Above: Newly commissioned lay ministers commit to three years of service to the Diocese. Sun photos | Chuck Wainwright
Fifteen men and women commissioned as lay ministers
By Eileen Jevis
Staff writer
On Sunday, Sept. 28, 14 men and women were newly commissioned and one person was recommissioned as lay ministers for the Syracuse Diocese. The lay ministers are from 13 different parishes in the Diocese, representing each vicariate. Four of the men commissioned have been accepted into the Deacon Formation Program. Those who have committed themselves to God and their parish family will use their strong faith and leadership skills in pastoral care, catechesis, youth ministry, and homebound and nursing home ministry, to name a few.
Nichole Kelly, parishioner at Sacred Heart, Cicero accepts certificate from Bishop Lucia. Fr. Christopher Seibt was her sponsor and Dc. Brian Lauri acted as supervisor
Deacon Jeff Dixe, director of adult and ministerial formation, said the common denominator among the candidates is simple. “It’s the willingness to be available and to serve humbly where, how, and to whom the Lord calls them. The formation process is not just a learning process; it is truly the Holy Spirit who forms each candidate,” Dixe added.
Dixe said that the great thing about faith formation ministry is that not only do the ministers provide a solid foundation of the Catholic faith, but they also bring a lot of lived experience that enhances their mission.
Paul Gallagher will serve in pastoral care at St. Bernard Church in Waterville in Oneida County. As a lector for many years, Gallagher was looking for a way to deepen his faith and understanding of scripture. He has served on the parish council and as a Eucharistic Minister. “I was invited to attend a local gathering regarding vocations,” he said. “The more I looked into it, the more I realized it was exactly what I was looking for.
“When I began to read some of the Vatican II documents calling for the empowerment of the laity, this all hit home. I believe that we are on the cusp of a new era in the Church in which much more of our presence is going to be vested in the laity. It will be through them that the saving work of the Church will be extended to those everyday areas that only the laity can reach,” explained Gallagher.
Stephen Hrehor, Our Lady of Sorrows accepts certificate from Bishop Lucia. Fr. Richard Prior acted as sponsor and Dc. Ed Blaine served as supervisor.
Gallagher said he believes it is part of God’s plan and design to carry forth the power of the Gospel outside the walls of our individual parishes and to make the Church present in the affairs and activities of our everyday secular lives.
Wendy Abbe, a parishioner at St. Rose of Lima, was commissioned as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion for the elderly. Her husband, Brian, was accepted into the Diaconate and began the program in August. Wendy decided to go through the program with him. “We have enjoyed many deep discussions as we journeyed through the program together,” she said. “There is such a need for lay ministers at this time, especially in our Diocese, due to the shortage of clergy. The whole people of God are necessary in building the Body of Christ.”
According to census.gov, the U.S. population aged 65 and over grew from 2010 to 2020 at the fastest rate since 1880 to 1890 and reached 55.8 million, a 38.6% increase in just 10 years. Those statistics are part of the reason David Collins, a parishioner at Our Lady of Good Counsel, chose a ministry serving those who are homebound and in nursing homes. “As our population ages, the number of parishioners that are no longer able to physically attend Mass for health reasons will continue to grow,” he said. “These people didn’t leave the Catholic Church, and we need to assure them that the Catholic Church has not left them.”
Collins said that what he finds most gratifying is the look of joy he receives from those he visits. “Their expression of delight for my visit and their gratefulness for receiving the Eucharist make me feel I’ve done something meaningful.”
Newly-commissioned lay minister Ronald Kelly, parishioner of Sacred Heart, Cicero, receives certificate from Bishop Lucia as sponsor Fr. Christopher Seibt and supervisor Dc. Lauri looked on.
For Stacey Kent, a parishioner at Christ the King/Pope John XXIII, the decision to become a faith formation minister is personal. She will serve in the Prayer Shawl Ministry – a group of parishioners that knit, crochet, or collect prayer shawls for those who need comfort due to illness, grieving, or loneliness. In 2019, when Kent’s husband died, she received much support after his passing. However, once the funeral was over, those who supported her needed to get back to their normal lives. “I felt very lost and alone and with no direction,” she said. While she did join a grief support group, Kent said it lacked a faith-based component. “The Holy Spirit nudged me, calling me to journey along with those who have lost loved ones within the faith community. Through the Prayer Shawl Ministry, I have had the opportunity to visit grieving parishioners. Some of those encounters have been very powerful.” Working with Deacon Larry Messina, Kent will be involved in developing a grief ministry program for the two parishes.
In his homily, Bishop Douglas Lucia referred to the day’s Gospel (Luke 10:1-9):
“After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.”
“Jesus is telling us stories about caring for those around us. And so, the challenge of the Word of God, in what we have just heard in the Gospel, is the challenge to not be indifferent,” Bishop said. “The rich man that we heard about in this morning’s Gospel had eyes, but he chose not to see. He had a gate, but he never opened it. His table overflowed, yet he never shared it. He missed his mission. And if the rich man had shared from his abundance, then he would have been enjoying life, both on earth and in heaven.”
Bishop said the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ, calls us to service. “Our talents, our time, our homes, our words, our blessings, our gifts from God, are placed in our hands so that we can be His real presence to others.”
When addressing the congregation, Bishop said, “This commissioning is one where they (lay ministers) will go forth in Jesus’ name to serve their neighbors throughout the diocese. Their commissioning is also a reminder of our own commission at Baptism to let the light of Christ radiate to us. This is something we can do.”
He continued, “No matter our age, finances, health, whether we’ve done formation for ministry or not, or even if we’re stretched for time, what it requires is for us is simply to pay attention to one another.”
