The Archdiocese of Dublin Lay Ministry Appeal will take place this weekend Sat 17th/Sun 18th May. The collection supports the sustaining and development of a variety of lay ministries. The collection will replace the Share Collection, which is the 2nd Collection at Mass.

‘The mission to help open the door to faith, in our time, is the mission of the whole People of God. All of the baptised are called to build up the Church, clergy and lay people together, encouraged by the Holy Spirit.Please join in supporting this mission today, and every day. Ask, what can I do to open the door of faith to others, in practical and life-giving ways, knowing that it is God who makes all things new.’

Archbishop Dermot Farrell’s full message is below and copies of the Building Hope Through Lay Ministry leaflet which includes the Archbishop’s message, are available in the church porches.

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Readings today are ideal in stressing the value of our vocation as baptised Christians. In the First Reading we hear the hope-filled message: God ‘opened the door of faith’ to so many, through the mission given to Paul and Barnabas to put ‘fresh heart’ into the people (Acts 14:21-27).

The mission to help open the door to faith, in our time, is the mission of the whole People of God. All of the baptised are called to build up the Church, clergy and lay people together, encouraged by the Holy Spirit. In this synodal Church of multiple ministries, no one should doubt but that the Lord continues to call people today to share his mission of service of the Gospel. The call to priesthood is born out of that invitation; it is an intensification of it.

So, what can I do? How can I respond? What is the Spirit asking of me in order to put fresh heart into the people? Well, here is something new. Thanks to your support at this collection each year, we are now providing training to build up active lay servant leaders, to work in a co-responsible way with priests, deacons and pastoral workers, in parishes and partnerships of parishes.

Over the past two years lay ministries have been steadily developing; 109 lay people from the Diocese have completed the Diocesan Certificate in Catechesis to become parish catechists, and this year 34 people have participated in our new Youth Ministry Leadership Certificate. 120 lay Funeral Prayer Leaders have been trained across the Archdiocese and the Pathways into Ministry adult education programme continues to help adults develop their faith.

Of particular note this year, is the work ongoing in developing a Diocesan Pastoral Council, with a majority of lay participants, to advise the Archbishop on pastoral initiatives into the future. This Diocesan Pastoral Council is being commissioned today, Lay Ministry Sunday.

Through the special Lay Ministry Collection today, you support the provision of these programmes and actions. I am announcing today, too, with your support, a grant fund to enable parishes in disadvantaged areas to engage the support of a Faith Development Worker at partnership level. Only with the committed generosity of priests and people around the Archdiocese can we find new and creative ways to engage everyone in developing their faith, and build hope together: ‘By this love you have for one another, everyone will know you are my disciples’ (John 13:35).

Please join in supporting this mission today, and every day. Ask, what can I do to open the door of faith to others, in practical and life-giving ways, knowing that it is God who makes all things new (see Apocalypse 21:5).

+Dermot Farrell

Archbishop of Dublin