A tribute from Women's Ordination Conference USA which speaks for us all

This morning we learned of the passing of Ludmila Javorová, a friend of the women’s ordination movement and a priest, ordained in the Roman Catholic Church.

Ludmila was ordained on December 28, 1970, by Bishop Felix Davídek to serve in the underground church in what was then Czechoslovakia, during the decades when the church was under threat from the Communist regime (1948–1989).

Entrusted by her bishop, Javorová courageously served the church at a time it seemed all but certain that Catholicism would be erased from Czecholavakia, risking her own life and safety. She offered sacraments to a community threatened by religious persecution, and along with so many other brave Catholics, answered the call of God to keep the faith alive.

Her priesthood remained unknown to the wider world until the New York Times reported in 1991 that three Czech women had been ordained.

The leaders of WOC at the time sprang into action, organizing a delegation of four women—Dolly Pomerleau; Sr. Martha Ann Kirk, CCVI; Carolyn Moynihan; and Ruth Fitzpatrick—to travel to the Czech Republic in search of Ludmila. They found her and listened late into the night in her modest apartment as she shared her incredible and deeply moving story.

Although the WOC delegation reported back to their communities, Ludmila was not yet ready to be drawn into media attention. WOC went a second time to visit Ludmila and then in 1997, under the sponsorship of WOC and Catholics Speak Out, she came to the United States for a private visit. She spoke to small groups, affirming her priesthood at every gathering.

After that visit, Ludmila began to collaborate with Miriam Therese Winter on a book about her life and ministry. That collaboration became the award-winning book Out of the Depths, which has allowed countless people around the world to encounter her quiet courage and deep service to the church.

We give thanks for Ludmila’s incredible life and prophetic ministry. She said yes to God in seemingly impossible circumstances to serve God's people. She said yes when the Vatican later tried to erase her story. And because she said yes, we will forever tell the story of Ludmila, ordained woman priest in the Roman Catholic Church.

Thank you, Ludmila — our priest, forever.

 Pope Francis, Meet Your Priest: Ludmila Javorová with Miriam Therese (M.T.) Winter

In September 2021 Pope Francis traveled to Slovakia. WOC and FutureChurch invited Sr. Miriam Therese Winter to recall the ministry and life of Ludmila Javorová, who was ordained a Roman Catholic priest by Bishop Felix Davidek to serve in the underground church there when the church was under threat by the Communist regime from 1948 through 1989.

Read the NCR article by Sr. Christine Schenk or watch the video recording of the event below.