"I went through your program, and now the pastor doesn’t know what to do with me." Everywhere I traveled in my first three months as the new Director of the School of Pastoral Leadership for the Archdiocese of San Francisco, parishioners gave me the same message.
In the first three years of its existence, over 2,000 people had graduated from the nine month School designed to prepare them for lay ministry in the Archdiocese. They emerged armed with their certificates only to find the slots on the Liturgy committee already filled and the ranks of Eucharistic Ministers complete. Many were positively angry: "I feel like I wasted all that class time." Like nicodemus, pastors came to me by night whispering, "What do I do with all these people who went through your program?"
The problem was easy to spot: it’s the "Vision Thing". When you say "Lay Ministry" most Catholics immediately think, "Oh, that means Eucharistic Minister…or Lector…or Usher turned Hospitality Minister". Don’t get me wrong, all these are wonderful ministries, and help the Church. But there’s more.
The new Synod document Ecclesia in America crystalizes the teaching of the Second Vatican Council on the vocation of the baptized layperson in the Church as, "the imitation and following of Christ, communion with one another, and the missionary mandate." (No. 44) The document goes on to state the two areas where the vocation of the lay person is exercised. First and foremost it is exercised in the world. "Secularity is the true and distinctive mark of the lay person, …to evangelize the various sectors of family, social, professional, cultural and political life." The Holy Father stresses this is an activity proper to the laity that cannot be taken by priests! Secondarily, some lay persons may be called to "intra-ecclesial" ministry: "delegates of the word, catechists, visitors to the sick and the imprisoned, group leaders, etc."
Again, "churchy" ministries are good and valuable. But the Second Vatical Council referred to the Church "in the modern world." We have to think of our parish communities as transcending the walls of the church building to be the leaven, the sald, the light — in the local community, in the world.
And this is where the Called and Gifted Workshop comes in. I have seen people leave the workshop thrilled and excited for the first time about being a baptized lay person. A whole new range of wonderful opportunities for Christian discipleship is opened up through the "Gifts Inventory". The inventory identifies twenty-four common charisms: and leaves the door open for more. Once a parishioner has identified her charisms, she can learn how these translate into concrete Christian service. Some of the charisms are Administration, Craftsmanship, Discernment of Spirits, Encouragement, Mercy, Giving, Healing, Teaching, Service and Hospitality. An item of interest to Diocesan vocation directors is that people often use the Called and Gifted Workshop to begin exploring a possible vocation to priesthood or religious life. Young participants are regularly referred to local seminaries and religious communities. When the call and gifts of every baptized Catholic are taken seriously, vocations of all kinds begin to emerge.
Not everyone is called to be a lector, but everyone is called to evangelize. This realization comes as a great relief to some lectors who, not possessing the gift of a strong and clear voice, can retire! Many thought that to participate in the liturgy, they had to be on the altar. They now realize there are many other talents they can offer in service to the church. Pastors and the listening assembly rejoice in this as well.
Here is where Diocesan Lay Formation programs step in to help. We provide the training to enable people to translate their charisms into service based on firm scriptural and theological teaching. We give them confidence in their faith — a confidence based on content and solid instruction. Most parishes do not have the time or resources to offer a full range of scripture, theology, and spirituality courses. Using the Diocesan format (and budget), resources can be pooled and expert teachers brought in for maximum effect. The latest U.S. Bishops’ Conference document "Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us: A Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation in the United States" tasks Bishops to set up Diocesan-wide programs for adult instruction.
I have seen the Called and Gifted Workshop stimulate many people to enroll in our School of Pastoral Leadership. The Workshop provides the key to discernment of the charisms of the faithful — and will ensure a continued strong enrollment in our adult education program. For this reason we plan on promoting it and expect a strong and enthusiastic response from the pastors of our Archdiocese.
Michael C. Barber, S.J. is the Director for the School of Pastoral Leadership in the Archdiocese of San Francisco.