Areas prepare for leadership changes By Janna Avalon
JACKSON – Bishop Joseph Latino wants to hear from all parishes and missions in the Diocese of Jackson about their plans to address the impending priest shortage in their area.
Three years ago the diocese completed the Mission and Ministry in Mississippi planning process. Twenty areas of the diocese met and developed plans to address the impending shortage of ordained ministers within their area.
“Since that time,” the bishop said in a recent letter to pastors and parish leaders, “some areas have already experienced a reduction in the number of priests, thus requiring them to implement their area plans.”
And because a significant number of priests are already beyond the age of usual retirement, many more areas of the diocese may soon face the loss of a priest, he said. “Consequently, there is even greater urgency to prepare,” Bishop Latino said. He asked each of the 20 areas to meet again to revisit the plan they developed three years ago.
Parishes and missions must meet and address two questions:
1. What has changed in the three years since we developed our area plan?
2. What do we need to do now to prepare to implement our plan?
Pastors, lay ecclesial ministers and pastoral ministers in each area will then meet and address the same questions by May 5.
Six commitments
In his letter, Bishop Latino reminded pastors and parish leaders of six commitments made in the original planning process:
* All parishes, large and small, will share in the burden of the priest shortage.
* We will keep parishes and missions as viable faith communities open as long as possible.
* We will provide the Eucharist in all parishes and missions as frequently as possible.
* We will support lay ministry and make ministry training a diocesan priority.
* We will protect the health of our priests by not placing more demands upon them than they can reasonably handle.
* We will follow the regulations in Canon Law which allow a priest to offer two Masses on weekdays for good reason and three Masses on Sunday if required.
Lay ministry
Bishop Latino was quick to remind parish leaders that a big part of the plan was the development of lay ministry.
“It is critical potential lay leaders be identified at the local level and that we begin providing them with the necessary training,” he said.
The bishop explained in the area of lay ministry there has been a multiplicity of titles such as resident pastoral minister, pastoral minister, mission coordinator, pastoral associate, etc.
“In order to bring clarity and consistency, the following two titles will be used henceforth: lay ecclesial minister (LEM) and pastoral minister,” he said.
A lay ecclesial minister is a non-ordained man or woman appointed by the bishop to administer to the pastoral care and needs of the people of God within a parish or mission. This person is answerable to the bishop and is responsible for the day-to-day ministry and operation of the parish or mission.
The lay ecclesial minister is assisted by a priest sacramental minister who provides for the sacramental needs of the parish or mission. Both are under the supervision of a priest supervisor.
A pastoral minister is a non-ordained man or woman appointed or hired by the pastor or lay ecclesial minister for a particular leadership position within the parish. This person is answerable to the pastor or lay ecclesial minister for a specific leadership role in ministry for which he or she has been trained.
Pastoral ministers may include DRE/CRE (directors/coordinators of religious education), youth minister, school principal, director of liturgy, or the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) coordinator.
Priest shortage
Father Elvin Sunds, vicar general of the diocese, said the priest shortage is real. In an interview, he said rural parts of the Jackson diocese have already been cut back; Mass is not celebrated every Sunday in every parish and mission.
“Many of our priests are retiring. Last year three retired – Msgr. Thad Harkins, Father Patrick Noonan and Father Henry Shelton. Three more are expected to retire this year,” he said.
“The bishop gave us a wake-up call three years ago,” Father Sunds said. “Now he’s asking us if we are ready. We need to revisit our plans. What do we need to do to secure viable faith communities in our diocese? Who do we have locally to step in? Will our suggestions for rearranging Mass schedules work now? Can we share our resources? Do we need more lay leaders? Are they trained? Certified?”
Father Sunds explained one of the biggest needs is to identify folks from local parishes who could serve as lay ecclesial ministers. “There are so many factors we have to deal with – willingness, training, certification, financial support.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to develop the baptismal gifts of the laity, he said. “It’s not gloom and doom time. It’s an exciting time when lay and clergy work together as a team to build strong, vibrant faith communities all over the diocese.
“They say necessity is the mother of invention. Well, we’ve been waiting for the opportunity and now it’s upon us. Where I’ve seen lay ecclesial ministers working, they have been well accepted. When priests and lay ministers work together as a team, it’s dynamite for the church.”
Father Sunds echoed Bishop Latino in summarizing the Jackson diocese’s Mission and Ministry. “What we have to do now is commit ourselves to maintaining viable faith communities through evangelizing, community building, reaching out to the larger community in service, and making our liturgies good.”
“We may have been napping for a while thinking the shortage was somebody else’s problem, but it’s time to wake up. We’ve made plans. Now we must review them and get on with the training. What do we do now to implement our plans?”
Lay ecclesial minister certification
The diocesan Office of Formational Ministries coordinates the training in the certification program. It provides theological knowledge and practical skills to enhance the ministry of lay leaders within a parish, specifically lay ecclesial ministers and pastoral ministers.
The program was developed in response to “Mission and Ministry in Mississippi” and also at the request of the Priests Council, according to Alice Hughes, director of the Office of Faith Formation and Lay Ministry Development.
Certification consists of two components:
1. Theological education.
2. Skills training.
Interested individuals must complete an application and be recommended by their pastor or lay ecclesial minister, Hughes said. If they are in a parish with a lay ecclesial minister, they must also have the recommendation of the priest supervisor.
Applications are available from the Office of Faith Formation. Financial assistance is available from the parish and the diocese upon request.
Hughes said theological education can be completed by participation in one of three programs:
Master of theological studies from Spring Hill College. Courses are offered in Jackson. A certificate of theological studies (CTS) is awarded if the person does not have an undergraduate degree.
Master of pastoral studies or master of religious education — LIMEX – from Loyola University of New Orleans. Courses are offered by various parishes in the Jackson diocese. A certificate of pastoral studies (CPS) is awarded if the person does not have an undergraduate degree.
The basic theological studies program includes eight courses sponsored by the diocesanOffice of Faith Formation. Courses offered at various parish/school sites according to interest and need. Tuition is $25 per course plus books. A certificate of basic theological studies is awarded.
Skills training workshops are held annually offered the second full week of June at Lake Tiak-O’Khata in Louisville. The cost is $350-400 which includes meals and lodging. Individuals need to complete these ministry workshops during two summers.
Both the theological programs and/or skills training can also be completed by participation in an equivalent academic program or skills program determined on a case by case basis by the Office of Faith Formation, Hughes explained.
Pastoral minister certification
Information on specific certification requirements for pastoral ministers is available from the Office of Faith Formation.
It is recommended pastoral ministers receive basic theological education through one of the programs offered by the Office of Faith Formation as well as the Skills Training workshops at Lake Tiak-O’Khata.
Hughes said all of this proves that “Pope John XXIII really did open a window to let fresh air into the church way back in the ‘60s. Many more lay people are responding to their baptismal call within their local communities. Our lay ministry programs are still evolving.
the Mission and Ministry in Mississippi planning process. Twenty areas of the diocese met and developed plans to address the impending shortage of ordained ministers within their area.