Casey Stanton has spent over a decade working in the field of social concerns ministries within parish life and as part of broader, faith-based coalitions. She most recently served as Adult Faith Formation minister at Immaculate Conception Parish in Durham, North Carolina. She holds a BA from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School where she graduated with a certificate in prison studies. A Boston native, Casey is proud to make a home in Durham with her husband Felipe and their three children, Micaela, Teddy and Oscar Francis.

As the co-founder of Discerning Deacons, she serves the Church’s discernment around women’s inclusion in the diaconate. She is humbled by the diaconal ministry of women around the world, and trusts in the Holy Spirit to renew the church and heal our world.

Casey attributes her love of proclamation to her beloved oratory teacher in high school, Mr. Hodges. He taught Casey how to interpret poetry in speaking it aloud, how to project one’s voice so those in the back can hear you, how to inhabit a space and proclaim. An expert in theatre, Old English, and the works of John Milton – Mr. Hodges offered a witness to a Christian life imbued with the arts and elevated through culture, but humble and inclusive enough to welcome a curious 14-year old as apprentice. It’s in honor of him, along with the network of the Religious of the Sacred Heart around the world – that she is dedicated to equip and launch women of courage and confidence to proclaim God’s goodness.

Casey has preached for Catholic Women Preach, Duke Chapel, US Catholic, PREACH, and in the North Carolina Correctional Institute for Women. She has been featured in interviews and podcasts with America Media, the National Catholic Reporter, and Religion News Service. You can find her writing for Discerning Deacons’ newsletter and blog – The Witness.