Cardinal Mahony outlines plans for lay parish leaders
Oct 15, 2005
In a pastoral statement released Sept. 30, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles predicted a large increase in lay parish life directors beginning next year. He said such leaders will be called on to shape a parish's evangelical outreach and its vision of the reign of God.
LOS ANGELES (CNS, Oct-5-2005) -- "Much more is called for from a leader than being an effective administrator. Or a 'human resources manager,'" he wrote.
"The one who is designated to be the leader of the parish community is above all one who holds fast to the vision of the reign of God central to the meaning and message of Jesus. And then calls others to be faithful to that vision through the charism of leadership," he said.
The statement, "As One Who Serves," was dated Sept. 4 but it was posted on the archdiocesan Web site and published in The Tidings, Los Angeles archdiocesan newspaper, Sept. 30. In late September Cardinal Mahony hosted a meeting of about 70 church leaders from 18 Western dioceses to discuss future parish staffing needs in light of the priest shortage.
In a cover letter to his statement, Cardinal Mahony said, "From one point of view we are facing a crisis. But the diminishing number of priestly and religious vocations has brought with it a deeper realization that it is in the nature of the church to be given diverse gifts, ministries and offices."
"At this time we are being called to discern new modes of parish leadership and a more participatory exercise of ministry in which lay, religious and ordained together seek to build up the body of Christ through the charism of leadership," he said.
He said an archdiocesan task force, headed by Auxiliary Bishop Gerald E. Wilkerson, has been working on the issue and along with the neighboring San Bernardino Diocese has conducted workshops around the archdiocese on lay parish leadership.
The task force "has outlined an overview of this form of parish leadership, the reasons for its emergence, the promises it holds, as well as some of the practical implications of moving in this direction," Cardinal Mahony said.
"Some few parishes in the archdiocese are already being led by competent lay persons," he said. "However, beginning on July 1, 2006, this number will likely increase considerably."
"A parish led by a parish life director is not proposed as the model for ministry now or in the future, but is one response to meet the pastoral needs of our local church at this time, a valid and valuable expression of church leadership for which there is provision in canon law," he said.
In his pastoral statement he focused on the role of a parish life director from a theological standpoint, citing different visions of the Christian community found in the letters of St. Paul.
"The lay leader," Cardinal Mahony said, "brings the life of the world and its noblest concerns to the heart of the parish and in turn directs the lifeblood of the parish -- strengthened and sustained by celebration in word and sacrament -- so that the world is more fully infused with holiness, truth, justice, love and peace."
Outlining the qualities the archdiocese is looking for in lay leaders, he said:
-- "First, the lay leader must have competence in the enterprise at hand. In parish leadership this competence entails not only a thorough knowledge of the workings of the parish but also -- and even more importantly -- a measure of competence in theology, Scripture, ethics, spirituality, church history and canon law.
-- "Second, the life of the parish leader is to be marked by a deep passion for parish ministry, for the persons served by it, as well as for those -- priests, deacons, religious and other lay ministers -- who, together with the leader, serve the parish.
-- "Third, the parish leader must have an ability for communication of the vision of the parish -- and the vision of the reign of God which is at its heart -- to one's colleagues and collaborators, as well as to those well beyond the world of the parish."
The development of lay parish leadership is based on the fact that by baptism all are called to holiness and to sharing in the mission of the church and all receive gifts from the Spirit for the building up of the church, he said.
"I am committed to the implementation of this form of parish leadership, which is not a stopgap measure or temporary solution to the diminishing number of priestly and religious vocations," he said.
Cardinal Mahony outlines plans for lay parish leaders