September 24, 2014

By Deacon Patrick Donahue
Program coordinator, Formation for Ministry

The Bishops Fund’s support of the Formation for Ministry program is critically important toward ensuring that our parishes have the capacity to serve their faith communities.

Ministry is the human embodiment of the gospel message which encourages, nurtures and sustains the mission of Jesus Christ. By its very essence, ministry becomes shaped through the willingness of the faithful to share their gifts that are given by the Holy Spirit. 

Thus, the Formation for Ministry program becomes essential program for those lay persons seeking a more active role in their Church and discerning what an appropriate ministry role should be.

The current cycle of the Formation for Ministry program is in the second year of a two year formation program.  During this second year the programs 80 candidates, from the three program sites in Morrisonville, Watertown and Massena, will select their area of ministry and begin honing particular skills that will enable each layperson to serve in effective roles in their parishes. In the current year of the program that resumed Sept. 8, there is a greater emphasis on practical experience as candidates enter into ministry agreements in their respective parishes and actually become active in ministry. In addition to course work and ministry practicum, all candidates will be expected to attend several workshops in addition to their normal classes of instruction that will provide skill building opportunities.

Commissioned lay ministers can now be found with increased prevalence, across the Diocese of Ogdensburg not only serving parishes, but also in schools, social agencies, and hospitals.

The Formation for Ministry program seeks a balanced approach to lay ministry formation that includes academic, spiritual, and emotional development.  Once commissioned in June 2015, these lay ministers will bring their giftedness into the service of others in programs of parish outreach, family ministry, youth ministry, catecheticalministry and liturgical ministry. 

Following their commissioning by Bishop LaValley new lay ministers are expected to participate in continuing spiritual development and formation through one of the regional associations who provide frequent opportunity for retreats and spiritual reflection.

Janet and Cab Burns of St. Mary’s Parish in Clayton are pictured after their 2013 commissioning as lay ministers at St. Mary’s Cathedral. The Burns offered a testimony about their experience in the Formation for Ministry program in this year’s Bishop’s Fund video.