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| Home : Department of Vocations : Lay Ministry |
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Lay Ministry
By reason of their baptism, all those who serve the Church in some way are lay ministers and share in the mission of Christ to the world. The term usually refers to single or married people who are professional or volunteer ministers.
In making a life choice I need to ask myself: LifestyleLay ministers are ordinary people, single or married, wanting to make a difference in the world. They use their gifts: personal and spiritual, professional and intellectual, emotional and creative, in the service of others. They respond to God's call in their lives by serving the Church and reaching out to others. Some are called to full-time service in the church; others offer their services voluntarily.The vocation of lay ministers is nurtured and developed by prayer, which is usually supported by the parish community, family, friends and other community groups.
MinistryThrough prayerful discernment, lay ministers decide where the call of God is leading them to serve: within their ordinary working and daily lives and in answer to the needs of the Church and others. Living, loving and serving while being fully immersed in the world, they are able to bring Christ's love to any and all of the many diverse situations of pain and need within Church and society.
Marriage and Family Life
Marriage could possibly be called the model vocation, as in their married life the couple is called to mirror the way Christ loves the Church (Ephesians 5:25) and be a sign of this for the whole community. Not only the couple, but "the Christian family, reflecting and sharing in the covenant of love between Christ and the Church should show to all, the living presence of Christ and the real nature of the Church. The family will do this "through the mutual love of husband and wife, their generosity in giving life, their unity and faithfulness, and by the loving way in which all the members of the family work together."
Like any vocation, this of course isn't easy. It demands sacrifice, great virtue and prayer. Couples are called to take part in a renewal of married life, to instruct young people about marriage and to give good example so that their children will more easily find the path to holiness. The various movements of the Diocesan Family Life Department help couples and families in different ways to live out their vocation. MARFAM as the Marriage and Family Life Renewal Ministry promotes the overall vision of the Family as the Domestic Church, the smallest church, and, because we are all family people, invites the wider Church community to become a genuinely family-friendly church. That is where everyone can literally feel at home. Visit MARFAM's website at http://homefun.www.icon.co.za/Welcome.htm for information about all the family life ministries in the diocese. Related Linkshttp://www.domestic-church.com
Single Life"Come, follow me"How often have we heard these words of Jesus? How often do we respond with "How, Lord?"
Life as a single person can be very rewarding. Jesus becomes the centre of your life as He is the one with whom you spend most of your time - He is family, friend, Lord and Saviour. He is always there for you. You have someone with whom to share your joys and sorrows. You never feel alone or lonely, as He is involved in all you do.
CareerWhatever work you do, living for Christ and serving His people becomes part of it. This motivation permeates all you do, so that everything is done in and for Christ.
Involvement in Parish LifeThe single vocation enables you to serve the Parish community more than is usually possible for those following other vocations. There are many ministries that can be taken up in the Parish, e.g.
Prayer LifeIt is necessary to nurture your prayer life, so as to remain focussed on Christ in living your vocation. Some ways in which this can be done are:
Spiritual EnrichmentIn order to deepen your relationship with Christ and your understanding of and appreciation for your vocation, you will need to give time to your own spiritual enrichment. This can be done by:
Relationships and RelaxationJesus needs happy and healthy followers, so cultivating good relationships and spending time renewing body and mind is also important. This can be done by:
God has created you because He loves you and has a purpose for you. In return, you can show your love for God by living out your vocation to the single life as best you can for His honour and glory. A Single Person Speaks
My favourite time of the day is sunset, when I watch the sky turn from one colour to another. It is during this relaxing time that I particularly feel very close to God and I thank Him that He is there as my constant companion and that I can share my experiences of the past hours with Him. This is also the time when I ask for God's blessing on the work that He has entrusted me to do in promoting His Kingdom and in following the vocation to which he has called me."
Third Orders and AssociatesSome Institutes of Consecrated Life, make it possible for lay people to share their spirit and spirituality. They offer lay people a certain structure for spiritual development, which includes prayer and ministry in accordance with the Institute's Charism. The lay person can choose to use this means of growing in holiness through prayer and service. They will experience a sense of solidarity and belonging and the resources and support of a community with a rich tradition.The extent to which the lay person is associated with the Congregation or Order varies according to his or her choice. It can be intense and structured, or loose and informal, e.g.:
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