Throughout my life, the people around me have named my gifts often before I had the words myself. As a child I loved studying the Saints and Scripture, and finding connections between those stories and my life. Sr. Jeanne was a Dominican religious at my parochial grade school who shared with me early on that I was called to serve in the church somehow. My theology teachers and ministry leaders throughout high school, college and Divinity School affirmed the same. I doubt I would have considered a life of service and ministry within the church, had I not witnessed their living examples and received their words of encouragement. Community, in the best sense, helps us discern our calling. Today, I still think of Sr. Jeanne and other spiritual mentors as I navigate working parenthood, professional ministry, and commitments of service.

I have always felt called to ministry leadership, and I hope to be able to serve others as a deacon one day in my lifetime. Specifically, I have training as a preacher and experience officiating weddings. I often lean in to help plan funerals for loved ones, and prayer services around significant events. These ways of offering my service and gifts to others makes me feel most alive.

I hope the Church ordains women to the diaconate to bring the Gospel to the margins, and to make the Word of God and healing, loving ministry of Jesus available to everyone.

Having women as deacons would be a welcome sign of inclusion in my community, where lapsed Catholics often cite the lack of equality and representation as a key reason they no longer associate with the Church. Women in my community are talented preachers and ministers, with many gifts to enliven the Church.

Discerning Deacons is an important avenue for dialogue by bringing together diverse voices within the Church. The movement’s respect for all makes it possible for us to have conversations about topics that may feel divisive in other settings.

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her.”  Luke 1:45