“I have had the privilege of learning, praying and working with many faithful and gifted women who deeply understand their own call from God and their communities to minister as deacons. It is important for the whole Church to acknowledge that these women are in fact called to the diaconate and that ordaining them would strengthen the Body of Christ as we carry out the work of the gospel.”
Russ Petrus, Co-Director, FutureChurch; Co-Founder and Developer, Catholic Women Preach
FutureChurch has advocated for the restoration of women deacons through education, prayer and dialogue for more than 15 years. Beginning in 2005, they have sent more than 60,000 postcards and signatures to Vatican offices through various campaigns calling for the restoration of women deacons and efforts to advance the conversation. In 2016, FutureChurch launched CatholicWomenDeacons.org and hosted its first retreat for women discerning a call to the diaconate. In 2017, FutureChurch, The Association of U.S. Catholic Priests, and Voice of the Faithful partnered to develop and promote DeaconChat, a resource to facilitate conversations between laity and their local priests and bishops. FutureChurch leadership has also been present at the last several assemblies of the Synod of Bishops, keeping Catholic women’s concerns and ordaining women deacons front and center.
Catholic Women Preach brings the voices of diverse Catholic women to the proclamation of the Gospel for all of the world to see, hear and read. At CatholicWomenPreach.org all the faithful can view videos, download podcasts and read weekly preaching from theologically-trained women, learn about and appreciate the contributions women make to the Church and the world, and find inspiration as they prepare their own preaching and ministries of the Word. A project of FutureChurch launched in collaboration with Elizabeth Anne Donnelly on All Saints Day 2016, Catholic Women Preach videos have garnered more than 400,000 views and podcast downloads, which accounts for over 2 million minutes of individuals, groups and communities witnessing the wisdom of women breaking open the Word.
