Gala will celebrate lay ministers' certification

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This icon of Saint Mary Magdalene, imported from Greece, is among the items that will be offered for sale at the Gala Congar.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Diocese of Salt Lake City is preparing to certify 85 men and women who have spent the last four years studying to become lay ecclesial ministers (LEMs), preparing to serve various ministries in their parishes and the diocese. (See additional stories.)

"They are exercising their baptismal call," said the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City. "That is very important. These lay ecclesial ministers are responding to a great need we have in this diocese for service on a variety of levels. I am very grateful for these men and women for all the time and energy that they have given to their faith formation, and for the ministries they will undertake in the coming months and years."

During the four-year program, the LEMs studied Scripture, Catholic social teaching, morality and spirituality. They also studied topics like people’s different working styles, negotiation and "all of those things we need for getting along with people, and certainly for parish life leadership," said Susan Northway, director of the diocesan Office of Religious Education.

This is the second class of English-speaking LEMs to be certified in the diocese, and the first class of Spanish-speaking LEMs. The 22 people in the English-speaking class had much of their coursework online through Notre Dame University’s Satellite Theological Education Program. The 63 Spanish-speaking LEMs were taught primarily on site by instructors from the Congar Institute, a ministry of the Southern Dominican Provence whose mission is to develop lay ministers in rural dioceses.

The Spanish-speaking program, called Emaus, was underwritten by Catholic Extension. The Congar Institute also provided some educational resources, including presenters, for the English-speaking LEM formation program.

Representatives from both Catholic Extension and the Congar Institute will be honored guests at the Aug. 9 commissioning Mass in the Cathedral of the Madeleine, at which Bishop Wester will preside at the Mass.

The LEM commissioning will be celebrated at the Gala Congar during the evening of Aug. 9 that also will serve as a fundraiser for the Congar Institute. The evening will include reflections from honored guests, a simple dinner and live music, as well as a silent auction.

"We are featuring a group of vintage and antique items that were donated, and many of them have religions connections," Northway said.

Among the items are a 1930s crucifix from Germany made of bronze on rosewood, statues of Saint Martin de Porres and St. Francis, a museum reproduction of a Byzantine icon of the Annunciation from Bulgaria, an icon of Saint Mary Magdalene imported from Greece, a set of four American Indian horsehair pots, various collectable film posters from Cuba and jewelry handmade specifically for the Gala Congar.

WHAT: Gala Congar 2014

WHEN: 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Aug. 9

WHERE: Saint Vincent de Paul Parish’s Holy Family Hall

COST: $40 per person

For information, visit https://www.dioslc.org/events/registration/step1?event=1787 or call the Office of Religions Education 801-328-8641. For Spanish, call the Office of Hispanic Ministry at 801-328-8641.