Lay ministries burnout

[Jguerra]

There are four parishes in town. Preparations were made and publicity generated for a half-day retreat for the EMHCs at the parish hall. Only 10 souls showed up.

At our church:

The altar servers don’t always show up as scheduled for Sunday Mass. Sometimes, an altar server from the congregation dashes into the sacristy and suits up when he/she realizes Father is unaccompanied.

The altar society gathers on Saturday mornings to get the church ready for the weekend celebrations. More time is spent catching up on gossip than on sweeping the floors.

Hardly anyone shows up for weekly practice (for the noon Mass choir). Yet, everyone shows up at least 20 minutes before Mass, warming up the instruments and practicing the responsorial psalm ad infinitum.

The pastor says it’s the leadership that needs to change. Maybe it’s the volunteers who are burnt out and an infusion of new personnel needs to come in. Here, a choir member can also be a CCD instructor and EMHC.

What to do?

Joe

 

[1ke]

What to do?

Well, Joe. I’ll give you my 2 cents: be thankful you have volunteers. Stop placing expectations on those volunteers such that they feel guilty if they cannot make practices, meetings, and whatnot. Stop treating weekly mass like a production that needs practice and pageantry.

If a server isn’t there, someone else will step in. Or there won’t be servers that day. And mass will still go on just fine.

Music isn’t perfect? So what. It’s not an opera. Not a choral recital. The choir isn’t there to entertain. The whole congregation should be singing. No one shows up for practice yet shows up early on Sunday to practice? That tells me that practice day/time is not convenient. How about officially moving it to Sunday morning at 11? Seems people are finding their own way to practice when it IS convenient.

Altar society ladies chatting it up while they set up for mass? WONDERFUL. that might be the only fellowship some of them have gotten all week.

People are tired. People are running in 10 directions. Make it easy to give time, talent, and treasure to the parish. Don’t make it difficult.

You should absolutely encourage and welcome new volunteers, not get rid of the old volunteers. But yes, whoever is scheduling practices and setting expectations needs to check themselves and take a good honest look at their expectations and the message they are sending potential volunteers. And be ready when the new volunteers have ideas and suggestions that run up against “the way we’ve always done it” and be careful not to case them off by stifling their ability to contribute in new and different ways.

It’s a community. A family. And, it sounds like every other family in the universe-- messy and not perfect. So, bottom line, there isn’t anything wrong with your parish.

 

[TK421]

Your posts are a lot better when they’re longer than 3 syllables.

 

[jmcrae]

There are four parishes in town. Preparations were made and publicity generated for a half-day retreat for the EMHCs at the parish hall. Only 10 souls showed up.

At our church:

The altar servers don’t always show up as scheduled for Sunday Mass. Sometimes, an altar server from the congregation dashes into the sacristy and suits up when he/she realizes Father is unaccompanied.

The altar society gathers on Saturday mornings to get the church ready for the weekend celebrations. More time is spent catching up on gossip than on sweeping the floors.

Hardly anyone shows up for weekly practice (for the noon Mass choir). Yet, everyone shows up at least 20 minutes before Mass, warming up the instruments and practicing the responsorial psalm ad infinitum.

The pastor says it’s the leadership that needs to change. Maybe it’s the volunteers who are burnt out and an infusion of new personnel needs to come in. Here, a choir member can also be a CCD instructor and EMHC.

What to do?

Joe

Welcome and encourage them. They’re volunteers; not slave labour. Invite them to take on one thing at a time, and find ways to include the young. Say, “I’m so glad you’re here,” and don’t complain about the people who didn’t show up.

 

[Reuben_J]

There are four parishes in town. Preparations were made and publicity generated for a half-day retreat for the EMHCs at the parish hall. Only 10 souls showed up.

At our church:

The altar servers don’t always show up as scheduled for Sunday Mass. Sometimes, an altar server from the congregation dashes into the sacristy and suits up when he/she realizes Father is unaccompanied.

The altar society gathers on Saturday mornings to get the church ready for the weekend celebrations. More time is spent catching up on gossip than on sweeping the floors.

Hardly anyone shows up for weekly practice (for the noon Mass choir). Yet, everyone shows up at least 20 minutes before Mass, warming up the instruments and practicing the responsorial psalm ad infinitum.

