Bishop Caggiano greets some of the newly commissioned pastoral ministers.

It just may be the most significant program currently being conducted by the Diocese.

The Pastoral Institute’s Lay Leadership Formation for Ministry Program held its commissioning ceremony the other evening. One hundred and thirteen men and women from 41 parishes in Brooklyn and Queens were issued certificates upon completion of the two-year course that prepares them for taking leadership roles in their parishes.

Bishop Frank Caggiano was the celebrant of the Mass at which these new leaders were sent forth. He called the evening “a celebration of lay leadership.”

He told the 650 people gathered in the chapel at Immaculate Conception Pastoral Center, Douglaston, that the giving of one’s self is at the heart of pastoral ministry.

“When we give, when we offer, when we stand up for the Lord – even when the world does not want to hear it – we are ministering in the name of the Lord Jesus,” he said.

Sister Angela Gannon, CSJ, director of the Pastoral Institute, points out that these students are training for volunteer ministries, not paid professional staff positions.

For the past two years, they have been studying topics such as Theology of Lay Ministry, Theology of the Church, Sacred Scripture, Liturgy and the Sacraments, Moral Theology, and Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue.

Twice a week, they attended classes at one of six sites: Immaculate Conception Pastoral Center; Our Lady Help of Christians, Midwood; SS. Peter and Paul Spirituality Center, Brooklyn; Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Jamaica; Blessed Sacrament, Jackson Heights; and St. Bartholomew’s, Elmhurst.

They will serve their parishes in such roles as bereavement ministers, ministers of hospitality, helping prepare couples for marriage, RCIA teams, and adult faith formation instructors.

“This is the biggest group that we have had because we folded the English-speaking and the Spanish-speaking tracts together,” explained Sister Angela. “It’s the seventh commissioning that we have held. Over the years, we have trained more than 500 people.”

Sister Angela is cautious to point out that these parishioners are not meant to take the place of parish staff members but to assist them in their parish work.

She points out that the new graduates come from a variety of backgrounds including public and Catholic school teachers, social workers, laborers, and skilled professionals. Some have high school diplomas and others possess doctorates.

Many from the group will go on to study for their master’s in ministry at St. John’s University. Also a large number have enrolled in a third year of training that includes practical applications of their new skills.

Of course, like everything else, this program costs money. A generous donation from the Diocese’s Alive in Hope Foundation has made it all possible.

Sister Angela suggests that just about every parish in the diocese has sent someone to this program over the years. Still, she hopes for even more enrollments as word of mouth spreads about the good that it has done.

Instructors in the program include current and past seminary instructors, Chancery officials, and religious education personnel that include priests, sisters, brothers and lay people.

Bishop Caggiano sent forth the group by encouraging its members: “Because of the great gift of the living Spirit of God, ordinary people, like you and like me, will do wonderful things in His name.”