And the countdown is on… to the Feast of St Phoebe 2026! There are a number of events happening – please see some below – and we hope you can attend one or more of these.
Ecumenical Evensong in Melbourne
To celebrate the feast of St Phoebe
‘I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the Church.’ Romans 16.1
All are invited to an
Ecumenical Evensong
at St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne
Sunday 30th August 2026 at 4pm AEST
Guest Preacher:
Rev Assoc. Professor Robyn Whitaker
Pilgrim Theological College
University of Divinity
Please join us for refreshments after evensong
Feast of St Phoebe at Kirup Spirituality Hub, Western Australia
Thursday
3rd September 2026
9.30 – midday AWST
The Spirituality Hub
at Church of the Holy Family
27 Capel St, Kirup, WA
Refreshments provided.
Attendance via Zoom is possible – contact Deborah
Register via
deborahmrobertson@bigpond.com
The Spirituality Hub is on Facebook
We will celebrate the feast of St Phoebe by reflecting on her story and then taking time in spiritual conversation with Paragraph 60 of the final document of the Synod on Synodality:
60. By virtue of Baptism, women and men have equal dignity as members of the People of God. However, women continue to encounter obstacles in obtaining a fuller recognition of their charisms, vocation and place in all the various areas of the Church’s life. This is to the detriment of serving the Church’s shared mission. Scripture attests to the prominent role of many women in the history of salvation. ….. Crucial turning points in Church history confirm the essential contribution of women moved by the Spirit. ….. There is no reason or impediment that should prevent women from carrying out leadership roles in the Church: what comes from the Holy Spirit cannot be stopped. Additionally, the question of women’s access to diaconal ministry remains open. This discernment needs to continue.
Is St Phoebe still relevant today?
This year our webinar will address the question, ‘Is St Phoebe still relevant today?’ and how her mission can inspire us. Our speakers are Dr Michele Connolly RSJ and Ms Maddie Kelly, who will share, respectively, from a biblical and a youth perspective. We will also hear from ACED members about why they continue to be involved in this conversation, and from Nimmi Candappa about her polling of engagement with the Commission on Women Deacons.
Thursday 3rd September
7:30pm AEST/ 7:00pm ACST / 5:30pm AWST
Online, free event
Feast of St Phoebe with Discerning Deacons
September 3-4, 2026 – Join us as we celebrate the Feast of St. Phoebe—deacon, leader, and witness to the Gospel—with prayer, storytelling, and hope for a more synodal Church.
10:00 p.m. AEST / 8:00 a.m. ET / 5:00 a.m. PT | International Prayer Service, September 3
End the day in prayer with Catholics from around the world. Together we will celebrate the diaconal vocation of women, pray for a Church that walks together in mission, and ask the Holy Spirit to continue opening pathways of peace, participation, and co-responsibility.
10:00 a.m. AEST / 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT | St. Phoebe Day Celebration with Discerning Deacons, (September 4 in Australia)
Gather with our community for a time of prayer, inspiration, and celebration. Together we will reflect on enduring partnerships in mission—from St. Phoebe and St. Paul, St. Olympias and St. John Chrysostom, and St. Clare and St. Francis—to the women and men embodying co-responsibility in the Church today.
Liturgy on the Margins 
Thanks very much for publicising all the Phoebe related events, especially our Melbourne one
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