Laity, clergy work on ministry models By Janna Avalon
JACKSON – Emerging Models of Ministry is the theme of a continuing education conference planned for next Tuesday and Wednesday, May 6 - 7, at Madison St. Francis of Assisi Parish.
Father David O’Connor, pastor of Natchez St. Mary Basilica and a member of the Priests’ Continuing Formation Committee, will facilitate the program, discussions and wrap up.
“The Second Vatican Council and many church leaders have highlighted the call of all baptized people to active ministry,” Father O’Connor said. “For lay persons it means taking new responsibility for the mission of the church, and for clergy it means inviting/encouraging/preparing the laity for ministry, and developing models and structures for that ministry.”
Father O’Connor said, “This conference is designed for priests, deacons and laity to learn from the ministry models that are already at work in our diocese, to become aware of new opportunities and challenges before us as diocese and parishes, and to formulate a vision (with fewer priests) for our diocese and parishes.”
Panelists have been asked to limit their input to the time assigned - two panelists on any unit will have 15 minutes each, three panelists on a unit will have 10 minutes each.
Pam Minninger, lay ecclesial minister at Gluckstadt St. Joseph Parish, will give an overview of lay ministry and practice from around the country as participants conclude dinner on Tuesday, May 6.
Alice Hughes, director of the diocesan Office of Religious Formation, will offer descriptions of training programs available for lay people who are already or wish to begin ministry in their parish.
Activities will begin at noon on Tuesday, May 6, when Father Wil Steinbacher, a Glenmary Home Missioner from Nashville, Tenn., gives a theological perspective on emerging models of ministry.
Father Steinbacher is Glenmary’s point person for home mission leadership. He’s been working to make sure Glenmary’s approach to home mission ministry and its experience working with lay leaders can be put to the service of the larger community.
All sessions of the conference will include input from the speaker, then small group sharing and larger group reports.
At 2:15 p.m. two lay ecclesial ministers working in the diocese – Sister Kate Regan of Ripley St. Matthew Mission, and Dr. Barbara Sturbaum of Louiisville Sacred Heart and Kosciusko St. Therese parishes – will speak.
Lay ecclesial ministers are responsible for the administration of a parish or mission. They are non-ordained men or women who have a master’s degree in theology or its equivalent, and are chosen and appointed by the diocesan bishop, and accountable to him.
At 4 p.m. three pastoral ministers who work in the Diocese of Jackson will speak – Sister Eileen Huckswald of Jackson Holy Family Parish, Jeff Artigues and Fran Levelle, both of Starkville St. Joseph Parish. Pastoral ministers serve as program coordinators, directors of liturgy, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) coordinators, etc.
Dinner Tuesday evening will be held at St. Francis Family Life Center.
Wednesday morning, Father Greg Plata, OFM, pastor, and Mason Edwards, both of Greenwood St. Francis Parish, will talk about the ministry of volunteer assistants.
Volunteer assistants are people who serve in parishes or missions in many ways – opening and closing church, preparing for Sunday Mass, may count and deposit collections, take care of general maintenance, oversight of air/heating, set up for Mass and handle many of the preparatory details for Advent, Lent and Easter.
They see themselves mostly as helping the pastor or a parish staff person and may have learned by doing tasks in the parish.
Parishes with a resident priest are encouraged to recruit and develop volunteer assistants who help maintain the church/mission during transition times or should they no longer have a full-time priest.
Before lunch, Elquin Gonzáles of Tupelo St. James Parish, and Sigifredo Bonilla of Ripley St. Matthew, will talk about lay ministry among Hispanic Catholics, opportunities and challenges.
Hughes will give an overview of training programs available in the Jackson diocese. Emerging models of new theological and practical insights will be discussed after lunch.
Late registration will be accepted on Monday, May 3, by calling Father Elvin Sunds at 601-969-2292.
