Sharing the fruits from our season of listening

“A Church that teaches must be firstly a Church that listens.” Papa Francisco

Discerning Deacons has responded to Pope Francis’ call for a synodal church. During the summer of 2021, more than 1,500 Catholics from Canada, India and the United States gathered via video conference and in-person to actively discern the question of women and the diaconate in our Catholic Church.

This report conveys the ideas, hopes, and concerns raised in these discussions.

Report was prepared by Laura Boysen-Aragon and Casey Stanton, with contributions by Ellie Hidalgo, Lisa Amman and Luke Hansen. With thanks to Certified ToP® Facilitators Laura Johansson y Maria Teresa Gaston who led ~60 hosts in a series of consensus workshops as we sought to grow our capacity to walk together in a listening, discerning, participatory endeavor. Additional thanks to Jack Rogers for his work on graphic design.

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Ser testigos

“For many years, I had the privilege of leading Communion services in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. In the beginning, I did this with great trepidation, but by the time my ministry ended, I was thoroughly convinced that the Holy Spirit can fill the hearts, souls and minds of faith-filled women every bit as much as those of men.”

Jacalyn Anderson

Parish Member and Lector, Winchester, WI

Ser testigos

“I have been blessed with women who have shared their many gifts with me. They have broken open Scripture for the people of God with their own perspective and insight. They have shown ways of leading which empower and confirm the value of each individual person. They have offered perspectives and visions of the Spirit’s call to live God’s love for all.”

Don Highberger, SJ

University Campus Minister and Hospital Pastoral Minister, St. Louis, MO

Ser testigos

“If I could be ordained a deacon, the people would hear the Good News preached with authority at the pulpit and in the world. For me personally, it would feel like the ability to serve in the manner in which God has put on my heart to serve. As a minister of the word, liturgy and charity, I would preach the word to inspire others to love God and their neighbor. I would continue to bring communion to the sick and imprisoned, but I would also free our priests by taking on some baptisms, weddings, and funeral services that are outside of the Mass. It would feel like the fullness of what I was meant to do.”

Theresa Shepherd-Lukasik

Director of Adult Faith Formation, St. Joseph Parish, Seattle, WA

Sharing the fruits from our season of listening

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