The Second Vatican Council yielded great changes in the roles of laypeople with the Catholic Church. In the 40 years since Vatican II, the role of Catholic laity within the Church community has transformed dramatically. Lay people, who previously viewed themselves as less than the clergy or religious, today respond to their baptismal call to holiness and sharing their faith in both word and action. More and more individuals claim their genuine roles as God’s children, Church members and especially as apostles to the secular world. All the baptized are given this active vocation of being stewards of the Church’s mission.
Today, parishes of all types and sizes, have large numbers of lay Catholics serving as lay ministers. These roles include leaders of Bible study groups, catechists, and planning committees. Lay members make up pastoral councils and parish finance committees. Other roles include ushers and greeters at Sunday masses, sponsors of other adults going preparing for the rites of Christian initiation, choir members, cantors, readers and Extraordinary Ministers of Communion. Today, lay members are also in leading roles at Catholic institutions outside the parish too – in dioceses and hospitals as well universities, colleges and schools. Amid all of this, most uphold critical responsibilities at home, at work and in their civic lives. As members of the body of Christ, lay members are actively attempting to integrate their faith into all facets of their life.
For myself all of this hardly sounds surprising. Mostly for the reason that I was not around to witness the Church before Vatican II. However, the reality is all of this represents a tremendous turnabout in Catholics’ awareness of their individual roles. None of these activities were open to lay women and men, or didn’t exist at all, a mere fifty years ago.
As hinted before, in addition to lay ministers, today there are those who are called to lay ecclesial ministry. “Lay ecclesial ministry” addresses the ministry of lay people in the church that has resulted from appropriate discernment of God’s call, been shaped by strong human skills formation and theological education and confirmed through authorization by recognized church leaders. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recognizes it as “the working of the Holy Spirit” in the Catholic community (Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord). So who are lay ecclesial ministers? Well, one example, who follows Christ’s example, is dedicated to healing, saving and transforming the world through their mission in the Church, is my mother.
My mother is Parish Services Director at my home parish in Pennsylvania. She supports and assists the pastor in the pastoral care of the faith, aids him in the planning and implementation of parish programs and all related activities. She works together with other staff members, volunteers, and organizations within the parish. She attends all Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council meetings as an advisor to the pastor. Her responsibilities include developing and implementing various adult catechetical and evangelization programs for the parish, being a member of the RCIA team, instructing the parish’s Adult Faith Formation, leading the parish Lenten scripture study series, conducting small group retreats and faith sharing groups and aiding in the formation liturgies for various parish services.
As Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord suggests, lay members of the Catholic Church have been undertaking a wide variety of roles in Church ministry. Many of these roles presume a significant amount of preparation, formation and professional experience. The document is a confirmation of those who serve in this way. My mother undoubtedly is a supreme example of the opportunities available to lay members. She is truly a remarkable woman and a model in her ministry to the Church.
Go out and discover the opportunities embraced by Catholics who educate, evangelize, and minister as they accept a call to holiness.
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