Lay ministers commissioned in Diocese of Killala

The newly trained lay leaders, the diocese said, step into their roles with faith, dedication and a deep desire to serve.

Sixty-two lay leaders will be commissioned by the Archbishop of Tuam in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina at the Chrism Mass in Holy Week as part of the Diocese of Killala’s drive to enhance the pastoral care of parishes.

The lay ministries include the Ministry of Reader, Minister of the Eucharist and Funeral Ministers, who will co-lead all of the standard funeral services with priests with the exception of the Funeral Mass.

The Funeral Ministers will co-lead the prayers for the Rite of Reception at the church, the Final Commendation at the end of the funeral liturgy and the Rite of Committal.

Last week, a group of 64 – 62 lay people and two priests – celebrated their graduation with a Certificate in ‘Lay Leadership: Theology, Culture and Ministry’ from the Newman Institute in Ballina, Co Mayo.

The certificate programme, under the direction of Dr Michael Gilroy and the Newman Institute, was specifically developed to empower laypeople to take an active role in the faith life of their communities.

The graduation ceremony marks the culmination of a formation journey aimed at equipping lay leaders with the skills and pastoral experience needed to co-lead ministry at parish level.

According to the Diocese of Killala, the graduation and commissioning of these lay people “is the beginning of a new era of lay leadership” in the diocese.

The newly trained lay leaders, the diocese said, step into their roles with faith, dedication and a deep desire to serve.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony in St Muredach’s Cathedral, the Archbishop of Tuam, Francis Duffy, commended the commitment of the graduates and the importance of their mission.

“This evening, we celebrate not just academic achievement but a deep commitment to service. These men and women have responded to the call of the Gospel, stepping forward to share in the leadership of our parishes,” he said.

The Certificate in Lay Leadership which took place over two years, afforded participants the opportunity to engage with Sacred Scripture, Pastoral Theology, Liturgy, Moral Theology, Catholic Social Teaching, Faith and Culture, Encountering Jesus of Nazareth, Church History and Diocesan History, Canon Law and the administration of parishes.

Safeguarding training and pastoral reflection evenings were also part of the course. The latter were undertaken in six host parishes over the two-year period.

In the coming weeks, the lay leaders will commence their ministries in a voluntary capacity in their parishes.

This initiative was born out of Killala’s diocesan synodal listening process, ‘Placing Hope in Faith’ which began in 2017. Pope Francis has invited all dioceses to undertake a synodal listening process.

According to the Diocese of Killala, with fewer clergy and an ever-growing need for pastoral care in its 22 parishes, it will benefit greatly from the lay ministers as they bring their knowledge and pastoral experience back to their communities.

Many of those who received certificates are now engaged in co-leading funeral liturgies, offering compassionate support to grieving families and ensuring that every parish has a team of well-trained ministers ready to serve.

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