elizabethyoungrsm

Prayer Network

Are you inspired by this diaconal discernment and moved to contribute your gift of prayer? If so, it is very welcome. Perhaps you aren’t able to be involved in other ways, but feel the movement of God’s spirit in what we are doing. Australian Catholics Exploring the Diaconate would greatly appreciate your prayerful intent andContinue reading “Prayer Network”

Living One’s Baptism to the Full

Dr Elissa Roper, 17 February 2022 Synodality – a new word and a new way of thinking. Although Pope Francis has only recently coined the term, Dr Elissa Roper is already an expert on the topic. Just last year she completed her PhD thesis on the theme, “Synodality and Authenticity: Towards a Contemporary Ecclesiology forContinue reading “Living One’s Baptism to the Full”

Newly Ordained Deacon of the Uniting Church in Australia

Rev Chelsea Size, 10 February 2022 In late November, 2021, Rev Chelsea Size was ordained a Deacon for the Uniting Church in Australia. She tells me that her lifelong call to ministry started a long time before her specific formation for ordination within this church. It all began in her childhood, in a quiet ruralContinue reading “Newly Ordained Deacon of the Uniting Church in Australia”

Listening Circles

Listening and Speaking Differently – A Space for All Voices Liz and Vic O’Callaghan, 3 February 2022 Liz and Vic O’Callaghan come with a background in education in schools, pre-service teacher education, system advisement, school leadership and consultancy. Together they have collaborated in the design and implementation of Restorative Practices in Australia. These combined skillsContinue reading “Listening Circles”

Women: Icons of Christ

Recently I was exploring some coastal wilderness near my mother’s home. Pausing at some tasty-looking wild beans, my deceased father’s words from many years ago rang in my head. “Is this plant poisonous?” I had asked. Dad’s typically wise response was: “Investigate yourself. Try it and see.” So I did, just a little bit, andContinue reading “Women: Icons of Christ”

Come As You Are

Rev Liesel Walter, 20 January 2022 Rev Liesel Walters is a Deacon of the Anglican Church, and recently I had the privilege to meet up and hear her story. Across the denominations, and across the table of a cafe in rural New South Wales, we discovered so much to share and thank God for together. HerContinue reading “Come As You Are”

Journeys of Healing – Sr Mary Trainor RSM

Sr Mary Trainor RSM, 13 January 2022 When Sr Mary Trainor rsm discovered the work of this blogsite, she said that it “warmed the cockles of my heart!” She can certainly identify with ministry on the margins and was eager to share her experience alongside people with mental illness and intellectual disability. After many yearsContinue reading “Journeys of Healing – Sr Mary Trainor RSM”

5 Years, 82 Baptisms

Sr Margaret Finlay IBVM, 6 January 2022 The man who sat in front of her was a large, energetic footy player. The woman next to him was small, gently bobbing an infant of 8 months. “Why do you want to have your child baptised?” Sr Marg asked. To her surprise and delight, the man answeredContinue reading “5 Years, 82 Baptisms”

Deacons and the Plenary Council Proposals

Australia’s Plenary Council First Assembly Proposals from Small Groups and Individuals Members have recently been released. There were a number of proposals that specifically named, promoted and sought to extend the role of deacons in the Australian Church. These were: Question 3 (Small group report): Culturally prepare deacons for ministry in partnership with Aboriginal andContinue reading “Deacons and the Plenary Council Proposals”

The Blood of the Street

Deacon Peter Presdee, 9 December 2021 Tom’s* Mum was dying, thousands of kilometers away, and he didn’t know what to do. Tom was not religious but he did know someone who was. Peter Presdee, a Catholic Deacon and Chaplain, had passed him in the prison where he worked as an officer. Peter would say helloContinue reading “The Blood of the Street”