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: Stories
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”
Deacon features in Vocations Week
Deacon Adrian Gomez, 14 August 2025 The Diocese of Parramatta has been featuring various people’s stories for Vocations Awareness Week. How exciting to see that Deacon Adrian Gomez, who has appeared on this blog before, was spotlighted on Tuesday. Here is some of the story: Deacon Adrian Gomez is passionate about working with young people,Continue reading “Deacon features in Vocations Week”
Empowered to Minister
Vicky Gonzalez Burrows, 19 June 2025 There is so much to the ministry journey of Vicky Gonzalez Burrows, even as a young woman, that it is hard to do it justice. Suffice to say that she has been an outstanding person of faith, gifted and called as a Catholic faith leader. However, her uncommon journeyContinue reading “Empowered to Minister”
A Eulogy for a Dear Departed Deacon
Peter and Robyn Presdee, 15 May 2025 On Good Friday this year, we lost a dear inspiration, member and friend to us in Australian Catholics Exploring the Diaconate. Deacon Peter Presdee previously open up his story for us, as did his wife, Robyn Presdee, on this blog. They have also been most generous in ourContinue reading “A Eulogy for a Dear Departed Deacon”
Being a Boundary-Rider
Deacon Peter de Haas, 8 May 2025 The Gulf Savannah Parish, in Far North Queensland, was in the grip of a severe drought. Deacon Peter de Haas, together with his wife Angela and adult daughter Alicia, delivered care packages to people on the cattle stations. These care packages were made possible through the concern andContinue reading “Being a Boundary-Rider”
A Deacon’s Story from Spain
Deacon Francisco José García-Roca López, 1 May 2025 Today I am privileged to share the story of a deacon from Spain, who kindly offered to write about his experience of call and ministry. He original words were in Spanish, and Google Translate has helped to make this translation to English possible. ¡Muchas gracias, Francis! MinistryContinue reading “A Deacon’s Story from Spain”
Liturgy on the Margins 