Ministry meetings kick off

If "mission" is the work of God, "ministry" is the way that mission is implemented in the world, say priests and leaders in ministry formation in the Diocese of Albany.

During October, town meetings in parishes discussed "mission." In meetings throughout November, Catholics will be asked to consider how the mission of the Church is brought to the world through ministry, how individual Catholics and parish communities have been called to give their gifts and talents in ministry, and what parishes see as the essential ministries in the Church today.

The meetings are preparation for "Called to be Church," the two-year pastoral planning effort that begins in January.

Three styles

At the sessions, Catholics will discuss how "we take part in the mission of Jesus" through the ministries they do, according to Betsy Rowe-Manning, director of the Formation for Ministry program in the Diocese.

She sees ministry on three levels:

* "Everyday" ministries, such as going to wakes, helping neighbors, visiting sick friends and providing emotional support. "That's a part of ministry," she said, noting that "the good they do is part of the mission of Christ. It's not affirmed as much as it could be."

* More "organized" ministries in parishes, such as Eucharistic ministers, lectors, youth ministers, catechists and even people who clean the church.

Educated

* The third level is trained lay ministry, which Mrs. Rowe-Manning believes is a "crisis need" in the Church today.

Lay ministry -- such as parish life directors, outreach coordinators and other positions -- involves laity who undergo significant preparation and training. The ministers are sanctioned by the bishop, and have "gifts, abilities, education and formation appropriate to what their responsibilities are."

If the mission of Christ is going to continue, Mrs. Rowe-Manning noted, "we're especially concerned about calling people forward, discerning their gifts, providing formation and matching the needs of a parish to that person's gifts."

Extension

Rev. James Mackey, pastor of St. Mary's Church in Glens Falls, said that ministry begins when Catholics come together in the liturgy and pray, and it "extends out from there."

That extension includes liturgical aspects, such as the Mass, the Eucharist, prayer services and devotions, as well as outreach into the community through food pantries, programs for the poor, bringing communion to shut-ins and nursing home residents, religious education for all ages, and administrative committees that help run the parish.

He envisions ministry moving into a collaborative venture that transcends traditional parish boundaries into parish clusters and the local Catholic community.

Called at Baptism

For Rev. Arthur Becker, pastor of Holy Trinity parish in Cohoes and a member of the diocesan Pastoral Planning Advisory Committee, ministry evolves from each Catholic's baptismal call.

Ministry is "our response to our Baptism and to our baptismal call to bear witness to the Gospel and serve others," he explained. "It is the hands-on expression of our baptismal commitments."

It is "anything that is a response to the dictates of the Gospel to love God and love neighbor. A lot of times, people look at ministry in a formal sense, like a pastoral council, and they don't look at the little things that people do day in and day out. But it is" both.

Growing effort

Father Becker, who has seen an "explosion" of lay ministry in the last 20 years, envisions lay ministry extending even further.

Catholics "need to look very practically and realistically at what role they play in the Church, and how that role will expand," he continued. "Baptism is a call to service; how do we live that service out in my local church?

"As we move into the future, we need everyone to respond to that baptismal call for ministry and realize that we're all in this together."

(11/02/06)