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Lay Apostolate Societies and Ministries
(Presented by John Oseh on Thursday 6 th October 2005 at Our Lady Of Fatima Catholic Church – Catechetical Week Programme 2005. Objectives:
What is Apostolate? The Church was founded for the purpose of spreading the kingdom of Christ throughout the earth for the glory of God the Father, to enable all men to share in His saving redemption, and that through them the whole world might enter into a relationship with Christ. All activity of the Mystical Body directed to the attainment of this goal is called the apostolate, which the Church carries on in various ways through all her members. (DECREE ON THE APOSTOLATE OF THE LAITY What is Ministry? Ministry is simply a service rendered to the Church for the up-building of the community. It is a vocation, as well as a charism given to baptized individuals according to the measure of faith, “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (Romans 12:4-5). So in summary, lay apostolate and ministries are those functions or services performed by non-ordained ministers. What are these functions? We shall see them shortly. Why do we exist? We exist to serve God and humanity. Or better put, to serve God through humanity. “ 20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (1 John 4:20-21) Can. 676 Lay institutes of men and women participate in the pastoral mission of the Church through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, performing very many different services for people. They are therefore to remain faithful to the grace of their vocation. According to Rev. Fr. John Oyejola in the Catechetical week programme booklet he said: “In the year 2003, the theme for the catechetical week was ‘The Catholic Church and the challenges of Pentecostalism’ and one of the challenges it posed to us was how to encourage lay faithful to get involved in the salvific mission of the Church by putting their gifts and talents at the service of others. While we pray for more priests and religious, it is equally important that more and more lay people discern their talents or spiritual gifts and earnestly begin to put them in the service of the Church. The above statement underpins the importance the Church attaches to the role of the lay faithful. The theme for this year’s Catechetical Week is “Lay Ministries in the Church”. Last year (2004) theme was ‘The Rediscovery of the Sacraments of Initiation’ by which people are born anew in Christ and become members of his body the Church. Therefore, this year, it is like taking us deeper in our faith, getting us more committed to be part of the universal commission: “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15). We all are encouraged to take active participation in the various societies in the Church as baptised persons. Importance of the lay ministries. The laities carries out their manifold apostolate both in the Church and in the world. In both areas there are various opportunities for apostolic activity. I wish to list here the more important fields of action:
As sharers in the role of Christ as priest, prophet, and king, the laities have their work cut out for them in the life and activity of the Church. Their activity is so necessary within the Church communities that without it the apostolate of the pastors is often unable to achieve its full effectiveness. In the manner of the men and women who helped Paul in spreading the Gospel (Acts 18:18, 26; Romans 16:3, 1 Corinthians 16:17-18 ): “ Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken.” (Acts 18:18). “Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.” (Acts 18:24-26). “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 16:3) “17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. 18For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.” (1 Corinthians 16:17-18) 2. To build up the body of Christ. “ Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Heb. 10:25). Bring back falling Catholics, counselling, visitation of the sick, bereaved etc 3. To contribute to the development of the local community. Prison visit and hospital visit – even some sort of donations: cash or kind. “17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: (List out the various groups and societies and what they do.) Conclusion:
“34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'” (Matthew 25:21-36). God Bless You Evang. Oseh J. B |