Were there women deacons?

[jrhoya]

1 Tim Chap 3 talks about deacons, and verse 11 seems to talk about the qualities a female deacon should have. Footnotes to the New American Bible used by the USCCB say it could be wives of deacons, but the idea of women deacons is to be “preferred” of the 2 possibilities.

 

[Reginald_Plum]

jrhoya,

These links should be helpful for understanding the term diakonissa in its historical context. If you have any further questions or concerns that are not answered by these links, please contact Catholic Answers directly.

Recommended Reading:
Have women ever been allowed to be deacons?
Why were women called deaconesses?
Pope Benedict & Deaconesses [a debate]