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Testigos
Sonja Grace
May 2, 2023

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.

I would attend church regularly, if we were all treated as equals with gifts to share with each other and support one another's spiritual journeys.

The organisation Discerning Deacons which promotes the synodal way, gives me hope that the Catholic Church could still be meaningful to those on the peripheries of our church communities in the 21st century. However, it is up to us to reach out with love as a disciple of Christ and be a credible witness of our faith.

In 1992, I followed a spiritual prompting to organise an ecumenical Mass for survivors of abuse in church communities in New Zealand. To meet abuse survivors' need for healing, I went on to write and publish the book, Garlands from ashes – healing from clergy abuse in 1996.  

I am currently working on translating my book into German and Spanish to give other cultures a hope that healing is possible for survivors of abuse, despite the deep spiritual wounds received from priests and those in authority in church communities, including nuns. 

If I was ordained as a deacon, I would minister to those on the peripheries of our society. I find ministry in prisons especially rewarding. 

I would also like to offer hope to all those who have been abused, including sex offenders who were abused as children. To stop abuse, we need to offer sex offenders compassion and understanding in a sacred, safe place, where they can begin their own journeys of healing.

Sonja Grace has served as an acolyte in Austria

Testigo
“[W]e celebrated St. Phoebe Day with a mass to uplift the voices of women in the Church, invite the community to rethink women’s participation and raise awareness of the global synod…Many were deeply moved by our celebration together. A senior female parishioner shared that she had waited most of her adult life to hear the hope that was offered during mass. A man approached after the celebration to ask for a copy of the reflection shared. With tears in his eyes, he shared that he hoped to share it with his daughter who had left the Church.”
St. Francis Xavier College Church
St. Louis, MO
Testigo
“As a parish, we know the blessing of the many ministries and gifts that women in our parish share with all of us. Celebrating mass this weekend to honor the witness of St. Phoebe focused attention on women’s gifts for leadership in our parish and the Church more broadly. We are proud to be a part of the conversation and discernment for women’s ordination to the diaconate.”
St. Bridget of Kildare Parish
Seattle, WA
Testigo
“This is not only because Church teaching written by men sometimes misses the mark when it comes to women’s lived experience. It is not only because our Church’s management in many ways mirrors the patriarchal systems that have also harmed our secular society – mismanaging cases of abuse and failing to provide living wages or adequate parental leave policies to its employees. It is primarily because without women’s voices, we are missing out on entire elements of who God is.”
Kelly Sankowski
St. Phoebe Day Witness, St. Martin de Porres, Toledo, OH

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