Initiative to focus on growing lay leaders

"We have outstanding lay leaders doing wonderful work in our parishes -- but we realize that they won't be around forever," stated David Amico.

Mr. Amico is the director of the diocesan Office of Ministry Formation. Recently, he joined leaders from other diocesan departments to create a campaign called "Growing Leaders: Ministry Opportunities in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany."

The initiative will officially begin in September with the distribution of a brochure highlighting the roles of lay ecclesial ministers in parish, school and other ministries. The campaign's organizers hope to attract future leaders and provide educational opportunities to prepare laity for those roles.

Contributors to the brochure include the Offices of the Chancellor for Pastoral Services, Evangelization and Catechesis, Ministry Formation, Catholic Schools and Prayer and Worship, as well as St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry in Albany.

'Role call'

The brochure lists roles lay leaders currently fill or might fill in the future, from youth minister to parish life associate, campus minister, liturgical coordinator, Catholic school principal and others. Those whose interest is sparked by reading the description of one of the roles are invited to contact a diocesan office to learn more.

In their 2005 document on such ministries, "Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord," the U.S. bishops noted that the term "lay ecclesial minister" doesn't refer to a specific role so much as it describes the "reality in the work of laypersons [who] continue the mission and ministry of Christ within the Church and the whole world."

Mr. Amico added that, with the current and projected shortage of ordained priests in the Albany Diocese, it's important for lay Catholics to be able to expand their education so they can take on more significant roles in parish leadership.

"We have a large diocese and often people can't drive long distances to go to classes when they want to take them," he explained. "We're looking at different ways we can make these educational opportunities available. In all ministry areas, there is always a need for initial and ongoing formation."

Course of study

He listed several ways that could happen, including "distance learning" (using technology to allow people to tune in to classes being held in other areas) or other outside workshops, courses and training programs.

Currently, most laity studying for leadership positions in the Diocese attend courses at SBSTM, the two-year Formation for Ministry Program or classes for catechetical certification at the OEC's annual Spring Enrichment program.

To add to that, the Growing Leaders committee offered discernment sessions at parishes around the diocese. Approximately 50 people in all turned out at Our Lady of Mercy in Colonie, Our Lady of the Annunciation in Queensbury, St. Patrick's in Catskill and St. Vincent de Paul in Cobleskill to learn about becoming leaders.

"We wanted to get an idea of what active Catholics want by way of preparation for parish ministry," said Mr. Amico. "Some are already serving their parish as leaders or ministers; others expressed an interest in future participation and education."

The Growing Leaders brochure notes: "It is a sign of the Holy Spirit's movement in our Church that women and men experience a desire to serve in ministry. In addition to the vowed and ordained, the Church recognizes and appreciates the contributions of lay ecclesial ministers."

(Lay ecclesial ministers, says the Growing Leaders brochure, need "a desire and ability to serve others through interaction with women and men in faith communities, a generous heart that calls one to loving service, active membership in a Roman Catholic parish and a willingness to be a part of the Diocese of Albany." For information, call Mr. Amico at 453-6670.)

(06/12/08) [[In-content Ad]]