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”
Category Archives: Reflections
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”
Being Polyglots
Cecilia Tan, 29 May 2025 Cecilia, who has shared her story on this blog before, has offered this powerful poem and its explanation to continue the conversation after the death of one Pope and the naming of another. It was written for Good Shepherd Sunday. Thank you, Cecilia! These are extraordinary times. The world mournedContinue reading “Being Polyglots”
Pope of the Peripheries
Elizabeth Young rsm, 26 April 2025 We are mourning the death of Pope Francis, our inspired leader of the Catholic Church, the Bishop of Rome. I had a couple of retreat days after Easter and had the space to write this memorial for him. What first came to mind was his approach – as firstContinue reading “Pope of the Peripheries”
Exploring the Modern Diaconate: Insights from the Parramatta Seminar
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”
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”
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”
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”
The Quiet Revolution… Joanna Thyer’s Recent Experience and Reflections
9 November 2024 We have been quietly waiting… For the English translation of the Final Document of the recent Synod on Synodality. When it comes, we will be able to share more on its message about the diaconate in general and women’s potential roles. In the meantime, I would love to share an article writtenContinue reading “The Quiet Revolution… Joanna Thyer’s Recent Experience and Reflections”
Reflections on the Discussion on Women Deacons – 15th October, 2024, Rome
Joanna Thyer, 24/10/24 Recently, one of our members of Australian Catholics Exploring the Diaconate was a panel speaker in Rome at another side-of-the-Synod event. Thank you, Joanna! She shares her experience here in her own words. My feeling about speaking at this adjunct event for the Synod – about women who feel called to theContinue reading “Reflections on the Discussion on Women Deacons – 15th October, 2024, Rome”
Liturgy on the Margins 