ANSWERING GOD ’ S CALL
Committing to a Community : The Vocation of Lay Ecclesial Minister
Michael J . McCallion
All baptized Christians are called to minister as Jesus did , with most laity doing so in the secular realm , while other laity do so within the Church itself . The focus here is the vocation of the lay ecclesial minister working within the Church or , more specifically , working within parishes . As the document Co-Workers in the Vineyard states : “ In parishes especially , laywomen and men generously and extensively cooperate with their pastors in the service of the ecclesial community .” This makes it clear that the vocation of the lay ecclesial minister is embedded within the hierarchy of the Church , but more importantly , it is a vocation that is to conform to the pattern of Christ ’ s self-giving love .
A lay ecclesial minister ’ s vocation in other words is fundamentally based on Jesus ’ dying and rising for all ( theological dimension / Paschal Mystery ), yet , more specifically , on his whole approach to ministry , which was marked by his deep engagement with people ’ s everyday lives ( pastoral dimension ). Jesus invariably began ministering by focusing attention on some instance of people ’ s own situation , experience , or practice and then preaching about the Gospel and God ’ s reign as it relates to their reality or practice . Moreover , Jesus was clear that his disciples should be servants to all and that they should not lord over others their ministerial gifts . Jesus holistically engaged heads , hearts , and hands to inform , form , and transform one ’ s whole way of being in the world . That is why , as mentioned above , Jesus ’ whole approach was marked by his deep engagement with people ’ s everyday lives — the best means for encouraging such transformations . Jesus had to know and understand the people first . Lay ecclesial ministers need to do the same ; they must come to know those to whom they minister . This of course requires a great deal of maturity in conforming to Jesus Christ ’ s pattern of self-giving love . Do you have such a vocation , a desire to help , serve , and minister to others as Jesus did — with self-giving love ?
To answer that question , it ’ s important to examine and reflect on the micro , or everyday , parish pastoral situations while discerning a vocation to be a lay ecclesial minister . There are many other dimensions to consider in discerning such a vocation ( theological , human , spiritual , educational ), but here the focus will be discerning the pastoral dimension .
We might start by examining Jesus ’ go-for-broke commitment to self-giving love at the micro-interactional level exemplified in the parables he preached . For example , the tiny mustard seed parable speaks to a micro-gesture having a huge impact on others , or a tiny seed becoming a big tree . The parable of a little yeast causing a huge pile of dough to rise speaks to the same principle — small micro-gestures are more powerful than we often realize ( Mt 13:31-33 ). Hopefully , every minister has experienced these powerful micro-gestures . For example , when a word of kindness , a little extra help to someone in need , or even a sincere smile or firm handshake makes a big difference in someone ’ s day or life . Transformation often begins with tiny gestures of hope , respect , and love — a mustard seed or a little yeast . But these micro-gestures of self-giving love are most powerful when the minister really knows the person or group to whom they offer these small gestures of kindness .
4 Sacred Heart Major Seminary | Mosaic | Spring / Summer 2022