We Have a Co-Responsibility To Participate in the
Mission of the Church
By Monsignor Vincent J. Grimalia, V.G.
 

Called to Holiness and Mission: Pastoral Planning in the Diocese of Scranton is concerned with promoting a deeper awareness of the Mystery of the church from the perspective of vocation, stewardship, communion and mission.

Speaking to the Pastoral Convention of the Diocese of Rome, Pope Benedict XVI spoke of the Church as “People of God”, the “Body of Christ” and of the co-responsibility of all members of for the mission of the Church.

As our Diocese continues pastoral and spiritual renewal through Called to Holiness and Mission we likewise need a deeper understanding of the Church as vocation, communion, mission and the co-responsibility of all members according to their vocation and gifts to participate in the mission of the Church.

Pope Benedict stated: “The Church, which originates in the Trinitarian God, is a mystery of communion. As communion, the Church is not merely a spiritual reality but lives in history, so to speak, in flesh and blood. The Second Vatican Council describes her ‘in the nature of sacrament a sign and instrument, that is, of communion with God and of unity among all men’ (Lumen Gentium, n. 1). And the very essence of sacrament is that the invisible is tangible in the visible and that the tangibly visible opens the door to God himself. The Church, we said, is a communion, a communion of people who, through the action of the Holy Spirit, form the People of God which is at the same time the Body of Christ.”

The Holy Father then commented on these two terms and explained how both complement each other and are needed: “The two concepts ‘People of God’ and ‘Body of Christ’ complete each other and together form the New Testament concept of Church.”

The pope then spoke of the importance of ongoing adult faith formation, to more deeply appreciate the mystery of the Church and to “improve pastoral structures in such a way that the co-responsibility of all the members of the People of God in their entirety is gradually promoted, with respect for vocations and for the respective roles of the consecrated and of lay people.”

To improve pastoral structures and to develop a renewed sense of vocation, stewardship, co-responsibility, mission and communion, the Holy Father explained the need for a new way of understanding the contribution of all members of the Church in accordance with their vocations, gifts and talents: “This demands a change in mindset, particularly concerning lay people. They must no longer be viewed as ‘collaborators’ of the clergy but truly recognized as ‘co-responsible’ for the Church's being and action, thereby fostering the consolidation of a mature and committed laity.”

For this concern of the Holy Father to be accomplished, there needs to be adult faith formation for the whole parish. Special educational and formation opportunities also need to be developed for members of the Parish Pastoral and Finance Councils and members of the parish staff and volunteers. These opportunities will also help members of parish clusters as they continue their important work to promote vocation awareness, stewardship, communion and mission. A prayerful study of Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles Laici: On the Vocation and Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World will be helpful. It is available on the Vatican Website.

Parish priests have a special opportunity and responsibility during these days of pastoral and spiritual renewal to communicate with the parish, the Parish Pastoral and Finance Councils and with members of the cluster concerning the importance of understanding and putting into practice the theology and spirituality of vocation, stewardship, mission and communion in their various aspects.

The Directory on the Ministry and Life of Priests states: “It is essential that priests, in exercising their ministry, not only participate responsibly in the creation of pastoral plans which the Bishop (with the cooperation of the Council of Priests) determines: they must also develop their own communities in harmony with these plans.”

No one can underestimate the contribution of the pastor and parish clergy in this area. The Directory continues,“Creativity, that spirit of initiative proper to a well formed priest, will not only be unrestrained but can also be used to full advantage in pastoral effectiveness.” The Directory also issues a caution that that failure to act in unity in pastoral planning will result in lessened effectiveness in these words: “An erroneous sense of independence in this area could bring about not only a rupture in the necessary communion, but a weakening of the very work of evangelizing as well.”

The pastor and parish clergy have a responsibility to educate people about the theology and spirituality of communion and to help parishioners to overcome any sense of parochialism or congregationalism. A parish must show evidence of unity, holiness, catholicity and apostolicity. If a parish would fail to understand that it is a “cell” or “connective tissue” of the diocese or resist acting in communion through cooperation and partnership with other parishes, there is an obvious need for more effective communication, education and faith formation of the parish community.

Pope Benedict in that same address to members of the Diocese of Rome also said: “Through faith in God we are united in the Body of Christ and all become united in the same Body. Thus, precisely by profoundly believing we may achieve communion among ourselves and emerge from the loneliness of individualism… Communion and the unity of the Church that are born of the Eucharist, are a reality of which we must be ever more aware . . . We must learn ever anew to preserve and defend this unity from the rivalry, disputes, and jealousies that can be kindled in and among ecclesial communities.”

For a parish community to develop a “new mind set” concerning co-responsibility, it is necessary that it begins with prayer and study. Ongoing adult faith formation is necessary for all adult Catholics. It has a special urgency for parish staff and volunteers, and for members of the Parish Pastoral and Finance Councils as well as members of the parish cluster team.

Canon 231 states: “Lay persons who permanently or temporarily devote themselves to special service of the Church are obliged to acquire the appropriate formation required to fulfill their function properly and to carry out this function conscientiously, eagerly and diligently.”

The Diocesan Pastoral Formation Institute and the Office for Parish Life and other diocesan offices provide formation for a variety of services. The Catholic Leadership Institute in Exton, Pa. is currently providing training to 31 diocesan priests in a process called “Good Leaders and Good Shepherds”. They also have a program called “Tending Talents for Parish Staffs”. Their website provides interesting information for parishes interested in developing their lay staff (www.catholicleaders.org).

In planning to develop co-responsibility and an awareness of stewardship in a parish it is necessary to help people to have the courage to share their gifts and talents. The expanded and updated Catholic edition of Living Your Strengths: Discover Your God-Given Talents and Inspire Your Community, published by Gallup Press in 2008, has promise as a resource.