The pastor says it’s the leadership that needs to change. Maybe it’s the volunteers who are burnt out and an infusion of new personnel needs to come in. Here, a choir member can also be a CCD instructor and EMHC.

What to do?

Joe

I am not sure your parish situation is except from what you said that those involved in the liturgy were rather not very enthusiastic or discipline in carrying out their responsibility and duty. So you ask, what to do?

While it is certainly that they are volunteers, serving the church do go with it some responsibility and once volunteered, the servers should be efficient with their responsibility respectively.

I have served the liturgy perhaps in all the capacities needed there, from altar server when I was small, then lector and commentator and presently Communion Minister. In my place, our duty is regimented, so to speak. There is a person who is in charge and coordinating who are on duty, what to do and when to come, whether it is for practice, training, retreat, fellowship or which day and even which pews you will be stationed.

There is no late comers for mass because the instruction is clear. If one cannot come, then he/she has to inform the person in charge so that alternative arrangement can be made before hand so that the mass will go on still, smoothly.

We are not short of servers and we have to refuse those who want to read, for example, because we have enough people doing that.

There have to be some discipline and enforcement.

Now I have been around to many countries, staying and going to mass in many of their parishes. Sometimes, you can count the number of parishioners who made up the congregation - they are few and mostly greying. I could feel the pity for such a church and my heart was on those who still persist faithfully in coming to the mass.

There were request for volunteers for any position in the liturgy, a far cry from my own parish, where if you want to be a reader, you have to have an audition first.

If your parish is one of those, probably there is different approach to motivate them but regardless of where we are, serving comes with responsibility. Our responsibility is to the public who depend on that we do our parts correctly, which in failing that, the consequence will be that the people and God whom we want to serve may be short changed by our lacksaidal and lukewarm attitude.

 

[jcrichton]

There are four parishes in town. Preparations were made and publicity generated for a half-day retreat for the EMHCs at the parish hall. Only 10 souls showed up.

At our church:

The altar servers don’t always show up as scheduled for Sunday Mass. Sometimes, an altar server from the congregation dashes into the sacristy and suits up when he/she realizes Father is unaccompanied.

The altar society gathers on Saturday mornings to get the church ready for the weekend celebrations. More time is spent catching up on gossip than on sweeping the floors.

Hardly anyone shows up for weekly practice (for the noon Mass choir). Yet, everyone shows up at least 20 minutes before Mass, warming up the instruments and practicing the responsorial psalm ad infinitum.

The pastor says it’s the leadership that needs to change. Maybe it’s the volunteers who are burnt out and an infusion of new personnel needs to come in. Here, a choir member can also be a CCD instructor and EMHC.

What to do?

Joe

Hi, Joe!

…sadly that’s the story in many many Catholic parishes.

The Church has been so complaisant for so many years that the “servers” have taken the “comme ci, comme ça” approach to Mass; at one parish I’ve witnessed “servers” run through the Altar as though taking a short-cut to a familiar cooling hole–not once did one of the Priests address the familiarity of gossiping and trotting through the Altar.

Though I must confess that this is nothing new; many years back a lady complaint to Mom that she was monopolizing the events at a local parish… this was somewhat truthful since Mom was all-over the place… the beam that that lady was overlooking was that she, as well as many others, did not show up to Mass on time, the Celebrant Priest was left alone without any other recourse than Mom, and it was so bad that even when a request for “the dearly departed” was made, Mom was, at times, not only the only Server but the only other parishioner present for the Mass!

…what to do… that’s difficult because of a two-fold problem: 1) the Church is losing Catholics daily (people are leaving the Church for other religious groups or simply abandoning the Faith–well except when things go wrong or there’s mass hysteria about an “end-of-the-world” event), and 2) people are just not into God anymore (a great number of people are taking the “just in case” approach to Faith).

My solution?

…Mom’s approach: “I am here to serve the Lord!”

