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”
Category Archives: Stories
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”
On the Margins… Where Deacons Come Into Their Own
Deacon Shane Hyland, 3 April 2025 Deacon Shane Hyland is one of the brand-newest in the country! He was ordained for the Diocese of Lismore on the 23rd of February, 2025. So he has a wonderful perspective on the value of the diaconate, following a journey of call and discernment, ministry and life. As aContinue reading “On the Margins… Where Deacons Come Into Their Own”
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”
Liturgy on the Margins 