Our Mission

Call to Action of Southwest Florida believes in, and fosters, the full participation of all Catholics as people of God in the rites, management, renewal and revitalization of the church in the spirit of Vatican II.  Its members dedicate themselves to promoting justice for all people both in the church and in society.  Guided by an informed conscience, we are open to reflection, dialog and action as a responsible exercise of our just and inherent rights concerning critical issues facing the church.
 
 

About Us

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA CALL TO ACTION is an established Chapter of the National Call to Action organization and we, as they, are Catholics working together to foster peace and justice in our world, our church and ourselves.  We believe in and advocate for reform in the Catholic Church in such areas as:

  • optional celibacy for priests
  • ordination of women
  • more focus on the Church's social justice teachings
  • human sexuality issues
  • consultation with the Catholic people on the Church's decision-making level

We strongly believe that WE ARE THE CHURCH, THE PEOPLE OF GOD.  Our local chapter enables us to meet together for prayer, mutual support, education and action on local and national issues facing the Catholic Church today.
 

CTA-SWFLA CHAPTER LEADERS


From left: Southwest Florida Chapter - Ellen McNally; Peace River Branch - Charles Grunkemeyer, Imogene Rigdon (co-leaders); The Villages Branch - Kathleen Fagen.

Our History

Our local chapter was birthed at the 2005 Florida State CTA Conference held in Winter Haven, Florida.  At that conference we were called together into local groupings and decided that we would work toward incorporating as the Southwest Florida CTA.  Present members of our Chapter reside in Collier and Lee counties of southwest Florida.  Residents of these and neighboring counties are most welcome and encouraged to join us.

Since our founding, we have been a growing chapter and continue to actively:

  • minister to the homeless by finding housing, services and providing meals twice weekly
  • support diocesan workers whose employment has been terminated
  • host annual Mary Magdala celebrations honoring women’s contributions to the church
  • march and protest with and for Immokalee Farm Workers seeking more just wages and treatment
  • attend and host meetings in support of gays and lesbians
  • support alternative styles of worship and women’s ordinations
  • educate by hosting several speakers each year

Peace River Branch - Invited by Imogene and Michael Rigdon, Bob Heineman of CTA-USA visited Sarasota, February 6, 2011, to meet with a group of Catholics, inspired by Robert McClory’s lecture on The Hijacking of Vatican II, to explore the establishment of a new CTA chapter. Approximately 30 attendees engaged in the discussion of the mission, values, hopes and need for a CTA chapter in our area.

Further exploration occurred on March 12th when Ellen McNally, CTA-SWFL Chapter leader, and Jack McNally met with 12 interested people to explain the options available and to urge us to join. With the Southwest Florida chapter’s support, the group decided to begin as a “branch”, selecting the name “Peace River Branch.”

On March 29th the first board members were chosen: Carol Ann Breyer, Jean Brgant, Ray Curran, Terry DuBois, Ford Englerth, Charlie Grunkemeyer, Imogene and Michael Rigdon. All members then watched the DVD of the November 2010 CTA national conference in Milwaukee. It was a source of inspiration for our new beginning! At the following meeting on April 23rd the board selected as officers: Charlie Grunkemeyer and Imogene Rigdon, co-chairs; Ford Englerth, treasurer; and Michael Rigdon, secretary. Members also approved the branch’s mission statement.

Our first Call to Action activity was a response to the call to hold a peaceful vigil outside the Epiphany Cathedral before the chrism mass on April 19th. The vigil was in support of Fr Roy Bourgeois and his right to primacy of conscience in his support of women’s ordination. The Peace River Branch members were among the thirty-nine participants who joined in the event. We felt proud to have the second largest group of attendees after Chicago.

The Villages Branch - Call to Action / The Villages began on January 31, 2011, with the first meeting held at Panera Bread in the Villages with Bob Heineman as guest speaker. The group petitioned to be a branch of CTA-Southwest Florida with Kathleen Fegan as their leader. The branch continues to meet monthly on the first Friday of each month, and is actively seeking members.
 

 

 

© 2011 Southwest Florida Call to Action. All rights reserved.