| The follwing piece was published in Equal Writes,the newsletter of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Women's Ordination Conferencein March 1997. Scripture Reflections(Proverbs31:10-31; Mark 16:7; Hebrews 7:11-17) By Judith A. Heffernan TheScripture reflections this time are not for a special day; rather, fora special person, one "clothed with strength and dignity--who opened hermouth in wisdom, whose children rise up and praise her." One late Autumn day on 1967 a friend found me in thehalls of Chestnut Hill College. "Did you see the flyer on the bulletinboard? Someone is speaking on women's ordination at Rosemont!" I went homeand told my Dad that I had to have the car -- and directions to Rosemont.! That night I met Arlene Swidler and heard her say everythingthat had been in my heart since 1953. I left there knowing a personal dreamcould be a shared reality. To my delight, over time I would get to know Arlene-- and she kept amazing me. I would learn she had lived in Wisconsin, Pittsburgh,Germany, Japan, and thank God, Philadelphia. She had worked for the NCCW,was an NCR columnist, an English professor, a Religious Studies professor,and co-founder of the Journal of Ecumenical Studies. Arlene was an author,translator, editor and writer -- as well as a daughter, marriage partner,mother and faithful friend. Through the years I would learn that Arlene's answers-- and questions -- were the foundation and driving force of the Catholicwomen's movement in Philadelphia. In the Gospel we read "Go and tell!"Arlene felt it was very important for all of us to keep speaking, doing,witnessing and writing. I named her "God's Nudger." Arlene noted that she was much more comfortable behinda typewriter than a podium -- yet, she was invited near and far to addressall kinds of groups. She never refused unless she felt it was the righttime for someone else to step forward. Through the years Arlene told us, "Claim your heritageas daughters of God." "Women need to preach." "God is an equal- opportunityemployer." "Language is important." "Invite in the protesters (bearingsigns against women's ordination) to meet with us, pray with us and eatwith us" (And they came in!). To this day her strong, deep, clear, resonating,expressive, soul- touching voice is part of my psyche. As it was on that day when a woman was called to ordainedministry by her community and Arlene read from Hebrews. "The one of whomthese things are said was of a different tribe, none of whose members everofficiated at the altar . . . the law of the priesthood is not determinedby physical descent, but in virtue of the power of a life which cannotbe destroyed." Arlene is not well now, but there is a power in herlife of working for justice and understanding, a power from her life thatwill never be destroyed. Judy Heffernan has a Master of Divinity degree from aCatholic seminary. She is a member of the Community of Christian Spiritand an original member of the Women's Ordination Conference. | 
