From James Kiefer at the Lectionary:
Florence Li Tim-Oi was ordained a priest by Bp. Ronald Hall of Hong Kong in 1944, primarily because of difficulties occasioned by the Japanese occupation of China. A storm of protest after the war forced her to refrain from exercising her role as a priest. Towards the end of her life, she emigrated to Canada where she was able to resume her priestly duties. She died in 1992.
Readings:
Psalm 116:1-2
Galatians 3:23-28
Luke 10:1-9
Prayer
Gracious God, we thank you for calling Florence Li Tim-Oi, much-beloved daughter, to be the first woman to exercise the office of a priest in our Communion; By the grace of your Spirit inspire us to follow her example, serving your people with patience and happiness all our days, and witnessing in every circumstance to our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the same Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Florence demonstrated extraordinary patience in her long wait to exercise her priestly ministry. My bolding in the biographical information.
I had the joy of being present when Li Tim-Oi presided at the Eucharist at All Saints, Pasadena, many years ago. Seeing a woman at the altar that way was very exciting.
ReplyDeletePaul, you were blessed to have been there.
ReplyDeletewow. I went and read her story and have to say what a powerful witness. I knew who she was but had never thought to read her story.
ReplyDeleteIn high school in the 80s our Episcopal chaplain was a woman priest. It took me years to understand that some people really didn't like the idea. Having seen great female priests I had never given it any thought.
I hope that as the years go on and the witness of so many female priests becomes obvious it will be the case that everyone in the church will wonder at the quaint and archaic idea that once the priesthood was only men.
May that day soon arrive.
What an amazing lady Li Tim-Oi was.