Testimony – Dominique Galea

In January 2025, Australian Catholics Exploring the Diaconate sent a submission to the Synod Study Group 5 (Dicastery of the Doctrine of Faith) on the study topic of women deacons. We were excited to have this opportunity to participate in the consultation, and contribute to what the Study Group had asked for: “the experiences already underway that see women in charge of leading communities, for example in the Amazon, but also in Africa and Asia. Precisely in order to emphasise the importance of starting from reality…” (Vatican News). Accordingly, we asked several women for testimonies about their ministries. A number of these also provided letters of support from their Bishops, priests and people they have ministered to. We are very happy to share one of the testimonies from a member of our group, Dominque Galea.

As well as being blessed with the vocations of wife, mother, grandmother and schoolteacher, I have always felt a very deep calling to be a part of The Church. This began at the age of 4 when at Mass, my mother pointed to the Eucharist and told me that it was Jesus – a fact which I have never stopped believing.

I have been involved in many ministries over the years which include the music ministry, children’s liturgy, teaching in sacramental programs, family Mass group, special minister of the Eucharist, catechist in public schools, reader of the word, member of the liturgy committee, chairperson of the parish council and more recently, Acolyte.

In my teaching role at various low socioeconomic Catholic schools, I was invited to become a Religious Education Coordinator. In that capacity I presented at numerous staff professional development days on spirituality and have gone on to give similar presentations as professional development for spiritual directors and the wider public.

I found my studies for a Master of Arts in Theological studies to be very rewarding. It was truly a case of ‘faith seeking understanding’. Whilst participating in these studies, which were fortuitously subsidised by my parish, I had the experience of feeling as though I was ‘filling up’ and I didn’t even know that I was ‘empty’! I truly felt at home in this environment and was told by the priests who lectured that I had a natural gift for theology (I was subsequently invited to lecture in Systematic Theology at Australian Catholic University). These studies led me to be able to be accepted to be trained as a spiritual director, a calling which has enabled me to become a member of retreat teams as presenter and spiritual director. The most recent of these was a wonderful six week sabbatical for religious.

I believe that women who have been gifted with the ability to serve the church in the capacities in which I have been able, should have these gifts from the Holy Spirit recognised in the ministry of Deacon. I am making this submission for future female leaders, as my age will preclude me from participating.

Thanks, Dominique!

Prayer Network