WATCH VIDEO: Deacon William T. Ditewig speaks on Dachau, Diaconate Circles, and the restoration of the diaconate at Vatican II

Click here to watch a video of the event.

In this second event in a series of educational webinars hosted by Discerning Deacons, Deacon William T. Ditewig, Ph.D., the author of several books on the diaconate, and the former executive director of the Office for the Diaconate at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, speaks about how World War II and the experience of “Diaconate Circles” shaped the restoration and renewal of the diaconate as a permanent vocation — and what it means for the ministry of deacons today and Church’s active discernment of women and the diaconate.

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Witness
“[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
Witness
“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
Witness
“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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