A key pastoral priority identified by parishioners at Speak Up sessions was the need to prepare laity to work with priests, deacons and religious to carry out important parish ministries. Last October, the Diocese of Camden announced the “Lay Ministry Formation Program,” a major initiative to advance this pastoral priority and to help laity engaged in parish work obtain the educational credentials specific to their area of ministry.
Already, 94 lay Catholics representing 41 parishes in South Jersey have applied for the first semester of the program which will begin courses later this month.
The Lay Ministry Formation Program will offer college and university degree and certificate courses for parish leaders and staff in the diocese who serve in various pastoral ministries, including religious education, youth and young adult ministry, campus ministry, adult faith formation, Hispanic and Black Catholic ministry, and liturgy. Programs also will be offered for lay persons involved in pastoral administration and parish business management.
The diocese is working in partnership with the College of St. Elizabeth (Morristown, NJ), Georgian Court University (Lakewood, NJ), the Center for Ministry Development (Naugatuck CT), the Northeast Hispanic Catholic Center (New York, NY), and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary (Overbrook, PA).
Through agreements forged with the participating colleges and institutions, the degree and certificate programs are being offered at a discount of 50 percent of the normal cost for parishioners of the diocese. In addition, candidates in the program are paying only one-third of the discounted tuition cost. Parishes and the diocese will pay the remaining portion of the cost. Financial assistance also is being made available based on need to those parishioners who cannot pay their portion of the cost.
The diocese has made arrangements with the participating colleges and institutions so that the courses are offered at convenient satellite locations within the diocese. The courses are being offered at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Absecon (satellite campus for Georgian Court and College of St. Elizabeth) and the St. Pius Spiritual Life Center (satellite campus for Georgian Court and College of St. Elizabeth) and John Paul II Retreat Center, Vineland (satellite campus for the Center for Ministry Development and College of St. Elizabeth) and St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral, Camden, Immaculate Conception, Bridgeton and Our Lady Star of the Sea, Atlantic City (all satellite campuses for the Northeast Hispanic Catholic Center).
“The Lay Ministry Formation Program will help ensure that our parishes have the resources to carry out essential ministries that will respond to the needs of the people of every age in the diocese, especially those identified at the Speak Up sessions,” said Sr. Roseann Quinn, SSJ, Bishop’s Delegate for Lifelong Formation.
In announcing the program, Bishop Galante said, “This is a wonderful way for lay men and women to obtain the education and formation necessary to become qualified, competent lay ministers so that these pastoral priorities take root in and flourish in every parish community. Lay ministers do not replace priests or diminish them in any way, but assist them in serving the people of the parish, in collaboration with deacons, religious and lay employees and volunteers. Those who will be called upon to assume lay ministerial positions by becoming professionally credentialed in the work of ministry not only will foster their own formation in Christian living, but will invite parishioners of all ages into the Church and to serve the People of God through the broadest range of parish ministries. This will assist parishioners as they seek to grow daily in the faith and it will breathe new energy into parish life.”
For more information, course descriptions and a catalogue, see www.camdendiocese.org/lifelong/ or contact Kevin Connor, director of Lay Ministry Formation at 856.583.6122; kevin.connor@camdendiocese.org