With a growing shortage of priests, some Catholic parishes are thinking creatively about alternative models of pastoral ministry. Meet Elizabeth Simcoe, a lay woman appointed by her bishop to run St. Vincent de Paul parish in Albany, NY. It's a demanding job that requires strong leadership and the ability to collaborate and listen. It's about being "pastoral" which isn't an attitude reserved only for ordained priests.

In 2016, Pope Francis gathered a commission to study the history of women deacons in the church. For the first time, Phyllis Zagano and Bernard Pottier, S.J., two members of the commission, speak about their life-long research on this topic. This Conversation with America is hosted by Michael O'Loughlin, national correspondent for America.