery unit and in a nursing home. She is retired now. She helps prepare women for ordination and celebrates Eucharist with Dignity and other small faith-communities. crnicolosi@yahoo.com |
| Regina Nicolosi Ordained womandeacon 2005 womanpriest 2006 womanbishop 2009 |
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Kathy Redig, M.A. in Pastoral Ministries is a certified chaplain. She has served in Winona, MN in this capacity since 1995. Through this ministry she became aware that many people feel disenfranchised from the Catholic church and other churches. She was called to ministry at a young age, entering the convent after high school. Eventually realizing that she needed a partner in life, she left, married, and with her husband, raised two children. She suddenly became aware that God was calling her to ordination to become part of the change that she hoped to see within the Catholic church. Kathy and her husband Robert have established an inclusive parish, All Are One Roman Catholic church where all are welcome at the table. krredig@hbci.com |
| Kathy Redig Ordained womandeacon 2007 womanpriest 2008 |
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Mary Frances Smith I am a registered nurse who has worked in psychiatry for thirty-five years, in staff and in leadership positions. My husband of thirty-two years is my strongest advocate in all my endeavors. I have three adult sons, an adult stepdaughter, and one grandchild. I earned my Master of Arts Degree in Theology from The College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, Minnesota.. On May 4, 2008, I was ordained a Roman Catholic woman deacon. It has been as a Roman Catholic laywoman that I have always experienced the Church, the powerful social institution that framed my spiritual life from my birth. My belief in the progress of women in the Roman Catholic Church is very deep and strong. It is my joy to stand with women and men who bring life and growth to the Church. marysmith98@msn.com. |
| Mary Frances Smith Ordained womandeacon 2008 womenpriest 2009 |
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Monique Gamache Venne first experienced a call to priesthood in fourth grade, when she wanted to be an altar server even though it wasn’t allowed at the time. Not interested in becoming a nun, she instead pursued studies in the natural sciences, receiving a B.S. in Physics and an M.S. in Meteorology. As a forecaster for a major airline and a researcher for private firms, she was dedicated to keeping people safe from the dangers of weather. She was also active as a volunteer in various liturgical ministries, including as a member of her parish’s Liturgy Committee, choir, lector, and lay presider, and serving as co-director of a women’s Bible study. When she was laid off from her last meteorological job, she decided to pursue her avocation and received an M.Div. from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in 2004. She is active with RCWP members and progressive Catholic groups in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Monique sees herself as a person marginalized by the Catholic Church who ministers to others pushed to the margins by the Church. A multiple blue-ribbon winner at the Minnesota State Fair, she makes and sells religious and healing jewelry at local craft fairs. She has been married since 1981 to her husband David and owns (or is owned by!) their cat Boris. She may be contacted at mgvrcwp@gmail.com. |
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Linda Wilcox I received my M.A. in Theology and Pastoral Ministry at the
College of St. Catherine in 2005. I have been active in a
variety of ministries through the years in my parish,
including the Just Faith program. My husband and I belong
to a small faith community. Most recently I have been
involved in hospice, ministry to the homeless, and hospital
chaplain ministry. I have been a Benedictine Oblate with
St. Paul’s Monastery in Maplewood, MN. for eight years.
I became interested in women’s ordination through exposure
to the movement at the Call to Action gathering that I
attend each year. I have a passion for cooking. As I
discerned my call to the priesthood I felt a strong
connection between planning and preparing a meal and the
Benedictine value of hospitality. I desire to gather around
the table with community and celebrate the breaking of bread
at a larger and more inclusive table where all will be
welcome.
Linda and her husband Russ are parents of four grown
children. |
| Linda Wilcox Ordained womandeacon 2008 womenpriest 2009 |
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