THE LAITY

 

THE LAY PERSON’S ROLE

 AND PRIORITIES IN SOCIETY

 

Pope Paul VI,  Evangelii nuntiandi,

Chapter VI, especially n.70.

 

Cardinal Daneels,

L’humanite de Dieu, p.60.

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LAY PERSON’S PRIORITIES

 

§Family.

 

§Work (school/ workplace).

 

§Secular society.

 

§Church community.

 

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                                                 JESUS, THE CHURCH,

                                                AND THE CHRISTIAN:

 

§                                        Jesus is the person sent by God.

 

§                                        The Church is sent by God.

 

§                                        Every Christian is sent by God.

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                                                   EVANGELIZERS (1):

 

                                                         All Christians:

 

§                            by baptism

§                            ministers of the Gospel

 

                                                             The laity:

 

§                            primary and immediate task:

§                            be active as Christians,

            present in secular realities,

§                            directing them towards

            the Kingdom of God

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                                                   EVANGELIZERS (2):

 

                                                              Families:

 

§                            in which the Gospel

            is transmitted (evangelized)

§                            from which the Gospel

            radiates (evangelize)

 

                                                                Youth:

 

§                            apostles of youth

§                            stress a positive approach to live

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                                                   COOPERATION

                                   BETWEEN THE LAITY

                                      AND THE CLERGY

 

§                                           Different lay ministries.

§                                           Respect for unity.

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                                           CATEGORIES OF MINISTRY

 

§                                                    of the Word.

 

§                                                    of the Church community.

 

§                                                    of the Church’s social services.

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                                                           TRAINING

 

§                                        Serious preparation needed.

 

§                                        Necessary for ministry of the Word.

 

§                                        Diocesan training programme.

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                                                FALSE EXPECTATIONS

 

§                                        All to belong to a parish organization.

 

§                                        Not the Pope’s expectation.

 

§                                        Opportunity not open to all.

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                                                   COOPERATION

                                       BETWEEN LAITY

                                        AND RELIGIOUS

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                                               LAY EXPECTATIONS (1):

 

                                           Vital and reciprocal communion:

 

§                formation in spirituality

§                guard traditions

§                regain community

§                directed to Kingdom of God

§                keep updated

§                grow out of paternalism

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                                               LAY EXPECTATIONS (2):

 

                                               At the level of association:

 

§                learn about lay associations

§                help them to be significant

§                give them spiritual assistance

§                do courses of renewal

§                relate with laity as equals

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                                               LAY EXPECTATIONS (3):

 

                                                           At all levels:

                       

§                create mixed organisms

§                consecration of religious

§                professionalism of laity