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