Liturgy on the Margins is a site of conversation around diaconal ministry in the Australian Catholic Church. It operates in tandem with the group, Australian Catholics Exploring the Diaconate, which shares these aims, parameters and goals.
This conversation has two main aims:
- PRESENT: To recognise, celebrate and promote diaconal ministry in Australia, especially as it is experienced through liturgy in marginal spaces and communities.
- FUTURE: To identify people and situations that yearn for such ministry, and potential leaders to carry out this ministry through formal Church endorsement.
This site furthers these aims by:
- Sharing stories of communities who experience liturgy on the margins or who yearn for such diaconal ministry. This includes individuals who lead or feel called to lead such ministry.
- Offering resources for discernment around the diaconate, particularly for those who are precluded by their gender from current discernment, formation and ordination programs.
- Highlighting supports and endorsements for people engaged in this discernment.
We keep some parameters around this conversation. We seek to:
- Keep a missionary and compassionate outlook, in line with Evangelii Gaudium and the agenda of the Australian Plenary Council.
- Promote the Church of the poor and for the poor.
GOALS:
- Highlight the significance of the ordained diaconate and identify those with a capacity to respond to this call.
- Build bridges among people, especially between marginal communities and the institutional Church.
- Form relationships with communities of ministry, from which liturgy arises and to which liturgy leads.
- Appreciate the Church and its mission, given by Jesus Christ, to promote the reign of God, nourished by its liturgical and sacramental tradition.
- Endorse the ability and responsibility of Church governance structures to provide for the liturgical needs of their people, by enabling willing ministers.
- Listen to all voices with respect and in a spirit of gospel love.
- Be open to creative and imaginative paths forward, led by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
At the same time, we try to avoid:
- Limiting the conversation to pastoral ministries that are currently encouraged for baptised Catholics.
- Broadening this conversation to other worthy topics, such as other governance roles, or other ministries that are ordained, installed or commissioned.
- Seeking positions or roles for the sake of power over others.
We seek God’s guidance in this journey together. St Phoebe and St Stephen, pray for us.
Liturgy on the Margins 