Category Archives: All posts

Purity, Power, and Possibility: A Response to the Diaconate Decision

Beth Doherty, 9 December 2025 Beth had been preparing to share her story, in her words, for this blog, but was recently impacted by the Commission on the Diaconate of Women’s published report. Her experience is certainly not unique. Thank you, Beth, for sharing the following reflections. When the news landed on my social mediaContinue reading “Purity, Power, and Possibility: A Response to the Diaconate Decision”

Who is Really on the Margins?

Brother Rick Gaffney, 20 November 2025 Brother Rick Gaffney has experienced many different contexts and worlds. After joining the De la Salle Brothers as a young man, he taught in Melbourne for 6 years before being asked to go to South Africa for an experience before his perpetual profession. His decision to go was basedContinue reading “Who is Really on the Margins?”

Liturgy Through Italian Eyes

Sr Silvia Campo RSM, 6 November 2025 This week, Sr Silvia Campo shares her own story about a liturgy with the community of Italian background in Melbourne. She has supported them in many ways over the years. Thanks, Silvia! With great enthusiasm and some degree of insistence, Rachel – we are old school friends fromContinue reading “Liturgy Through Italian Eyes”

Catechist to Catechist

Elizabeth Young rsm, 23 October 2025 I belong to an international religious order – the Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea. And we have been celebrating our newest saint: St Peter To Rot, who was canonised on the 19th of October, the first one of his country. Reading the news this week,Continue reading “Catechist to Catechist”

Compassionate Service

Deacon Charles Hyson, 2/10/2025 Deacon Charles Hyson speaks about his ministries as a “blessing and a privilege”. Since he became a deacon last year, there is a new quality to what he was already doing. He feels he comes to people with more than just himself: “if there is no Jesus, there is no Charles”Continue reading “Compassionate Service”

Celebration of the Feast of St Phoebe highlights the need for women deacons

Joanna Thyer, 18 September 2025 This article was published in the September 2025 edition of The Good Oil, the e-journal of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, and is republished with permission. There is no cost to subscribe to The Good Oil: http://www.goodsams.org.au When St Paul sent Phoebe the deacon to Rome, he trusted herContinue reading “Celebration of the Feast of St Phoebe highlights the need for women deacons”

Webinar Video: Feast of St Phoebe 2025

What a rich Feast! Yesterday we celebrated a wonderful webinar that included presentations by Ellie Hidalgo (Discerning Deacons) and Dr Kerrie Hide (Contemplatio); a prayer meditation by Gail Gill; a snapshot of ACED and our past webinars by Deacon Adrian Gomez; the launch of our public document Potential for Women Deacons in the Australian CatholicContinue reading “Webinar Video: Feast of St Phoebe 2025”

Potential for Women Deacons in the Australian Catholic Churches

3 September 2025 On this Feast of St Phoebe 2025, Australian Catholics Exploring the Diaconate would like to share our new document: Potential for Women Deacons in the Australian Catholic Churches. Thank you very much to everyone involved in preparing this document, and for those who shared their stories. May St Phoebe and St StephenContinue reading “Potential for Women Deacons in the Australian Catholic Churches”

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”