DIOCESAN NEWS
03/26/10
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Lay ministry programs need CSA funds
By Fabvienen Taylor
       JACKSON — In last week’s page 12 story, “Priestly vocation continues into retirement,” Msgr. Elvin Sunds, vicar general of the Diocese of Jackson, shed light on the falling number of active diocesan priests — 38 — serving in parishes/missions.
      Of that number, five priests are retirement age, 70 or over, but continue to minister in parishes. Another six diocesan priests will reach retirement age by the end of 2010.
      As fewer priests, diocesan and religious, are available to serve in all parishes, lay people have stepped into professional lay ministry positions in their parishes.
      And their numbers are growing judging from the list of people being educated and trained through the lay ministry programs of the Office of Faith Formation, according to Alice Hughes, director.
      Currently, 99 people are in the Lay Ministry Formation Program. Growing numbers mean growing expenses, Hughes said.
      Each year Hughes’ office receives funds from the annual Catholic Service Appeal (CSA), scheduled for the weekend of May 1-2.
      “One Family In Christ” is this year’s theme. In addition to evangelization/faith formation, the annual CSA collection helps fund campus ministry, seminarian education, retired priests/clergy assistance, Catholic Charities, and mission parishes and schools.
      Allocations from the 2009 CSA collection are: seminarian education, $65,000; evangelization/faith formation, $140,000; campus ministry, $96,947; Catholic Charities, $456,281; retired priests/clergy assistance, $89,602; and mission parishes/schools, $110,000 totaling $956,830.
      Hughes’ office received $26,000 for lay ministry from the 2009 CSA.
      There are two tracks of courses and programs available for lay ministry – the Lay Ministry Formation Program and Basic Theology.
      “The Lay Ministry Formation Program, which is part of the faith formation office, trains present and future lay ministers including lay ecclesial ministers (LEMs), pastoral associates, DRE/CREs (directors/ coordinators of religious education), youth ministers, Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) leaders, music directors and principals.
      “These people are being educated and trained for formal or professional leadership in a parish or Catholic school,” she said.
      The program provides theological knowledge and practical skills to enhance the ministry of lay leaders in a parish.
      Basic Theology classes can be taken for lay ministry, catechist certification and adult enrichment.
      Currently classes in that track are being held at parishes in Indianola/Greenville, Yazoo City and Magee.
      The classes are taught by Sister Michele Doyle, OSF, and Mary Flessner.
      Through Hughes’ office people can become certified lay ecclesial ministers, or pastoral ministers.
      The office offers Lay Ministry Formation and catechist Certification; Spring Hill Masters’ Program (Jackson Program Site); and the Loyola Institute for Ministry (Jackson Extension Program).
      “We go by the National Certification Standards for Lay Ministers developed in in conjunction with the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) based on their document, “Co-Workers in the Vineyard.”
      Hughes said the lay ministry programs of her office would not be possible if not for the CSA.
      “We wouldn’t have the money to do it, especially the theology end of it. Spring Hill and Loyola give us a great discount but courses are $900 each, which my office pays a third of.”
      The student and parish each must also pay a third of the cost.
      The CSA also helps to subsidize those who facilitate various aspects and courses in the Lay Ministry Program including the writing of a Basic Theology Program unique to our diocese.
      Loyola and Spring Hill offer three courses a year with 25 people attending Loyola, 17 at Spring Hill and five teachers in the Marymount University Program for Catholic School Leadership in Arlington, Va.
      In the Basic Theology classes there are 18 people in Indianola/Greenville, 18 in Yazoo City and nine in Magee.
      “With the decrease in the number of priests, more lay ministers are needed,” said Hughes.
      “And the lay leader in a parish should be as well-trained and formed as the priest. We can not give God’s people anything less. The most important thing we can do in church is take care of God’s people intellectually, spiritually, humanly and pastorally.”
      “Bishop Joseph Latino is fully committed to this, the diocese is fully committed,” Hughes said.

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