Discernng Deacons

 

Our mission is to engage Catholics in the active  discernment of our Church about women and the diaconate.

The Witness

Introducing the weekly newsletter of the Discerning Deacons project

A word from our leadership team This week, the Gospel readings draw us near to Jesus the Good Shepherd and remind us of the expansive and intimate God who constantly calls us into service for a saving, healing purpose. Today, as Discerning Deacons officially goes public, we are excited to share this new ministry we have been called and entrusted to shepherd. It’s an effort to enliven the conversation about women and the Catholic Church -- a conversation that sometimes feels tired or threatening, hopeless or scary. We seek to be a meeting ground, a place to encounter one another’s stories and to learn together about where we are as a Church. As we listen and learn, we pray to remain open to where the Holy Spirit is leading us, looking constantly to the periphery to hear anew the Word of God. As we launch, we are grateful for the counsel of an incredible circle of advisors and early endorsers. They see what we are trying to build through this new ministry of Discerning Deacons, have expressed their public support, offered their prayers and continue to stand alongside us in the work. We are especially grateful for the Catholic women -- from the Amazon, the U.S. and other places -- who are bearing witness to the call they experience in their communities and their lives. Check out their stories on our Witness page.  We invite you to participate in this living conversation to discern the movement of the Holy Spirit as it connects with the question of women and the diaconate.  If you have your own story to share, or if you want to support the Church’s discernment by offering a prayer or hope, we welcome you to do so!  Jump onto a welcome call to dive more deeply into the life of this endeavor. Finally, help us spread the word. Forward this email to friends and include your thoughts on why this initiative matters to you. As we seek to follow a wild Jesus and faithful Holy Spirit, we ask for your prayers. Casey, Ellie, Luke and Lisa  Leadership Team of Discerning Deacons

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Featured Advisor Bishop Randolph Calvo of Reno, Nevada “Throughout the centuries women have engaged in diaconal ministry in myriad, competent and often heroic ways. Recently women have asked the Church to explore the restoration of women in the diaconate in service of the Church’s mission. Discerning Deacons is a timely forum for listening to voices in the Church and advancing this discussion.” See more ADVISORS and ENDORSERS

Featured Witness Sr. Círia Mees, C.D.P., of Pando, Bolivia Sr. Círia Mees, a Sister of Divine Providence, serves as the director of the Rural Pastoral Institute in the Apostolic Vicariate of Pando, Bolivia. As part of her extensive ministry, Sr. Círia has baptized more than 600 members of the Catholic communities she serves in the Bolivian Amazon. Read more about Sr. Círia

Featured Endorsers Deacon Greg Kandra, creator, The Deacon’s Bench “Pope Francis has invited the Church to explore the question of women deacons -- and I believe Discerning Deacons is an important, prayerful and faithful addition to this exploration. With humility, intelligence and fidelity, this group is seeking to discern God's will, wherever that may lead. I admire their spirit. I'm praying with them and for them, and hope more people will, too!” Anna Nussbaum Keating, author, The Catholic Catalogue “Our faith is sacramental. A strong permanent diaconate strengthens parishes and ensures access to the sacraments. Women should be trained as deacons without delay to ensure that no parish is underserved. We have prayed for an increase in vocations. God has answered our prayers.” See more WITNESSES

Upcoming events Stay engaged in the conversation about women and the Church. April 29 at 6pm ET The Boston College School of Theology and Ministry features the Discerning Deacons team in their 'Spotlight in Ministry.' Register here. May 11 at 7pm ET FutureChurch’s ‘Women Witnesses for Racial Justice’ celebrates Anna 'Madre' Bates and her revolution of love in Detroit. Register here. May 13 at 7pm ET Discerning Deacons Welcome Call. Register here. May 18 at 8pm ET FutureChurch’s ‘Women Erased’ Series features Natalia Imperatori-Lee, Ph.D., on Latina women in the Church. Register here.

Recent news Stay informed about the Church's discernment of women and the diaconate. Vatican says women deacons will be discussed at priesthood symposium. (Crux, April 13) First woman named as secretary of the Pontifical Biblical Commission. (Catholic News Service, March 11) Deacon Jörg Stein is the new director of the International Diaconate Centre. (IDC, March 1) Bishop Georg Bätzing speaks favorably about women deacons. (La Croix International, Jan. 11)

Our story At the end of 2020, we were invited to dream, to propose a project to engage the Church’s faithful in this time of discernment around whether or not to open the diaconate to women.  It was the end of a long year. We had each carried losses: loved ones buried, vocations in transition, the weight of the pandemic.  But we had also been praying together, listening to the Word of God, the witness of the Church in the Amazon, the stories of women and men, and the words of the Holy Father. When we came together to pray on the Feast of St. Phoebe, we were reminded of the surprising power of encountering stories of faith in a sacred time of prayer, and we believed that more encounters could help break the tendency toward polarization and could help bear fruit. It is an act of faithful discipleship to witness to how God is calling us. Read more here

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