Rev. Sandy Boyce, 17 March 2022 What does the diaconate look like in other Christian denominations? I decided to learn a bit more about the experience of the Uniting Church in Australia, and spoke to Rev. Sandy Boyce, a deacon in Adelaide and the president of the Diakonia World Federation. This organisation is an ecumenicalContinue reading “Starting with the Scattered – Deacons in the Uniting Church”
Category Archives: All posts
The Heart and the Spine: Deacon Michael Tan
Deacon Michael Tan, 10 March 2022 Deacon Michael Tan brings so much to his diaconal ministry. He became a Catholic in his late teenage years, he married and had a professional career in medicine. Michael has been through a spiritual journey that led from Malaysia to Australia and from Chinese spiritualities to Catholicism. He callsContinue reading “The Heart and the Spine: Deacon Michael Tan”
Ministry in the Church – a career pathway?
Lisa Bright, 3 March 2022 Sometimes, when people hear of difficult professional experiences she has faced, friends ask Lisa Bright why she doesn’t leave the Church. But it is where she finds “life to the full”. It is where she journeys with and accompanies others to live life to the full. It is where sheContinue reading “Ministry in the Church – a career pathway?”
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”
Liturgy on the Margins 