ORLANDO, Fla. — CORRECTION: While the woman was ordained through a non-denominational church, and she considers herself Catholic, the Catholic Diocese has not responded to WFTV's story and she has not been ordained by the Catholic church.
Rita Lucey's ordination ceremony was not sanctioned by the Vatican, but nothing was going to stop her from her lifelong dream of becoming a priest in her own Catholic faith.
"I don't know that I don't have words to describe that, I really don't. That was joyous," Lucey said.
The great-grandmother joins a movement of more than 200 women across the world becoming priests. But she said taking a stand comes with a penalty: automatic excommunication from the Catholic Church.
But she said the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests provides what the Vatican will not.
"Excommunicated means you can't receive the sacraments of the church. We can administer them to each other, so let them have their excommunication," Lucey said.
Stepping outside the box is nothing new for Lucey. She was recognized by Amnesty International for speaking out against the death penalty and pushing prison reform.
"Our 45th wedding anniversary, I was in prison," Lucey said.
At age 63, she spent six months in prison for protesting against a controversial combat training facility in Georgia.
Now 17 years later, Lucey said she's hopeful about her challenge to the church.
"They are on their journey, and I am on mine," Lucey said.
Eyewitness News contacted the Orlando Diocese for comment, but did not hear back.