Deacon Roderick Pirotta, 20 March 2025 On Saturday 15th March 2025, the Diocese of Parramatta Diaconate community, hosted a significant seminar focusing on the role and evolution of the Diaconate within the Catholic Church. The event, led by Deacon William T. Ditewig, Ph.D., provided a profound exploration of historical foundations, contemporary challenges, and the futureContinue reading “Exploring the Modern Diaconate: Insights from the Parramatta Seminar”
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A whirlwind 6 days in Rome!
Deacon Tony Hoban *, 13 March 2025 I present here a reflection on my experience of travelling recently to Rome for the International Diaconate Centre (IDC) Study Conference and then the Jubilee for Deacons. I want to express my thanks my Bishop Vincent Long, Bishop of Parramatta, for supporting a great deal of my costContinue reading “A whirlwind 6 days in Rome!”
National (Australian) Deacons Conference 2025
Adelaide Hills Convention Centre, Hahndorf Discovery Parks Deborah Robertson and Elizabeth Young rsm, 6 March 2025 Firstly, from Deborah: On Thursday 27th February around 80 participants gathered for the biennial conference for Catholic deacons in Australia, their wives and other friends and associates. Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles Balvo attended for the whole conference along withContinue reading “National (Australian) Deacons Conference 2025”
Contribution to Church Dialogue on Women and the Diaconate from Germany and Austria
Jutta Mader-Schömer and Monika Amlinger, 27 February 2025 Like our ACED submission to the Study Commission on Women Deacons and/or Study Group 5, the groups Netzwerk Diakonat der Frau and Vernetzung berufener Frauen have shared their own contribution. Please see their accompanying email below. The link to their very well-researched paper, ‘Sacramental diaconate of women’ is here. TheyContinue reading “Contribution to Church Dialogue on Women and the Diaconate from Germany and Austria”
Testimony – Dominique Galea
In January 2025, Australian Catholics Exploring the Diaconate sent a submission to the Synod Study Group 5 (Dicastery of the Doctrine of Faith) on the study topic of women deacons. We were excited to have this opportunity to participate in the consultation, and contribute to what the Study Group had asked for: “the experiences alreadyContinue reading “Testimony – Dominique Galea”
A Good News Story – Ministry Beginnings
Sonia Gomez, 30 January 2025 For the first blog of 2025, we would like to share some good news from one of our members, Sonia Elizabeth Gomez Lopez, who is taking on a new ministry role. This article appeared in the parish bulletin of St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Mortlake NSW. Welcome Sonia Gomez Parish PastoralContinue reading “A Good News Story – Ministry Beginnings”
The Stories Not Told
Elizabeth Young rsm, 19 December 2024 Since 2021, when I started this blog, I have been privileged to share deep conversations with people who have been drawn to the ministry of the diaconate. However, a number have been very clearly “not for the blog”. There have been various reasons, but some common ones are: SoContinue reading “The Stories Not Told”
Bringing my Humanity
Deacon Martin Lewis, 5 December 2024 Martin Lewis is a brand-new deacon, just ordained by Archbishop Mark Coleridge at St Stephen’s Cathedral, Brisbane, on November 16. In some ways, nothing has changed for Deacon Martin. If so-and-so says to him, “Hello, Reverend Martin,” he responds with, “Hello, Reverend So-and-so.” He knows that he is stillContinue reading “Bringing my Humanity”
Speaking our Language: More on the Margins
Deacon Memo Rodrigues and Liliana Rivas, 14 November 2024 Memo Rodriguez was born in Mexico and, when he became involved with the church, he realised it meant more than liturgical ministry – it was also about service. He took part in the youth group’s outreach ministry, which was religious education at an orphanage. Then heContinue reading “Speaking our Language: More on the Margins”
The Final Document and the Diaconate
13 November 2024 I remember Sisters recounting the heady days of Vatican II, when they were filled with anticipation for each new exciting document. Well, we have felt some of the same through the process of the recently-concluded Synod on Synodality. The English-language working translation of the Final Document has just become official. Pope FrancisContinue reading “The Final Document and the Diaconate”
Liturgy on the Margins 