Join Cecilia González-Andrieu, a Catholic theologian and professor of theological studies in the LMU Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, on a transformative journey to Rome. She will share “Dispatches from Rome,” reflecting on the Synod on Synodality and the urgent call for women’s leadership in the Church. She is part of a rich tapestry of voices gathered from diverse backgrounds, united in their mission to serve marginalized communities and engage in discussions on women deacons and Church representation. All in the spirit of hope and collaboration in this pivotal moment for the Church.
I know it may sound strange, considering I am a Catholic theologian, but I had never been to Rome—until now.
To be honest, there’s something about being here at this particular moment that seems like it was meant to be. Let me explain. Visiting now allows me to carry the hopes of many others with me, to be a representative for a community, to be here for them and with them.
The global Catholic Church has been involved in the largest community consultation in human history, somewhat clunkily named the “Synod on Synodality.” This means walking with one another to figure out how we can walk better together. Convened by Pope Francis in October 2021, this multi-year process began at the very local level, with his request that we pay special attention to those on the peripheries. For instance, at LMU, we surveyed our extended community in both Spanish and English, asking questions to better understand our local community’s struggles. Similar consultations, both in person and online, happened all over the world. From major cities to tiny villages, people met, listened, summarized what they heard, and sent their findings on to regional, national, and continental-level groups. Along the way, a series of working documents was generated to highlight key findings and open new questions. As the continental reports were produced, one thing became very clear: the role of women in the Church and their leadership is an urgent, paramount concern for the entire globe.
And so I am here. As the last stage of the process begins this week, a group of women has been assembled by two organizations: the Conferencia Eclesial de la Amazonía (CEAMA) and Discerning Deacons. As I meet some of the women on our first night in Rome, sharing food and the stories that brought them here, I am moved by the breadth of experience and representation. There’s a venerable elder, a religious sister from Canada who is a member of the Odawa/Ojibway tribe; a key indigenous leader from the Amazonian region who leads CEAMA; a 43-year veteran Brazilian sister serving that most challenging region; a young sister from Australia; a youth leader displaced from her homeland and now living in Canada; myself, representing educators from the rich bicultural and bilingual context of California and LMU; and the visionary co-director of Discerning Deacons.
What all these women have in common is that they are doing truly vital work for the good of Church communities on the margins—work that has brought them to baptize, celebrate marriages, perform funerals, preach, and visit the sick. In other words, these women are doing the work of deacons. Yet, the Catholic Church has not yet restored the ordination of women to the diaconate, though it existed in the early Church, as referenced by St. Paul in Romans 16:1-2. These gifted and generous women stand as evidence of the great need for women deacons around the world and of what having women in leadership communicates about women’s dignity and full personhood.
But for now, on this first night, we have some key planning to do before the official events of the Synod begin. Something truly momentous is happening the next day, and we need to prepare. After talking it through—both excited and exhausted—we say goodnight and walk out into the cool night air.
“Let’s meet up at 6:30 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square!”