Organize those you know to have the desire to Serve Christ (rather than the desire to be seen Serving) into a cohesive group that will be ready to Serve when others fail. Working with your parish Priests you can formulate a mandate that would allow those willing to Serve to step in when others relinquish their obligations. This means that you and your fellow Servers will be “understudies” of those who are scheduled to Serve. Of course this would necessitate a certain code of conduct (as timelines for calling if not able to Serve, a time set [perhaps 10 minutes prior to the Mass] that those scheduled to Serve must arrive, and automatic replacement of those who fail to either call-in or show up).

…then we have the building up of the Server’s body; catechism is usually forgotten right after the First Communion takes effect; organize seminars–too many times Catholics forget what they are supposed to be engaged in when they go to Mass, Who it is that they are there to “Serve,” and why they are bothering to gather in the House of God–I’ve seen more respect given to a doctor’s office, a movie theater, a public library, even a swimming pool than to the Mass.

The reality is that Jesus prophesized about these coming days:

10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (St. Matthew 24:10-13)

7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (St. Luke 18:7-8)

Merry Christmas!

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[jcrichton]

Well, Joe. I’ll give you my 2 cents: be thankful you have volunteers. Stop placing expectations on those volunteers such that they feel guilty if they cannot make practices, meetings, and whatnot. Stop treating weekly mass like a production that needs practice and pageantry.

If a server isn’t there, someone else will step in. Or there won’t be servers that day. And mass will still go on just fine.

Music isn’t perfect? So what. It’s not an opera. Not a choral recital. The choir isn’t there to entertain. The whole congregation should be singing. No one shows up for practice yet shows up early on Sunday to practice? That tells me that practice day/time is not convenient. How about officially moving it to Sunday morning at 11? Seems people are finding their own way to practice when it IS convenient.

Altar society ladies chatting it up while they set up for mass? WONDERFUL. that might be the only fellowship some of them have gotten all week.

People are tired. People are running in 10 directions. Make it easy to give time, talent, and treasure to the parish. Don’t make it difficult.

You should absolutely encourage and welcome new volunteers, not get rid of the old volunteers. But yes, whoever is scheduling practices and setting expectations needs to check themselves and take a good honest look at their expectations and the message they are sending potential volunteers. And be ready when the new volunteers have ideas and suggestions that run up against “the way we’ve always done it” and be careful not to case them off by stifling their ability to contribute in new and different ways.

It’s a community. A family. And, it sounds like every other family in the universe-- messy and not perfect. So, bottom line, there isn’t anything wrong with your parish.

Hi!

…this would be just dandy if those same individual who are so laxed in the Catholic Church remain so when they leave the Church and do not claim this behavior as one of the reason they left the Faith!

…I remember one fellow at one time claiming that the Church’s laxed dress code was one of the reasons he left the Faith… some years later one of his children had grown up and was dressed in a skirt that would raise high on her thighs; when I checked him on that, he intimated that those who are “saved” would not limit themselves by such arguments…

Yes, I understand your post… but have you noticed how organized some non-Catholic choirs are? …I’m not talking about attendance only but the quality of the voices, the organization… mostly because they believe that they are Serving Christ in a Music Vocation!

…remember the outcome of the issue between Cain and Abel? …the one that just threw things together sought to level the plane by murdering the one who Served with Love and Optimum confession.

…too many times Catholics are serving up the whatevers instead of the Love!

Merry Christmas!

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[Bookcat]

Let us always remember that such roles -while important - are not per se the main vocation of the Lay Faithful. Their vocation is more in the world …in family…in work…on the streets…in ordinary life…following Christ and proclaiming him etc

w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_30121988_christifideles-laici.html

 

[jcrichton]

Let us always remember that such roles -while important - are not per se the main vocation of the Lay Faithful. Their vocation is more in the world …in family…in work…on the streets…in ordinary life…following Christ and proclaiming him etc

w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_30121988_christifideles-laici.html

Hi, Bookcat!

I fully concur.

But if you were to volunteer to serve at a telephone hot-line, soup kitchen, at a friend’s/relative’s event, should you not treat it with respect and decorum? …after all, how many times have you not arrived at a function minutes before the scheduled event so that you do not violate the code of conduct granted a social event? …how many times have you offered to assist a friend/relative only so that you would seem kind/supportive while you made no efforts to actually “help?”

Taking a cavalier approach to Serving is not only disrespectful to man but also disrespectful to God.

