Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Perspectives on Deaconesses

March 11, 2025, 7-8:30 pm eastern

Conversations about renewing the ancient order of deaconess are lively in both the Eastern Orthodox and the Roman Catholic churches today. This event will compare the two conversations, with an eye to what is shared and what is different in terms of each church’s history, ecclesiology, and the intended roles for deaconesses today.

Co-sponsors: Discerning Deacons and the Huffington Ecumenical Institute at Holy Cross.

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Panelists

Rev. Dr. Radu Bordeianu is a Professor at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. His research focuses on ecumenical ecclesiologies. He served as President of the Orthodox Theological Society of America, is a member of the North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation, and co-chair of the “Romanian Orthodoxy” group of the International Orthodox Theological Association. He is also involved in local intra-Christian and Christian-Jewish dialogues.  Rev. Dr. Bordeianu is on the Advisory Board of the St. Phoebe Center for the Deaconess.

JoAnn Melina Lopez serves as Lay Pastoral Associate at St. Basil’s Catholic Parish in Toronto. She grew up in India and Singapore, graduated from the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry with a Master of Divinity degree, and has served in parish, college, and Ignatian ministries in the U.S. and Canada. Her preaching was selected for publication in “Catholic Women Preach: Raising Voices, Renewing the Church –  Cycle B (2023).” JoAnn is committed to synodality and cultivating communities of hope, imagination, and accompaniment where everyone feels welcomed, loved and empowered to partner with God’s dream for the world. Since 2022, she has been actively involved in the mission of Discerning Deacons including participating in pilgrimages to Rome during the October 2023 and 2024 Synod assemblies.

Kelly Meraw is the Director of Pastoral Care and Liturgy for St. John – St. Paul Collaborative (a thriving Catholic Collaborative of two parishes in Wellesley, Massachusetts). Kelly earned her Masters Degree from McGill University, where during her undergraduate studies she was received into the Catholic Church through the RCIA program at St. Patrick’s Basilica in Montreal. Kelly brings her deep love of scripture, liturgy, music, and devotion to Church teaching and tradition to her ministry. In her parishes she leads bible studies; organizes faith sharing circles and social justice initiatives; leads communion, wake and committal services; offers adult faith enrichment programming; and shepherds bereavement ministries. Kelly is also passionate about interfaith and ecumenical faith opportunities. She is the co-founder of Women of Faith in her community, where local female clergy create opportunities for interfaith communion and fellowship. She is also co-director of W.I.L.D. (Wellesley Interfaith Lay Dialogue), an initiative dedicated to fruitful and respectful dialogue between faith traditions. Kelly was recently a panelist for Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, where she shared about her experience in Afghan refugee resettlement and the meaningful work and impact of Catholic Charities’ POWIR program (Parishes Organized to Welcome Immigrants and Refugees). Kelly is a frequent contributor to the work of Discerning Deacons, an organization engaging Catholics in the active discernment of our Church about restoring women to the ordained diaconate. This year, Kelly is excited to be a part of the first cohort of students in the post-graduate program ‘Courage to Preach’ at Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry. Currently she finds the undeniable movements of the Holy Spirit and great hope in the process of living as a deeply listening Church. She is the primary facilitator for her Collaborative’s Committee for Synodality, who are seeking to offer fulsome and inclusive ways to continue to live as a Synodal Church.

Dr. Helen Creticos Theodoropoulos received a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA, and both the Master’s and PhD degrees in Theology from the University of Chicago Divinity School. She is currently adjunct professor at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox School of Theology in Libertyville, IL, teaching the study of the Church Fathers, and Christianity in America. She has also been a Lecturer at Loyola University Chicago and at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/ Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein. She is a board member and Secretary of the Orthodox Theological Association in America (OTSA). She is also Secretary of the St. Phoebe Center for the Deaconess.