{"id":23783,"date":"2026-02-09T18:10:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T23:10:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/?page_id=23783"},"modified":"2026-04-07T14:28:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T18:28:04","slug":"dd-assembly-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/es\/dd-assembly-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Discerning Deacons Assembly &#8211; May 1-3 &#8211; Indianapolis, IN"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"23783\" class=\"elementor elementor-23783\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-741d16a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"741d16a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-28a12c9\" data-id=\"28a12c9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section data-dce-background-color=\"#0076BB\" data-dce-background-image-url=\"https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG-20241005-WA0004.jpg\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-137b3fd elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"137b3fd\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_image&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;},&quot;_id&quot;:&quot;6b2c611&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_image_tablet&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;},&quot;jet_parallax_layout_image_mobile&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;},&quot;jet_parallax_layout_speed&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;%&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:50,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;jet_parallax_layout_type&quot;:&quot;scroll&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_direction&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_fx_direction&quot;:null,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_z_index&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_x&quot;:50,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_x_tablet&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_x_mobile&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_y&quot;:50,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_y_tablet&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_y_mobile&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_size&quot;:&quot;auto&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_size_tablet&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_size_mobile&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_animation_prop&quot;:&quot;transform&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_on&quot;:[&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;tablet&quot;]}]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-4beef58\" data-id=\"4beef58\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08e9fd2 dce_masking-none elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"08e9fd2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/PHOEBE-BE-HOPE-1.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-23857\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/PHOEBE-BE-HOPE-1.png 750w, https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/PHOEBE-BE-HOPE-1-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/PHOEBE-BE-HOPE-1-18x12.png 18w, https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/PHOEBE-BE-HOPE-1-600x400.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-69b9746\" data-id=\"69b9746\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-8b2df9e\" data-id=\"8b2df9e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-94d99b6 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"94d99b6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>Discerning Deacons&#8217; first national assembly, Assembly of Hope, will take place May 1-3, 2026 at the Wyndham Indianapolis Airport Hotel.<\/strong><\/span>\n\n<span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong><s>The deadline to register is March 30.<\/s> Register by the April 3 extended deadline!<\/strong><\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-627b693 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"627b693\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e57870 elementor-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"9e57870\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"#register\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Register for the assembly<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-dce-background-color=\"#FFFCF0\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a5404c5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a5404c5\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[],&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-dce-background-color=\"#FFFCF0\" class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7c15edb\" data-id=\"7c15edb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-636d592 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"636d592\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75ef16b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"75ef16b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Assembly of Hope<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-602f5d9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"602f5d9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: left;\">FRIDAY, MAY 1, 3:00 P.M. &#8211; SUNDAY, MAY 3, 12:00 P.M.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c99c2d6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c99c2d6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: left;\">INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eec2ea0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"eec2ea0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This May 1\u20133, join Discerning Deacons in Indianapolis for our first national Assembly of Hope\u2014a chance to celebrate how far we&#8217;ve come, deepen relationships across our network, and orient together for the road ahead during the Vatican&#8217;s synod implementation phase. Through plenaries, workshops, shared prayer, and an opportunity for prophetic public witness, we&#8217;ll name barriers, sharpen our strategy, and strengthen the bonds that make this work possible. We&#8217;re so glad you&#8217;re here!