A Dream Suggestion

Rocky Mountain National Park - Photo by Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash

One expressed aim of this Synod is “to inspire people to dream about the Church we are called to be.” (Vatican Handbook 1.3).  

As the path along which God’s People walk together, synodality grew out of an understanding of Jesus ‘the Way’ (Jn 14:6) and of his disciples as ‘followers of the Way’ (Ac 9:2).

When the Apostles felt their ministry was tipping in the wrong direction, the Spirit moved them to create the diaconate (Ac 6). This is the first indication that what came to be known as the Sacrament of Holy Orders enjoys a secret sauce not tasted in the other Sacraments — elasticity. Can it continue to stretch? Signs abound that the future will look back upon our current crisis as an historic growth spurt.

The Apostles of today need to breathe deep, listen, and expand the Church. Their authority is not about maintaining a status quo; it’s creative. It’s also protective, not like fencing around a corral but like guardrails on an open road—the Way.  

Suggestion, to dream boldly, ponder a possibility: “we’ve only just begun.” 

Evolution is mobilized around fixed points, often not the ones we think. Evolution moves around carbon. Holy Orders moves around charity, namely God’s definitive gift of self. All the Sacraments have evolved, but Holy Orders is the only one that boasts of degrees of participation. Only three? Is the Church done evolving — especially regarding new ministries for women?

Important as it is to defend the tradition of the Church, we cannot lose sight of the possibility that the Church may still be young. New cosmologies deriving from physics and biology permit us to look at our institutions as incredibly recent newborns on the scene. 

Discerning Deacons has set the stage for us to dream big. Like young folks on the cusp of life, we’re “watching for signs along the way” (Carpenters). 

How differently we dream when we see God’s self-giving against deep time. “See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? In the wilderness I make a Way….” (Is 43:19).

Fr. Michael Hickin

Fr. Michael Hickin

Fr. Michael Hickin, is a rural pastor in the Diocese of Fargo, ND and a member of the leadership team of the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests.

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Witness
“[I hope the Church ordains women to the diaconate] to bring a wider witness and expression of God’s life, love, and presence to the people of God. Women’s voices and leadership will heal, encourage and empower the lives of men, women, and children. It will call forth a new understanding of church vocation and enrich Catholic family life.”
Deedee Van Dyke
Catholic Chaplain, Joliet, IL
Witness
“The first Apostle was a woman, Mary Magdalena. She continues to remain a tower of strength for women in ministry today. If more women were ordained to the diaconate in the Roman Catholic Church, I believe we would have more meaningful and spiritually enriching homilies, and our liturgies would embrace and welcome all to the Eucharistic table.”
Sonja Grace
Witness
“If I was ordained as a deacon, it would not be a means to an end, but rather it would be a continual invitation to a deeper and broader journey with Christ. Deacons are asked to become outwardly more visible as hands in service to the Church. To respond to such a vocation would be a treasure, a deepening of my inner faith life enriched by the outward experiences of ministry and service. Both the inner and outer journey become a longing to seek and know the Christ we are called to serve.”   
Nina Laubach
Student, MDiv program at Princeton Theological Seminary

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