Speaker will delve deeply into baptismal call to serve

"Coincidentally, the convening will be held on national 'Make A Difference Day' this year," Ms. Alonzo told The Evangelist. "For me, that is a good coincidence because it marks National Volunteer's Day. That couldn't be a better lead-in for my class!"

Ms. Alonzo will emphasize the role, mission and faith of Christ's disciples, and go on to what discipleship means today.

"When we think of the role of volunteers from the perspective of Church," she said, "we often think of how we can recruit them, then how we can manage our ministries and the volunteers that work in them. We also think of how we can keep them in those ministries. We often think of the task at hand, what we must do and how we can do it.

"At some point, though, I believe we must begin to think about empowering people to participate in carrying out the mission of the Church, about what it means to be a disciple, and how we can develop a vision for the role of the parish and our volunteers."

Ms. Alonzo hopes that those attending her lecture will begin to see ministry and volunteerism in such a way that they will have a new notion of what the Church is all about.

"The needs of the parish will always be present, and each parish needs a certain number of Eucharistic ministers, lectors, ushers," she noted. "But I believe it is important and necessary for each volunteer to know that he or she is called by God to be that disciple, and that he or she can grow in that ministry they have chosen. They are part of the larger vision of the community of believers that is carrying on the mission given to us by Christ. We are called by God through our Baptism to participation."

She stressed that it is also important for ministry leaders to know not only whom to approach for volunteer services in the parish, but also whom not to.

"Sometimes, we aren't aware that a parishioner may already be fully participating in the mission of God at home, with a sick parent, spouse or child," she said. "Perhaps that person, although seemingly able to become a volunteer in some ministry, is unable to offer extra time to the parish. Each person has unique gifts and talents. For ministry leaders, it is important to 'get' the true message of discipleship so they can give it to others."

(10-03-02) [[In-content Ad]]