Catholic Lay Ministers Render Stewardship
Women and Married Men Are Active Ministers in the Catholic Church
Jul 13, 2008 Elizabeth Randall
In 2005, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops accepted a significant text, which provided a course of action for lay ministers. The document, titled "Co-workers in the Vineyard of the Lord” was hailed by The National Association for Lay Ministry, quoted as saying it "takes an important step forward in recognizing and supporting the significant role these lay ecclesial ministers play in the Catholic Church.”
Lay Ministers Outnumber Priests
A survey of the latest national study reveals there are over 30,000 lay ecclesial ministers in U.S. Catholic parishes. They now outnumber priests engaged in parish ministry by almost 2:1. Indeed, in Cardinal Roger Mahoney's Pastoral Letter on Ministry, April 20, 2000, he writes, “It has taken a shortage of priests to awaken an appreciation of a broadly based shared ministry and a realization that it is in the nature of the church as the Body of Christ to be endowed with many gifts, ministries, and offices."
Who are the lay ministers, these foot soldiers carrying on Catholic traditions, education, inspiration? What is their background, their beliefs? How are they called, and why do they step forward?
The Foot Soldiers of Catholic Traditions
Almost half of lay ecclesial ministers in U.S. Catholic parishes are directors of religious education. Youth, music and liturgical planning are among other basic types of lay ministry found in U.S. parishes.
The development of lay ecclesial ministry is an extraordinary exposition of service in Catholic parishes across the country. For a long time, women were prohibited from assuming an active liturgical role in the church. Lay ministry presents an evenhanded solution to the urgent need of parishes to fill the void of priestly personnel regardless of gender.
Although all lay ministers practice the same faith, their differences lie in their geographic origins, their occupations, their practices, and their upbringing. Also, there is a distinct evolution in terms of each person’s spiritual development. All have experienced the transcendence of faith, yet their accounts of their experience are unique in their particulars.
Some lay ministers felt a distinct call from God to assume religious ministry. In addition, many related experiences with religious mentors who were strong in faith and empathy and how these godly men and women influenced their current steadfastness with the Catholic Church.
Religious Diversity
One can argue that a true Catholic is only the faithful believer who celebrates the weekly Eucharist, observes regularity in sacraments, and seeks holiness in religious stewardship. Given the diversity of human nature, it is unrealistic to imagine that millions of Catholics practice their faith in exactly the same way. In fact, in past decades, it has become increasingly clear that the Catholic Church is subject to the relentless pressure of adapting to survive in the modern world.
Yet there are definite touchstones and distinct commonalities of experience that bind lay ministers together despite the variance of their backgrounds, genders, and demographics.
This common bond binds the faithful, not only to the Catholic Church, but also to humankind. Obviously tens of thousands of have heard a call to actively minister in the church.
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