Host a House Meeting on the Diaconate
Join Discerning Deacons in our effort to consult with 10,000 Catholics about the future of the diaconate during the Synod's Implementation Phase.
House meetings are intimate gatherings of 6-12 people that bring together prayer, learning, and synodal conversation. Over the course of 1.5-2 hours, participants reflect together on the ministry of the diaconate and the question of women’s inclusion within it—guided by the Spirit and the method of “Conversation in the Spirit” that has shaped the global Synod process.
These gatherings happen in living rooms, parish halls, and community spaces around the world. They create the conditions for authentic listening, shared discernment, and communal wisdom that will inform the Church’s ongoing journey during the Synod’s Implementation Phase.
Upon completion of a house meeting, hosts share the fruits of the discernment with Discerning Deacons to inform the development of a synthesis report, to be shared with Pope Leo XIV and the Secretariat for the Synod during the Synod’s Implementation Phase.
The ministry of Deacons remains unknown to many Christians, in part because, although it was restored by Vatican II in the Latin Church as a distinct and permanent grade, it has not been welcomed in every part of the world. The teaching of the Council needs to be more deeply explored, particularly in the light of a review of the lived experience of the diaconate […] Additionally, the question of women’s access to diaconal ministry remains open. This discernment needs to continue.”
Pope Francis and the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Final Document #73, 60
How can the diaconate best serve the People of God today?
Would women’s inclusion in the order of deacons help or hinder the Church’s mission?
When you sign up to host a house meeting, you’ll immediately receive a comprehensive toolkit with everything you need to facilitate a meaningful gathering:
- Access to an exclusive resource portal for house meeting hosts.
- A step-by-step facilitation guide walks you through opening prayer, discussion prompts, and closing blessings.
- Synodal conversation methods help you create space for deep listening and communal discernment.
- Background resources provide context on the diaconate, women’s ministry, and the Synod process.
- Invitation templates make it easy to welcome your community into this conversation.
- A simple reporting form allows you to share the fruits of your gathering with Discerning Deacons, contributing to the larger synthesis that will be shared with Church leadership.
You don’t need to be an expert—just willing to create space for prayer, learning, and honest dialogue. We’ll walk with you every step of the way.
Get the toolkit for house meeting hosts.
Discerning Deacons offers regular training opportunities to equip you with the confidence and tools you need:
- Discerning Deacons Welcome Calls offer a high-level introduction to our work and the house meeting campaign—perfect for anyone exploring how to get involved. These monthly calls provide context on the Synod process, the question of women and the diaconate, and how house meetings contribute to the Church’s discernment.
- House Meeting Host Orientations are practical, hands-on sessions that walk you through the toolkit step by step. You’ll learn how to use the facilitator guide, navigate common questions, create a welcoming environment for spiritual conversation, and manage the logistics from invitation through follow-up.
Whether you’re hosting your first gathering or recruiting others to join you, these sessions provide the support you need. No prior facilitation experience required—just a willingness to create space for prayerful dialogue.
Browse upcoming trainings.
Three Parts of a House Meeting
Pray
Prayer is the heartbeat that pulses through every aspect of the house meeting. From opening to closing, we create prayerful space to listen for the movement of the Holy Spirit.
Learn
We explore the history and theology of the diaconate while learning about every baptized Christian’s call to diakonia—Christ-like service in the world.
Through synodal conversation, we discern together how the Spirit is moving in this moment. The wisdom gathered contributes to the Church’s ongoing discernment about the diaconate’s renewal.
A Unique Moment in Church History
We stand at a threshold. The 2021-2024 Synod on Synodality has called the entire People of God into a process of walking together, listening deeply, and discerning the movement of the Holy Spirit in our time.
As we enter the Synod’s Implementation Phase (2025-2028), the question of women’s participation in the diaconate remains actively open. In Paragraph 60 of the Synod’s Final Document, the Church explicitly affirms: “There is no reason or impediment that should prevent women from carrying out leadership roles in the Church: what comes from the Holy Spirit cannot be stopped. Additionally, the question of women’s access to diaconal ministry remains open. This discernment needs to continue.”
In addition to the question of women’s participation, the Synod’s Final Document calls for a “review of the lived experience of the diaconate,” which it affirmed as “a valuable resource in the growth of a servant Church, following the example of the Lord Jesus, who made Himself the servant of all” while acknowledging that its implementation since its restoration as a permanent order at the Second Vatican Council remains incomplete and uneven (#73).
These two questions—how the diaconate can best serve the mission of the Church and whether women should be included in diaconal ministry—go hand in hand. House meetings offer ordinary Catholics—lay and ordained, across generations and geographies—a concrete way to contribute to this discernment. The fruits of these conversations will be compiled and shared with Pope Leo XIV and the Vatican Synod office, ensuring that the lived experience and wisdom of the faithful inform the Church’s path forward.
Get the Toolkit for House Meeting Hosts
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