To assist lay people to come to the fullness of their vocation
"...the mandate to evangelize does not only concern a few but rather all of the baptized. Too many of the baptized do not feel part of the ecclesial community and live on its margins, only coming to parishes in certain circumstances to receive religious services. Compared to the number of inhabitants in each parish, the lay people who are ready to work in the various apostolic fields, although they profess to be Catholic, are still few and far between.
Opening of the Pastoral Convention of the Diocese of Rome on the Theme: "Church Membership and Pastoral Co-Responsibility"
- ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI ,
Basilica of Saint John Lateran -
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
To provide systematic faith formation
to help people understand their Catholic faith a little more clearly,
and to live it a little more eagerly.
“…we must renew our efforts for a formation which is more attentive and focused on the vision of the Church, of which I spoke and this should be both on the part of priests as well as of religious and lay people to understand ever better what this Church is, this People of God in the Body of Christ. “
Ibid.
To assist parishes to nurture the faith formation of adults,
affording them an understanding of what the Church teaches and a
vocabulary with which to explain their faith and reach out to others.
“…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. This common awareness of being Church of all the baptized in no way diminishes the responsibility of parish priests…to nurture the spiritual and apostolic growth of those who are already committed to working hard in the parishes. They form the core of the community that will act as a leaven for the others.”
Ibid.