What do lay ministers "do?"

[Rocky8311]

I’ve been asked this question a couple of times: what do lay ministers do all day long?

I want to be a lay minister after I graduate but my mother thinks lay ministry isn’t a real job and I find that offensive but I can’t name enough responsibilities to paint the picture of a full day’s work for her. It doesn’t matter what she thinks, I just wish I had the answer.

I know a parish with three full time youth ministers which has merged the junior high schoolers into the high school bible study and the high schoolers increasingly don’t want to go to as a result. I lamented this to a friend and we found ourselves asking essentially the same question that my mom had asked me: if three guys can’t plan two bible study events a week, what do they “do” all week long? I can’t find a satisfying answer.

 

[Joannm]

I’ve been asked this question a couple of times: what do lay ministers do all day long?

I want to be a lay minister after I graduate but my mother thinks lay ministry isn’t a real job and I find that offensive but I can’t name enough responsibilities to paint the picture of a full day’s work for her. It doesn’t matter what she thinks, I just wish I had the answer.

I know a parish with three full time youth ministers which has merged the junior high schoolers into the high school bible study and the high schoolers increasingly don’t want to go to as a result. I lamented this to a friend and we found ourselves asking essentially the same question that my mom had asked me: if three guys can’t plan two bible study events a week, what do they “do” all week long? I can’t find a satisfying answer.

A lot depends on what kind of ministry you plan to be involved in. As a Pastoral Associate, I work full time. My main responsibilities are liturgy and adult faith formation. I also have a number of administrative responsibilites in the parish. I work 40 + hours a week and am kept busy. Some of my administrative duties is to oversee the Save Environment program, making sure all volunteers attend (that is a tough one since we have a ton of volunteers and keeping up with the new ones is hard). I also write a monthly newsletter to all liturgical ministers. I teach courses, coordinate baptism prep and the baptism ceremonies, interview new parents, etc. I collaborate with the DRE on some of her stuff as well as with Parish Social Ministry (On Monday we are have a special Mass with hospitality that we both coordinate). I coordinate RCIA and end up teaching most of the sessions. I also have to be available during the day to meet with parishioners who walk in with questions or concerns. I sit on the Pastoral Council and coordinate several parish committees. I write a column in the bulletin and oversee the person who edits the bulletin. I work with the elementary school in preparing the kids for their monthly mass. I could go on, but there is certainly a lot that you would be doing.

 

[k9luv]

How would I prepare for lay ministry?

 

[Joannm]

How would I prepare for lay ministry?

I guess it depends what your diocese looks for. Most of the lay ministers in our diocese who work full time have degrees in theology. We do have a lay fomation program that people go to but most of them are volunteers. Some of them do get jobs in parises but not too many in jobs like DRE, Pastoral Associate, but maybe as Outreach and some as Youth Ministry although the diocese prefers they have a degree in Theology.