Author Archives: elizabethyoungrsm

Deacon calls for Peace, Compassion and Unity in Gaza

Deacon Gary Stone, 21 August 2025 Deacon Gary Stone was the first Deacon that I interviewed for this blog. See his story here. With his great experience and prayerful insight, he is now making an important call for peace, compassion and courage to address the devastating situation in Gaza and to bring hope to allContinue reading “Deacon calls for Peace, Compassion and Unity in Gaza”

Deacon features in Vocations Week

Deacon Adrian Gomez, 14 August 2025 The Diocese of Parramatta has been featuring various people’s stories for Vocations Awareness Week. How exciting to see that Deacon Adrian Gomez, who has appeared on this blog before, was spotlighted on Tuesday. Here is some of the story: Deacon Adrian Gomez is passionate about working with young people,Continue reading “Deacon features in Vocations Week”

Feast of St Phoebe Webinar 2025

Australian Catholics Exploring the Diaconate, supported by Catholic Religious Australia, invite you to the St Phoebe webinar for 2025: Inspired by St Phoebe and the Mystics Join Casey Stanton (Discerning Deacons) and Dr Kerrie Hide (Contemplatio) to explore the international discernment around women’s access to the diaconate and what women mystics have to teach us.Continue reading “Feast of St Phoebe Webinar 2025”

Letter to Parishes: Celebrating the Feast of St Phoebe this year

Recently, we have emailed out this letter far and wide to parishes in Australia. Please feel free to take up this invitation yourself, in your own context, or speak to the parish leaders who may have received this message. St Phoebe’s Day 3rd September 2025 – Parish Events Dear Parish Leaders including parish priests, associates,Continue reading “Letter to Parishes: Celebrating the Feast of St Phoebe this year”

Empowered to Minister

Vicky Gonzalez Burrows, 19 June 2025 There is so much to the ministry journey of Vicky Gonzalez Burrows, even as a young woman, that it is hard to do it justice. Suffice to say that she has been an outstanding person of faith, gifted and called as a Catholic faith leader. However, her uncommon journeyContinue reading “Empowered to Minister”

A Eulogy for a Dear Departed Deacon

Peter and Robyn Presdee, 15 May 2025 On Good Friday this year, we lost a dear inspiration, member and friend to us in Australian Catholics Exploring the Diaconate. Deacon Peter Presdee previously open up his story for us, as did his wife, Robyn Presdee, on this blog. They have also been most generous in ourContinue reading “A Eulogy for a Dear Departed Deacon”

Being a Boundary-Rider

Deacon Peter de Haas, 8 May 2025 The Gulf Savannah Parish, in Far North Queensland, was in the grip of a severe drought. Deacon Peter de Haas, together with his wife Angela and adult daughter Alicia, delivered care packages to people on the cattle stations. These care packages were made possible through the concern andContinue reading “Being a Boundary-Rider”

A Deacon’s Story from Spain

Deacon Francisco José García-Roca López, 1 May 2025 Today I am privileged to share the story of a deacon from Spain, who kindly offered to write about his experience of call and ministry. He original words were in Spanish, and Google Translate has helped to make this translation to English possible. ¡Muchas gracias, Francis! MinistryContinue reading “A Deacon’s Story from Spain”