The Rev. Kori R. Pacyniak (pronouns: they/them) is a non-binary Catholic priest who has served as pastor of Mary Magdalene Apostle Catholic Community (MMACC) since January of 2017. Much of Kori’s work and ministry focuses on making sure queer and trans people have the liturgical and theological resources to reclaim spiritual and faith traditions.
Kori holds a Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Harvard Divinity School, a Master of Sacred Theology (STM) from Boston University School of Theology, and is currently a PhD student at the University of California, Riverside, focusing on Queer and Trans Studies in Religion. Kori’s academic work focuses on the intersection of queer and trans identities with religious and ethnic identities. Their dissertation will look at the experiences of trans catholics with religious and secular rituals.
Kori also serves on the steering committee of TransEpiscopal, an organization working for the full inclusion and support of transgender and non-binary persons within the Episcopal Church. Previously, Kori served as parish intern at St. Luke's and St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Boston, assistant chaplain at Suffolk University, and scholar in residence at the Religious Institute.
Kori was ordained a deacon in June of 2019 and a priest in February of 2020, becoming the first transgender and non-binary person ordained through Roman Catholic Women Priests (RCWP).
Kori can be reached at pastor@mmacc.org
Further coverage of Kori's ordination can be found at Uptown News and the San Diego Union-Tribune.