The Quiet Revolution… Joanna Thyer’s Recent Experience and Reflections

9 November 2024

We have been quietly waiting… For the English translation of the Final Document of the recent Synod on Synodality. When it comes, we will be able to share more on its message about the diaconate in general and women’s potential roles.

In the meantime, I would love to share an article written by one of our members of Australian Catholics Exploring the Diaconate, Joanna Thyer. She has been documenting the ‘quiet revolution’ that has been happening at grassroots and institutional level on the question of women’s access to the diaconate. Here are some excerpts:

At such an extraordinary time in the world, when there is so much heartache, distress caused by wars, climate change, poverty and inequality, it was a profound experience [speaking at the Synod adjunct event on women deacons] to affirm that the aspirations and calls of women are still needing to be heard, because they are also part of this upheaval. There is movement and change going on.

Yet speaking at this event in Rome at a time when the World Synod was taking place, also gave me a strange feeling of being heard and yet marginalised at the same time. On the one hand, the issue was said to be ‘off the table’ by the Synod, but in reality, it was, like the proverbial elephant in the room – very much on the table. Because as Belgian Synod delegate and deacon Geert de Cubber said, everyone is talking about women’s issues…

At the Synod, there was however, an accusation by some that the topic of women deacons is a ‘niche’ issue of western sensibilities, a first world problem. Indeed, some European media observed that Cardinal Fernandez, the Prefect of the Dicastery, said that there are a lot of other serious issues affecting women in the world, – particularly those in poverty. Whilst this is true, this does not negate the need for women deacons. Deacons can help bridge and reach out to marginalised people wherever they are, in whatever cultural context. Discussion around the need for women deacons has already taken place in the Amazon, and in Africa. This is an issue that affects all women throughout the world – including third world communities…

Sacramental capacity and responsibility has spiritual and pastoral power. It is an extension of the work that women in ministry all around the world already do. It is truly bringing the Church into the world. It is not, as some have alleged, fostering a more clericalised church, it is in effect creating a more community focused, less clericalised church, like the Christian community was in its early formation!

I have been in various forms of ministry for the past 30 years or more. I first received my call to be part of the diaconate whilst working as a pastoral care chaplain at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney in the 1990s and studying for a theology degree. It was at that time that the Australian bishops had an enquiry into the role of women in the Church, and like many, I made a submission, which of course, included a suggestion for ordination of women to the diaconate. That was nearly 30 years ago…

Yet the voice of women crying to be heard in the Church is a quiet revolution. It is not a group of feminists seeking to put a 21^st century secular construct onto the Church, neither is it just about gender parity, it is a direct pastoral response to what is happening now – the need for a bridge between church and society, in particular a bridge to address people suffering in the world. It is not specific to Western cultures, however privileged we may be, it is an inherent spiritual hunger and response to the Holy Spirit that women engaged in ministry across the world are experiencing.

If the Church truly wants to be the Church in the World – and live out the predications of Vatican II, it needs to start with small steps – synodality, communal listening, in particular listening to the difficult, uncomfortable stuff from amongst the faithful… Ordaining women deacons is one small step in this direction that could change everything.

Read her full article here.

Prayer Network