<\/p><p>Questions? Contact <a href=\"mailto:events@discerningdeacons.org\">events@discerningdeacons.org<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-57e3728 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"57e3728\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"cost\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7836e6e elementor-widget elementor-widget-accordion\" data-id=\"7836e6e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1261\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1261\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Cost of Attendance<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1261\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1261\"><p>The cost of attendance per person is $650, which includes two nights&#8217; hotel accommodations, meals, and conference fees. Travel to and from Indianapolis not included.<\/p><p>In an effort to keep the assembly as affordable as possible, we offer four registration tiers:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Supporting Rate ($800)<\/strong><br \/>Priced\u00a0<em>above cost<\/em> to cover your own attendance and support a fellow attendee.<\/li><li><strong>Sustaining Rate ($650)<\/strong><br \/>Priced\u00a0<em>at cost\u00a0<\/em>to cover your own attendance.<\/li><li><strong>Supported Rate ($500)<\/strong><br \/>Priced\u00a0<em>below cost<\/em> of your own attendance, made possible by others&#8217; generosity.<\/li><li><strong>Commuter Rate ($300)<\/strong><br \/>Priced\u00a0<em>at cost\u00a0<\/em>of your own attendance without a hotel room.<\/li><\/ul><p><strong><br \/>Note<\/strong>: Registrants at any tier are welcome to add a donation to support others&#8217; attendance. We&#8217;re grateful for your generosity in making this gathering as widely accessible as possible!<\/p><p>Limited additional scholarship funding is available for anyone for whom the Supported Rate or travel costs remain a barrier. Please contact <a href=\"mailto:admin@discerningdeacons.org\">admin@discerningdeacons.org<\/a> to apply.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1262\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1262\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Venue and Logistics<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1262\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1262\"><p>Discerning Deacons Assembly of Hope will take place at the following venue:<\/p><p><strong>Wyndham Indianapolis Airport<br \/><\/strong>2544 Executive Drive<br \/>Indianapolis, IN 46241<strong><br \/><\/strong><\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">The hotel is conveniently situated near Indianapolis International Airport, with a complimentary airport shuttle.<\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Registration includes two nights&#8217; hotel accommodations (May 1\u20133), which we will reserve on your behalf. Sessions and lodging are all under one roof, and parking on-site is free for those driving.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1263\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1263\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Assembly Schedule<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1263\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1263\"><div><p><strong>Friday, May 1<\/strong><\/p><ul style=\"margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom: 1em;\"><li>Opening Prayer<\/li><li>Welcome Dinner &amp; Celebration<\/li><li>Co-Directors&#8217; Report: State of the Movement<\/li><li>Community Roll Call<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Saturday, May 2<\/strong><\/p><ul style=\"margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom: 1em;\"><li>Opening Worship &amp; Keynote Address<\/li><li>Plenary Sessions &amp; Workshops<br \/><em>Exploring the moment we are in and how we can walk together on the path to expand opportunities for women to flourish in ministry and to advance the Church&#8217;s social mission<\/em><\/li><li>Evening Mass (5:30 p.m.), followed by a Public Procession of the Faithful in partnership with local efforts as part of the Season of Faithful Witness<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Sunday, May 3<\/strong><\/p><ul style=\"margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom: 0;\"><li>Opening Prayer &amp; Conversation in the Spirit<\/li><li>Commitments &amp; Next Steps<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1264\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1264\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Keynote Preacher<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1264\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1264\"><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>We are thrilled to welcome Joanna Arellano-Gonzalez as Keynote Preacher for the Assembly of Hope, whose work with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.csplaction.org\/\">Coalition of Spiritual and Public Leadership<\/a> (CSPL) embodies what it means to unleash a prophetic and diaconal church.<\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"circle-photo alignright wp-image-23927 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Joanna-Arellano-Gonzalez.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Joanna-Arellano-Gonzalez.jpg 250w, https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Joanna-Arellano-Gonzalez-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Joanna-Arellano-Gonzalez-12x12.jpg 12w, https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Joanna-Arellano-Gonzalez-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/p><p>Joanna Arellano-Gonzalez is a proud \ufb01rst-generation Mexican-American, originally from La Villita on Chicago&#8217;s South Side. She is a co-founder and currently serves as the Director of Training and Formation at the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership (CSPL), a Catholic and Christian-rooted community organizing coalition that integrates liberation theology, spirituality, and grassroots organizing to advance community transformation.<\/p><p>Joanna holds a Master of Arts in Christian Spirituality from Fordham University, with a concentration in Spiritual Direction.<\/p><p>In addition to her leadership at CSPL, she was a founding board member and served as the founding Board President of The Co-Op Ed Center, a worker cooperative incubator dedicated to supporting communities of color in building cooperative enterprises in Chicago. Her professional background also includes serving as Associate Director in the Archdiocese of Chicago&#8217;s Of\ufb01ce for Peace and Justice, where she managed several justice initiatives. She later spent \ufb01ve years in the labor movement, leading communications and press strategy at both local and national levels, supporting workers to share their courageous stories to the media.