Roman Catholic Women Priests Ordained in Florida

February 6, 2010

The first Roman Catholic Womenpriests ordained in Florida were Dena O'Callaghan of Ocala, FL and Katy Zatsick of Lexington, Ky. They were ordained in St. Andrew United Church of Christ in Sarasota on Feb. 6, 2010 by Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan. Dena was one of the founding members of CTA Florida, and she and her husband, John, were the first Secretary and Vice President.

Dena O’Callaghan’s journey began at the first Women’s Ordination Conference in Detroit, 1975, when she stood with other women when asked, “Who in the audience feels called by God to a renewed priestly ministry in the Roman Catholic Church?”

Dena responded positively and has since prayed to be a priest. She received her Master of Divinity degree at St. John Provincial Seminary, Plymouth, Michigan in 1980. Afterwards, she was appointed Associate Pastor at a newly founded parish community in the Diocese of Saginaw where she preached at weekend liturgies, co-celebrated the sacraments of the Church and was the Director of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. She also served as Pastoral Administrator, teacher and instructor in the diaconate formation program at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit. It is only through the Roman Catholic Women Priests, that Dena finally reached her goal of ordination.

Dena presently co-pastors the House Church of Mary and Joseph with her husband in Ocala, Florida.
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