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Witnesses
Deacon William T. Ditewig, Ph.D.
Former executive director, Secretariat for the Diaconate, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
April 26, 2021

“For years, the Church has been researching and discerning the role of women in the diaconate. As soon as St. Paul VI renewed the diaconate in 1967, the question was raised by bishops, and those discussions have continued under every pope since. Pope Francis has intensified the process through two Papal Commissions. Discerning Deacons is supporting the Church’s discernment in a prayerful way, much like the early ‘deacon circles’ that led to the renewal of the diaconate at Vatican II.”

Witness
“Being able to be educated on who St. Phoebe is and giving others the chance to meet her, being part of a community of women who promote an inclusive model of the church, and seeing my own community come alive and heal from division provides a vision of what can and will be possible one day in the Catholic Church.”
Kathleen O'Brien
Maryknoll Bay Area Regional Coordinator in the Mission Formation Department
Witness
“I have witnessed these women become Catholic high school teachers, professors, writers, administer parish life and leaders of prayer services. Women have been my peers and supervisors, except in diaconal ministry. I continue to hold out hope that women’s gifts for ministry and service can and will be acknowledged by the church.”
Fr. Tom Cwick, SJ
Pastoral Minister, North Side, St. Louis, MO
Witness
“I am grateful as a pastor and a part of the BCCs here to learn and journey together with others. As a priest in our community, I am proud to be a part of this ministry to uplift women who are struggling. It is great joy and fulfillment. In my personal life, I have experienced the richness of acknowledging and uplifting the witness of women in the early Church and also in our Church today.”
Fr. Vincent Dsouza, SJ
Pastor and Base Christian Community Leader, India

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This is the hub where we share relevant news, events and opportunities to participate in the work. 
*We will send the newsletter only once each week, and we will never share or sell your information.