<\/p><p>Joanna is deeply committed to developing formation experiences that draw from the breadth of theological and spiritual traditions within the Church, including mujerista, liberation, feminist, and Black Catholic theologies. As an artist, she honors her heritage through embroidery and beadwork, centering her practice on culture, family, and spirituality.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1265\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1265\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Sponsorship Opportunities<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1265\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1265\"><p dir=\"ltr\">Organizational sponsorship helps ensure that financial barriers do not prevent people from participating. Together, we can make it possible for young adults and emerging leaders to gather, share their experiences, and contribute their voices to the Church\u2019s discernment.<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\">We offer four levels of organizational sponsorship:<\/p><ul><li dir=\"ltr\"><strong>$250: Deacon St. Tatiana Sponsor<\/strong><\/li><li dir=\"ltr\"><b>$500: Deacon St. Olympias Sponsor<br \/><\/b><\/li><li dir=\"ltr\"><b>$2500: Deacon St. Macrina Sponsor<br \/><\/b><\/li><li dir=\"ltr\"><b>$5000: Deacon St. Phoebe Sponsor<\/b><\/li><\/ul><div><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/div><div><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLScJJjg4rMpylwGwjYaflZB6VgZ4wk2c79bUrr78-PxToKQAMA\/viewform?usp=dialog\">Learn more about sponsorship opportunities and register your organization as a sponsor here.<\/a><\/div><div>\u00a0<\/div><div>Please contact <a href=\"mailto:events@discerningdeacons.org\">events@discerningdeacons.org<\/a> with questions related to sponsorship.<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-840a21f\" data-id=\"840a21f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e658309 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"e658309\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-b467e52 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b467e52\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[],&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-075b731\" data-id=\"075b731\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a9d680e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a9d680e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Featuring Keynote Preacher\n Joanna Arellano-Gonzalez<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc3603d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fc3603d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Center for Spiritual and Public Leadership<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-df382cd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"df382cd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" onclick=\"var el = document.querySelector('.elementor-accordion-item:nth-child(3) .elementor-tab-title'); el.click(); setTimeout(function(){ el.scrollIntoView({behavior: 'smooth', block: 'start'}); }, 300); return false;\">Learn More<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-b79d4d3\" data-id=\"b79d4d3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b216ff3 elementor-widget__width-initial dce_masking-none elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b216ff3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Joanna-Arellano-Gonzalez.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-23927\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Joanna-Arellano-Gonzalez.jpg 250w, https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Joanna-Arellano-Gonzalez-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Joanna-Arellano-Gonzalez-12x12.jpg 12w, https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Joanna-Arellano-Gonzalez-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d4750d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"d4750d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"register\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61c7591 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"61c7591\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-830c0f4 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"830c0f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-check-circle\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">ASSEMBLY REGISTRATION<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79c77e0 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"79c77e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74c66a1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"74c66a1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Registration for the Assembly of Hope is now closed. Please contact <a href=\"mailto:events@discerningdeacons.org\">events@discerningdeacons.org<\/a> with any questions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<!-- dce invisible element d848b97 -->\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<!-- dce invisible element 07b0f5d -->\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discerning Deacons&#8217; first national assembly, Assembly of Hope, will take place May 1-3, 2026 at the Wyndham Indianapolis Airport Hotel. The deadline to register is March 30. Register by the April 3 extended deadline! Register for the assembly Assembly of Hope FRIDAY, MAY 1, 3:00 P.M. &#8211; SUNDAY, MAY 3, 12:00 P.M. INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA This [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-23783","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"campaignId":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23783","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23783"}],"version-history":[{"count":55,"href":"https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23783\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24002,"href":"https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23783\/revisions\/24002"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/discerningdeacons.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}