Lay Ministry, Chaplaincy & Parish Social Ministry
Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Lay Ministry Office do? Basically, we help develop ministry and service to lay people, those who are baptized, have responsibilities to the Church and participate in the Church’s mission.

• By offering formation opportunities, we prepare lay people for service in the parish.
• We assist pastors in selecting, training, mentoring and co-ordinating lay volunteers.
• We support lay pastoral assistants.

What concrete things can you do for us around Pastoral Council training? We could assist your Pastoral Council to envision the needs for ministry in the parish and identify methods to facilitate meeting these needs. During this process, the mission and vision of the parish may come into sharper focus and leadership styles and skills may be enhanced.

I have lots of parish volunteer experience and I am theologically educated. I want to work in a parish setting. Can you help me to find a job? We are not a job-placement agency but we can review your resume and help you to locate pastors who may be interested in hiring a lay pastoral assistant.

My elderly mother has been a faithful, practising Catholic and is now in a seniors’ residence. She would like to receive Holy Communion at least every week. Who will be able to give it to her? Usually the local Parish has already in place, Eucharistic Ministers who take Holy Communion to elderly or shut-in Parishioners. Families are encouraged to contact their local parish.

I am a Catholic and have done my training to be a Chaplain. Does the Office of Lay Ministry have any jobs for me as a Chaplain? The Office of Lay Ministry seeks opportunities to work along with Healthcare Institutions and Correctional Facilities as part-employers. If and when such Institutions or Facilities are prepared to contract with us on agreeable terms, only then would such job opportunities occur. It is advisable to look up the CAPPE website for Job Opportunities (www.cappe.org). We will fulfil the endorsement requirement of CAPPE when you apply for a job and after you meet with the Endorsement Committee of this Office.

What are the steps to start Parish Social Ministry in the parish? The Pastor first contacts the facilitator of Parish Social Ministry in the region or Zone. The regional facilitator will provide you with further information about the ministry through the parish bulletin, open gatherings and other sources available in the parish. The ministry is coordinated within the parish by a person or a team which would be established from the start.

Is there a training program for the volunteers? The regional parish social ministry facilitators are prepared to offer training to those interested in being Ministers of Care. The training is based in the Scriptures and the Social Teaching of the Church and includes faith development, personal growth and skills development. To respond to the needs of the parish, the training is offered in a variety of models: 4 Saturdays, or 8 sessions once a week, regular workshops etc. In dialogue with the facilitator, the pastor will decide what is best for the parish.

What supports are available to the parish as PSM starts?  Is there ongoing support? The office of Lay Ministry is committed to ensure support to the parishes through the Regional Facilitators. Support and mentoring are done on a regular basis. The facilitator will:

• help the parish assess the social needs of the community and help them to respond with the participation of the ministers of care that have been trained.
• open possibilities to network with Catholic agencies and other services available.
• offer workshops of renewal and formation for those involved in social ministry.
• respond to the particular requests of each parish in forwarding the social mission of the church.
• provide ongoing information about writing materials, videos, conferences and other resources relevant to the ministry.