“When I made the Spiritual Exercises, my desire to be a permanent deacon became clear. The stories of women in the Bible, like Mary Magdalene, came alive. I began to see that work I had been doing for years and continue to do is the ministry of a deacon. Deacons are called to a ministry of service. Will it be in my lifetime? Only the Spirit knows. I want to keep the dialogue alive so that the permanent diaconate is an option for women, if not in my lifetime then certainly for our daughters and granddaughters.”