…yes, there’s a key note to volunteerism that means that one is free to do/not do something; yet, it is not the only key note: self-respect, reputation, consideration, service, grace, selflessness, joy, comradery, teamwork, reliance, dependency, generosity, giving of self, expectation, peer-respect, Serving God… these also apply!

Merry Christmas!

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[SyroMalankara]

I think acknowledgement by the parish priest, associate priests, parish committees and/or director goes a long way - not just words but acknowledging their responsibility in taking on their role. Make it formal – like an acolyte receiving robes from his bishop, ask the pastor to do something similar. I think it would go a long way, after all, the military does have a uniform and awards that can be worn on the uniform when earned for a good reason. They exemplify for everyone else and recognize the individual, as well as provide impetus and motivation.

 

[Reuben_J]

Taking a cavalier approach to Serving is not only disrespectful to man but also disrespectful to God.

…yes, there’s a key note to volunteerism that means that one is free to do/not do something; yet, it is not the only key note: self-respect, reputation, consideration, service, grace, selflessness, joy, comradery, teamwork, reliance, dependency, generosity, giving of self, expectation, peer-respect, Serving God… these also apply!

Merry Christmas!

Maran atha!

Angel

As I said, I am not sure what is the culture in other countries or parishes, but whether we are volunteers or getting paid, there is a role and job to do. More so in the liturgy, we are serving in the highest form of worship.

The laity who serve are not being forced to do it except perhaps for those dying parishes where there is nobody willing to help. Even then, once you volunteer you have to do the job well, it reflects well on oneself, more so being Christian workers doing Christian service. We are supposed to be reliable and trustworthy.

Now, we can look at this in many ways and granted that there are who those who volunteer, they only do it because they feel obligated to, and not because it is a privilege to serve.

In my part of the world, parishioners are practically queuing up to take up roles in the liturgy. And the various coordinators would be just glad to leave you out if you are not willing to serve seriously. But that is my parish and I understand that not all are in that lucky situation, especially with what I saw in other parts of the world.

If those serving in the liturgy do not take their role seriously, then perhaps it is no surprise as a reflection of the general malaise within the parish as a whole.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

There are four parishes in town. Preparations were made and publicity generated for a half-day retreat for the EMHCs at the parish hall. Only 10 souls showed up. it seems odd to have a retreat for EMHCs at all. They are not really a seperate “ministry” that would need a retreat together. Was this for training? If so that can be done in about 20 minutes. I’m not a EMHC but if I were you can bet there would have been about 150 things on my list this time of year other than that!

At our church:

The altar servers don’t always show up as scheduled for Sunday Mass. Sometimes, an altar server from the congregation dashes into the sacristy and suits up when he/she realizes Father is unaccompanied.you could have a more traditional altar boy program geared to the formation of priests, this would lend itself to a more structured ministry with a purpose.

The altar society gathers on Saturday mornings to get the church ready for the weekend celebrations. More time is spent catching up on gossip than on sweeping the floors.if they are not neglecting their duties what is wrong with fellowship? This seems judgemental

Hardly anyone shows up for weekly practice (for the noon Mass choir). Yet, everyone shows up at least 20 minutes before Mass, warming up the instruments and practicing the responsorial psalm ad infinitum. a simple instruction of silence from father would remedy that

The pastor says it’s the leadership that needs to change. uh, he is litterally the leadership… And the decider of who he delegates to…Maybe it’s the volunteers who are burnt out and an infusion of new personnel needs to come in. from where?Here, a choir member can also be a CCD instructor and EMHC.why wouldn’t they be? EMHC takes no effort outside of mass. I’m confused as to what you think it is. And a person who can sing but also teach is an asset, not a problem

What to do?what to do? Go to mass. Pray. Love others. Help where you can. View others with charity instead of frustration.

Joe

 

[jcrichton]

I think acknowledgement by the parish priest, associate priests, parish committees and/or director goes a long way - not just words but acknowledging their responsibility in taking on their role. Make it formal – like an acolyte receiving robes from his bishop, ask the pastor to do something similar. I think it would go a long way, after all, the military does have a uniform and awards that can be worn on the uniform when earned for a good reason. They exemplify for everyone else and recognize the individual, as well as provide impetus and motivation.

