Today is Sister Vivian Ivantic’s 100th birthday. She’s spent 90 of those years hoping to one day become a priest, and she still holds firm to that conviction.
“I think the American church is outstanding,” she told The Chicago Tribune. “But I’m waiting for women’ ordination. We have been deprived of the celebration of the Mass because we don’t have enough ordained priests. We have done so much as teachers, nurses, social workers, but we need to open church offices to women.”
Sister Vivian has never been one to back down from her decisions.
Her commitment to become a nun began when she was in first grade.
She came home from school and announced to her mother that when she grew up, she wanted to become a nun or a priest.
She joined the Benedictines at the age of 20, but has always remained hopeful that priesthood would one day be an option for her.
“We need women in church offices,” said Ivantic. “It won’t come in my lifetime, but it will come.” Continue reading