Discerning Deacons

05/13/2026

"Let your defiant hope be bigger than their 'no.'" ✨

That call from keynote speaker Joanna Arellano-Gonzalez set the tone for everything at our Assembly of Hope in Indianapolis—120 women, religious, clergy, and lay men from 28 dioceses, gathered to grow the mission of a synodal, diaconal Church.

In our latest newsletter reflection, DD Director of Engagementt and Implementation Lisa Amman shares what happened—including joining hundreds of Catholics for Mass outside the ICE office in Indianapolis, the commitments we made together, and what's coming up with St. Phoebe Fall.

📅 Plus: two virtual kickoff calls on May 19 and May 21—open to all who want to be part of what's next.

Read the full reflection and register for a kickoff call at the link below. And if our mission resonates with you, subscribe to our newsletter—it's where we share everything first. 🔔

I am excited to share with you about our recent Assembly of Hope, which I believe to be a turning point for growing the mission of Discerning Deacons. We gathered in Indianapolis May 1-3 from 28 dioceses across the country – 120 women in ministry, religious, clergy, and lay men – committed to im...

05/01/2026

Who is falling through the cracks in our world today?

Preaching for this weekend, Claire Lucas explores how the first deacons were chosen to serve the most vulnerable in the community —and how that same call to serve should shape our Church today.

Listen on your favorite app or visit https://anchor.fm/cwp

04/29/2026

We’re turning five today! Happy birthday, Discerning Deacons! 🥹🥳❤️‍🔥 What a dream!

If you’ve been a part of our journey in any way over the last five years, thank you! Here’s to the next five, journeying together, carried by the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Sts. Phoebe and Catherine of Siena!

The questions we’re discerning are more alive than ever! What kind of diaconate does the Church need today? And how can women’s voices, leadership and gifts be unleashed in service and love for all of the People of God?

Be sure to read our special birthday blog post, out today, by our Director of Development, Marissa Papula, with a message from our fearless co-directors, Ellie Hidalgo and Casey Stanton! Link in bio.

03/26/2026

There’s something special about being in a room full of people who share your passion for phenomenal preaching! 🙌

PROCLAIM Program Director, Lisa Orchen, and Lead Cohort Facilitator, Rhonda Miska, were so honored to join fellow Compelling Preaching Program Directors at this year’s annual meeting in Indianapolis this last week!

A huge thank you to the Coordination Team at the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship for their thoughtful planning and warm hospitality — and to Lilly Endowment, Inc. for the vision and generosity that makes this incredible community possible.

Curious to learn more about PROCLAIM? 👉www.proclaiming.org

PROCLAIM is an initiative of Discerning Deacons, and made possible through the generous support of the Lilly Endowment’s Compelling Preaching Initiative.

03/18/2026

✨🕊️ The Final Report of Study Group 5, “The Participation of Women in the Life and Leadership of the Church” released last week, and we’ve got thoughts!

While our work is far from done, there is so much to be grateful for. Anna Robertson, Director of Distributed Organizing, broke down 10 highlights worth celebrating on our blog today.

Whether you’re familiar with the report or just hearing about it, be sure to check it out — https://discerningdeacons.org/study-group-5-didnt-do-everything-heres-why-were-celebrating-anyway/

03/18/2026

The Vatican's Study Group 5 Final Report is out — and we have ten reasons to celebrate. 🎉

From a plain declaration that women's subordination arises from sin, to an insistence that listening to women is urgent and non-negotiable, to a direct call for bishops to implement every existing opportunity for women's leadership and ministry — this report is full of openings for the work ahead.

"What comes from the Holy Spirit cannot be stopped." We believe it.

See what we're celebrating today on the Discerning Deacons blog!

1. Women’s subordination is a consequence of sin. Full stop. The document states without qualification that “the subordination and condition of inferiority of women can only arise from sin” (§2.16)

02/23/2026

Thank you to everyone who came to see us (and St. Phoebe) this weekend at ! ❤️‍🔥🙌

01/28/2026

"Just as I have spoken of a 'constitutively missionary Church' and a 'constitutively synodal Church,' so I add that we should speak of a 'constitutively diaconal Church.'" — Pope Francis

In her latest reflection, Discerning Deacons co-director Casey Stanton explores what it means to live out this vision—not as theory, but as action. She reflects on DD staff team member Lisa Amman's witness standing among tens of thousands in sub-zero temperatures in Minnesota, holding a simple sign: "Jesus calls us to welcome the stranger."

This is what a diaconal Church looks like. It goes forth. It listens. It responds with love that takes visible and courageous form in the world.

Read the full reflection:

"The diaconate, following the high road of the Council, thus leads us to the centre of the mystery of the Church. Just as I have spoken of a “constitutively missionary Church” and a “constitutively synodal Church”, so I add that we should speak of a “constitutively diaconal Church”. Inde...

01/27/2026

Tonight, we invite you to join with Catholics around the country in prayer, reflection, and faithful action in response to the events in Minnesota. A diaconal church is one where we accompany one another in our suffering and in our struggle to make visible God's reign on earth. Join us on Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT as we connect in community, listen to the voices on the ground, and discern how love calls us forward in public witness. Register now! https://bit.ly/catholicwitness

We’re gathering and people of faith from across the country for a time of prayer, reflection, and faithful action in response to the events in . Join us Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT on Zoom as we connect in community, listen to voices on the ground, and discern how love calls us forward in public witness. Register now! bit.ly/catholicwitness

.climate.covenant

01/27/2026

Join us TONIGHT, Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT on Zoom as we connect in community, listen to voices on the ground, and discern how love calls us forward in public witness. We’re gathering together Catholics and people of faith from across the country for a time of prayer, reflection, and faithful action in response to the events in .

Register now!  bit.ly/catholicwitness