Ministry Formation

The Church is the presence of the Risen Christ in our world today. The mission of Jesus to be priest, prophet, and servant king is realized in the world when the baptized live lives of worship, witness, and service.

Most lay people live their baptismal vocation primarily by meeting the many and varied demands of marriage, family, school, and work. But, importantly, some lay persons are specifically called to "lay ecclesial ministry." It is a call to service in the name of the Church. It is not one kind of service or church work, but refers to the ministries of committed men and women, single and married, which are exercised in a stable, public, and authorized way. It is Church ministry in the strict and formal sense. It comes from a personal call. It requires appropriate formation and is undertaken with the support of the diocesan bishop and parish pastors.

Accordingly, the Ministry Formation Office of the Archdiocese is pleased to support two separate approaches to lay ministry formation. The first program leads to a certificate in ministry . The second program leads to a master's degree in pastoral ministry. You are invited to explore both programs

 

"As I reflect with you upon the gift of lay ecclesial ministry in the church of today, I call upon all of you to acknowledge with respect and appreciation the many gifts these sisters and brothers share with our faith communities. Furthermore, I challenge all of us to provide these faithful laborers with the support, the formation, the continuing education and the just compensation which is their due. "

~Archbishop John Vlazny             05/12/2005 Catholic Sentinel Newspaper Article