Hi!

I fully concur!

…just check out grade-school children when they are acknowledged for achieving even the simplest of goals… it is in our nature to communicate our encounters… and what greater thing is there then to serving others?

Merry Christmas!

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[jcrichton]

As I said, I am not sure what is the culture in other countries or parishes, but whether we are volunteers or getting paid, there is a role and job to do. More so in the liturgy, we are serving in the highest form of worship.

The laity who serve are not being forced to do it except perhaps for those dying parishes where there is nobody willing to help. Even then, once you volunteer you have to do the job well, it reflects well on oneself, more so being Christian workers doing Christian service. We are supposed to be reliable and trustworthy.

Now, we can look at this in many ways and granted that there are who those who volunteer, they only do it because they feel obligated to, and not because it is a privilege to serve.

In my part of the world, parishioners are practically queuing up to take up roles in the liturgy. And the various coordinators would be just glad to leave you out if you are not willing to serve seriously. But that is my parish and I understand that not all are in that lucky situation, especially with what I saw in other parts of the world.

If those serving in the liturgy do not take their role seriously, then perhaps it is no surprise as a reflection of the general malaise within the parish as a whole.

Hi, Reuben!

I fully concur!

I remember as a child, in the Dominican Republic, it was an honor to simply be chosen to bring the Gifts or even to greet parishioners as they entered or left the Church… people would put on their “Sunday’s best,” leave their homes promptly, and eagerly and reverently await for the Cross’s procession to concelebrate Mass.

…Sadly, Catholics have become as those Jesus chastised for being lukewarm as they have lost their fervor to seek and serve God.

It is wonderful to hear of parishes such as yours where Faith and Commitment are not a thing of yonder years. Congrats!

Merry Christmas!

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[Jguerra]

My thanks to all who posted a response to this thread.

Hoosier Daddy–I don’t know what the intent was behind the city-wide retreat; it could have been to address problems that have come up. Maybe it was an effort to minister to these lay people who go out to bring Jesus to others. Training for this ministry is more than 20 minutes according to the diocesan handbook. If Christmas preparations have to take precedence over improving one’s lay ministry, perhaps service in such an important outreach needs to be reconsidered.

The point about the Altar Society is precisely that gossip and camaraderie is more important than custodial chores in the chapel. Otherwise the pastor would not have noticed the gritty floors and bits of trash uncollected.

The choir has been an ongoing issue for a few years now. Choir members do seem to see their efforts as more of a performance than a contribution to divine worship–weekly practice sessions are poorly attended. The concern that a choir member can also be a CCD teacher and a lay minister was made to stress that there aren’t enough volunteers to go around. One week, the pastor put a volunteer application in each of the 450 Sunday bulletins. He got only 3 back. It’s like mostly everyone likes to come to Mass but would rather not help out.

To everyone else who posted, again, thank you. My post was more of a vent, not exactly a rant. I had hoped to hear from others who experienced the same matters at their parishes.

Joe

 

[Anne1964]

It sounds like the retreat for EMHCs was actually for the people who participate in hospital and shut-in ministry? Those who take Communion to the sick? In many parishes that is a separate ministry altogether. Also, scheduling any sort of retreat between Thanksgiving and Christmas isn’t such a great idea. People are busy with other things at this time of year.

As for altar servers not showing up, many parishes have a written schedule that is prepared at least a month ahead of time so that servers (and their parents) know when they are expected to serve. It is also the responsibility of the server (and parent) to inform the coordinator if they will not be able to serve on a particular date.

Our parish doesn’t have any problem with altar servers as we only have boy altar servers and they line up to serve. We often have as many as 20 servers show up for a Sunday Mass and we are a small parish of less than 500 families.

As for the altar society, how large is your church? We have an altar society but they are not responsible for sweeping the floors. We have a janitor for that sort of cleaning who comes in twice a week. The altar society cares for the altar linens and brass items and dusts the pews and straightens the hymnals.

In most parishes 10-20% of the people do the majority of volunteer work so it is very common for one person to participate in different volunteer jobs. There is nothing wrong with that. Be happy they want to volunteer.

