At special Mass, nine lay ecclesial ministers commissioned for service in diocese

IC photo/Marie Mischel

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At the Aug. 12 Mass in the Cathedral of the Madeleine, Bishop Oscar A. Solis blesses the newly commissioned lay ecclesial ministers, who will serve in various ministries in their parishes and the diocese.

SALT LAKE CITY — Bishop Oscar A. Solis commissioned nine lay ecclesial ministers for the diocese during a Mass on Aug. 12 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. Concelebrants were Father Kenneth Vialpando, vicar for clergy; Father Martin Diaz, the cathedral rector; Father Wayne Cavalier, OP, a consultant from the Congar Institute for Ministry Development who assisted with the curriculum of the LEM formation program; and several other priests of the diocese.

The nine women and men who were commissioned completed a four-year formation program that included intellectual, spiritual and human development activities in partnership with the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and the Congar Institute. They will serve in a variety of ministries in their parish or in the diocese.

“My dear friends in Christ, our diocese celebrates with thanksgiving this special blessing from God,” the bishop said in his homily.

He thanked the ministers “for responding to the call of God to be co-workers in the mission of evangelization in our Church; and we thank also the support of their families in their endeavor.”

Noting that every baptized Christian has received a mandate from Christ “to take part in the mission that Christ entrusted to the Church,” the bishop said that in their parishes and the diocese, the faithful are to use “their gifts in leadership roles in a co-responsible manner for the good of the community and to strengthen the Church in her mission in the world.”

Since the diocese began its lay ecclesial formation program almost 20 years ago, five previous cohorts of lay ecclesial ministers, three in English and two in Spanish, have been certified. All these lay women and men “are called to be Christ’s servants of their Church,” Bishop Solis said.

Lay ecclesial ministers “are appointed and authorized by the bishop to work in close collaboration with their pastor and parish leaders for the mission of the Church,” he said, adding that the ministers are “missionary disciples of Christ” who are called “to service and sacrifice for the love of God and of others.”

Addressing the ministers, the bishop said their years of study and formation “have made you ready to assume the sacred responsibility to be servants and leaders of our Church in our local parishes,” and he admonished them to remember to serve with humility and fidelity.

Closing out his homily, the bishop asked the ministers to “go and share the blessings that you have received with others, always mindful of the words of Christ in the Gospel as your guide and to remember the mission for which you were called and sent.”

Following the homily, each of the lay ecclesial ministers was called forward individually by name. Once they all were lined up at the altar, they affirmed that they would be of service to the people of God and that they intended to put their gifts into the service of the Church, in collaboration with others. The bishop then prayed for them and blessed them.  

The newly commissioned lay ecclesial ministers are Michelle Beasley, Blessed Sacrament Parish; Bill Bonn, St. Olaf Parish; Todd Bowen, St. Francis of Assisi Parish; Layne Carver, St. James the Just Parish; Nell Cline, St. James the Just Parish; Monica Howa-Johnson, St. Martin de Porres Parish; Greg Lupus, St. Francis of Assisi Parish; MaryJane Morris, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (Salt Lake City); and Heather Peterson Schaefer, St. James the Just Parish.

 The diocesan Lay Ecclesial Ministry Formation Program is starting a new cohort. Applications are available online at www.dioslc.org. Call 801-328-8641 ext. 326 or email Susan.Northway@dioslc.org for details.