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”
Category Archives: Resources
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”
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”
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”
Another Response to Pope Francis on Women and the Diaconate
Deacon Anthony Gooley, 28 June 2024 28 June 2024 The most recent edition of the National Association of Deacons of Australia Newsletter, The Diaconate, features both my article of the last post, and another on the same topic. Deacon Anthony Gooley, who has spoken previously for our 2022 webinar and written for this blog, hasContinue reading “Another Response to Pope Francis on Women and the Diaconate”
The Diaconate in the Australian Summary 2024 – Synod 2024 Consultation
While the news this week has been about Pope Francis’s comments about women and the diaconate with Holy Orders, his synodal processes and the study groups are still in discernment phase. We welcome these opportunities to keep the conversation alive, and to continue to share the value of Holy Orders and the diaconate as aContinue reading “The Diaconate in the Australian Summary 2024 – Synod 2024 Consultation”
Theological Perspectives on Women and the Diaconate, and an Ordination
16 May 2024 We have been following the Synod on Synodality and its active conversations about the diaconate, including the potential inclusion of women. Here is one of the key paragraphs: Different positions have been expressed regarding women’s access to the diaconalministry. For some, this step would be unacceptable because they consider it adiscontinuity withContinue reading “Theological Perspectives on Women and the Diaconate, and an Ordination”
St Phoebe 2023 and Elizabeth Visits the Abbey
Two items today. Firstly, our Australian Catholics Exploring the Diaconate group is planning a special event for the Feast of St Phoebe 2023. It will take the form of a retreat for those interested in the permanent diaconate, and will be a chance to get together in person. We are planning to have times ofContinue reading “St Phoebe 2023 and Elizabeth Visits the Abbey”
Possibilities for deacons in Religious Institutes (RI)
Rev. Assoc. Prof. Anthony Gooley, 27 October 2022 At our Feast of St Phoebe Webinar, Deacon Anthony noted one of the unanswered questions and kindly offered this blog post in response. It also relates directly to the recent blog about Sr Helen. Thanks, Anthony! I was asked by a member of a women’s Religious InstituteContinue reading “Possibilities for deacons in Religious Institutes (RI)“
John Neil Collins and a Paradigm Shift
By Rev. Assoc. Prof. Anthony Gooley, 15 September 2022 This is part 3 of a series. First, Anthony looked at Acts 6:1-7 the story of Deacons, then Adding food and funds to Acts 6. Thanks, Anthony! This is the third in a series of contributions to this blog. I am sharing some basic information aboutContinue reading “John Neil Collins and a Paradigm Shift“
Liturgy on the Margins 