Discerning Deacons and the Art of Ecclesial Listening

In this episode of Called to Lead, host John Rinaldo sits down with Casey Stanton, co-director of Discerning Deacons. Casey shares her journey from parish social concerns ministry to leading a movement focused on the renewal of the diaconate and the inclusion of women’s leadership in the Catholic Church.The conversation explores what it means to lead through a process of discernment, the current status of the Vatican’s study on women deacons following the Synod on Synodality, and how pastoral leaders can create spaces for honest, Spirit-led dialogue in their own communities. This is an invitation to consider how leadership isn't just about making decisions—it's about "discerning" the path forward together.