Has your parish ever had a ministry fair? After Sunday Mass have tables set up for each ministry with people to discuss what each volunteer job is like and they can recruit new volunteers on the spot. In some parishes this seems to work very well.

 

[Reuben_J]

The concern that a choir member can also be a CCD teacher and a lay minister was made to stress that there aren’t enough volunteers to go around. One week, the pastor put a volunteer application in each of the 450 Sunday bulletins. He got only 3 back. It’s like mostly everyone likes to come to Mass but would rather not help out.

To everyone else who posted, again, thank you. My post was more of a vent, not exactly a rant. I had hoped to hear from others who experienced the same matters at their parishes.

Joe

Those who volunteer to take up responsibility / duty in the church have to do their work accordingly and with enthusiasm, pride and honesty.

Going for retreats are going for praying, giving one’s time to the Lord. Anybody can do that and for the better. If your EHMCs decided to go for retreat, that’s the best thing that can happen for lay ministers . They need to be inspired and who else can do that better than God? In my place, each category of lay ministers would go for retreat. They treat their roles seriously because a life of a lay minister does not end after the mass but throughout their lives.

If your lay ministers lose perspective of what a privilege that they are called to serve in the liturgy, then accordingly it is hard to expect them to discharge their duty with any sense of seriousness.

I think probably the whole parish need a renewal in their faith so that families with their youngs start to attend church and get involved in the life of the church.

In our diocese, as a matter of policy, lay ministers do not hold two posts simultaneously. Thus if you’re an EHMC, you cannot be a lector. The idea is that a person shouldn’t do everything but does one and does it well. We are not short of people who would be counted to do these things so manpower is not a problem.

 

[Rosebud77]

Let us always remember that such roles -while important - are not per se the main vocation of the Lay Faithful. Their vocation is more in the world …in family…in work…on the streets…in ordinary life…following Christ and proclaiming him etc

w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_30121988_christifideles-laici.html

Thank you! I was starting to worry,

 

[Jguerra]

It sounds like the retreat for EMHCs was actually for the people who participate in hospital and shut-in ministry? Those who take Communion to the sick? In many parishes that is a separate ministry altogether. Also, scheduling any sort of retreat between Thanksgiving and Christmas isn’t such a great idea. People are busy with other things at this time of year.

The EMHCs serve at Mass, take Holy Communion to shut-ins at homes and at the hospital.

As for altar servers not showing up, many parishes have a written schedule that is prepared at least a month ahead of time so that servers (and their parents) know when they are expected to serve. It is also the responsibility of the server (and parent) to inform the coordinator if they will not be able to serve on a particular date.

Our parish doesn’t have any problem with altar servers as we only have boy altar servers and they line up to serve. We often have as many as 20 servers show up for a Sunday Mass and we are a small parish of less than 500 families.

The married couple in charge of the altar servers do make and mail a schedule to the altar servers with plenty of lead time.

As for the altar society, how large is your church? We have an altar society but they are not responsible for sweeping the floors. We have a janitor for that sort of cleaning who comes in twice a week. The altar society cares for the altar linens and brass items and dusts the pews and straightens the hymnals.

Our parish serves 400 families. Not enough in the annual budget for a janitor.

In most parishes 10-20% of the people do the majority of volunteer work so it is very common for one person to participate in different volunteer jobs. There is nothing wrong with that. Be happy they want to volunteer.

Has your parish ever had a ministry fair? After Sunday Mass have tables set up for each ministry with people to discuss what each volunteer job is like and they can recruit new volunteers on the spot. In some parishes this seems to work very well.

A ministry fair was done 3 years ago. Dismal turnout.

The suggestions offered so far by other posters are much appreciated. It may take a significant event to stir the parishioners to action. In the meantime, prayer and fasting.

Joe

 

[Bookcat]

Hi, Bookcat!

I fully concur.

But if you were to volunteer to serve at a telephone hot-line, soup kitchen, at a friend’s/relative’s event, should you not treat it with respect and decorum? .

I was only bringing a very important aspect…not commenting on the rest.

I will add though that “burnout” can happen in some cases cause persons think they need to do all sorts of such volunteering …where as that is not where the focus of the lay vocation is to be (not to say one should not volunteer…but often people have a mistaken notion here)