On Saturday, May 3, Spirit of Grace witnessed a long-awaited and deeply sacred moment: the ordination of Rev. Vinci Halbrook-Paterson to the Catholic priesthood. The sanctuary overflowed with love and anticipation—filled with family, friends, Catholic priests, Lutheran and Protestant clergy, and two bishops. Bishop Suzanne Avison Thiel of the Western Region of Roman Catholic Womenpriests-USA was the presiding bishop, with ELCA-Oregon Synod Bishop Laurie Larson Caesar also present. All gathered to affirm what had been true for years: Rev. Vinci was already a priest in spirit, ready to be fully recognized and ordained through the sacrament of holy orders.
Pastor Robyn Hartwig and Bishop Suzanne Avison Thiel introducing Reverend Vinci Halbrook-Paterson
Photo by Blaine Covert
Rev. Vinci brings more than 36 years of faithful ministry, theological depth, and Franciscan compassion to her role. After earning her B.A. in theology at the University of Portland and an M.Div. from the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley, she spent decades teaching, leading, and forming others for ministry—including young men who would go on to become her supervisors. Her call has long been evident. Now it is official.
Bishop Suzanne blessing Reverend Vinci
Photo by Blaine Covert
Pastor Robyn Hartwig, who has shared pastoral leadership with Rev. Vinci since both were called to Spirit of Grace four years ago, spoke at the ordination with deep joy and conviction:
“She has served the church with deep faith, quiet courage, and true to her Franciscan tradition, a profoundly compassionate heart. She has taught the gospel, nurtured faith, equipped leaders… and I testify that she has been found worthy. And I must add, she has been worthy of this call for a very long time.”
But the story of Vinci’s ordination is inseparable from our community’s own path. In her sermon the next day, Pastor Robyn reflected on how we navigated an unexpected rupture in December 2023, when Archbishop Sample forbade our Roman Catholic priests from celebrating mass. It was, as Pastor Robyn described, a moment of seeming hopelessness—yet the Spirit was already at work.
“Miraculously, the meal did not end when Jesus was put to death,” she said. “And the meal did not end when our Roman Catholic priests were taken from us. Love has continued to come to us week by week.”
As the community prayed and discerned their next steps, voices emerged—retired priests, former Catholics, fellow pastors—all encouraging the church to listen deeply, one day at a time. Among those voices was Rev. Vinci’s own. Three weeks before the archbishop’s letter arrived, she experienced what she described as a “blessed epiphany.” Asked by parishioner Annette Stixrud to anoint her dying husband Neal, Rev. Vinci did not hesitate. Though the sacrament of anointing the sick is reserved for Roman Catholic priests, she felt no fear—only faith and clarity.
Rev. Vinci reflected at the time, “I firmly believe Catholics should not be deprived of the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, just because our practices and values expand beyond the traditional interpretation of Catholicism.”
RCWP Bishop Suzanne Avison Thiel leads the congregation in blessing Rev. Vinci (Photo by Blaine Calvert)
Through prayer and listening, her call became unmistakable—both from within and echoing in the voices of our community. In the year after the archbishop’s letter, Spirit of Grace entered into an intentional, prayerful discernment to determine our future relationship with the Catholic church. We wanted to be open to any independent Catholic tradition, especially those that ordain and embrace women and LBGTQIA+ people. A December 2024 survey on Catholic identity revealed our overwhelming support for embracing inclusive leadership and women’s ordination, but members preferred having a relationship with our clergy over choosing a particular tradition.
“These past four years I have been building a relationship with you,” Rev. Vinci wrote. “And now I feel a strong call to serve here as your priest.”
Reverend Vinci Halbrook-Paterson, fully ordained!
Photo by Blaine Covert
Saturday’s ordination was not only the affirmation of her personal call—it was also the healing of a community’s broken Eucharistic rhythm. With sacred silence, hands were laid. With sacred joy, she was anointed and vested. And with sacred truth, we finally heard the words: “I now present to you Reverend Vinci.”
“This is not in defiance of Catholic faith,” Pastor Robyn preached. “This is an embodiment of Catholic Christian faith as graceful resistance… Jesus, God’s love with skin on, meets us through this woman—with skin on—offering us bread, wine, love, forgiveness, and grace.”
Rev. Vinci Halbrook-Paterson’s ordination is more than one woman’s milestone. It is a sign—a reminder that love rises, the Spirit still calls, and sometimes, healing comes when we are open to all possibilities.
“Not only is another world possible,” Pastor Robyn concluded, quoting author and activist Arundhati Roy: “she is on her way. On a quiet day, we can hear her breathing.”
ELCA Oregon Bishop Laurie Larson Caesar, former Spirit of Grace pastor, blesses Rev. Vinci
Photo by Blaine Covert
Many of the priests, pastors, and leaders celebrating Reverend Vinci’s ordination