At the beginning of his ministry, the Lord Jesus called forth the apostles and disciples to lead others and to live out the message of God's love, mercy, forgiveness and salvation. As a people marked by mission, the apostles went out and brought about the good news (salvation) of Jesus to the world. “The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew.” (Evangelii Gaudium, #1).

In the Gospels, Jesus calls the apostles, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. (Mk 1:17,18). He reminds them of the Conditions of Discipleship. “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Mt 16:24).

The call to build up the Kingdom of God in the world is exemplified best by the Parable of the Vineyard Laborers told by the Lord Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew (20:1-16). The owner of the vineyard goes out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard and he promises them just pay (one denarius for a day’s work). But realizing the work will not be completed by day’s end, he goes out again at the sixth hour, then again at the ninth hour and finally at the eleventh hour with the pointed question, "Why have you been standing here idle all day?"

Thus the owner challenges the workers and then invites more to join in: "You, too, go into the vineyard." In reality, the parable emphasizes that there is a place for all of God's people in the vineyard, which is the Kingdom of God in the world.

Today, in particular the laity (non-ordained) in collaboration with the ordained clergy (bishops, priests, deacons) are called by the Lord, the owner of the vineyard, to go out to the world and labor, not to waste time and sit idle. Jesus reminds us in the parable of God’s generosity in that the workers hired late received the same pay as those who started working early in the day.

There is plenty of work to be done in the vineyard of the Church as the laity assume their active role fulfilling their vocation and participating in the mission and the life of the Catholic Church.

The Second Vatican Council Fathers' call The Apostolate of the Laity “a sharing in the salvific mission of the Church.” Through their baptism and confirmation, all are appointed by the Lord himself to participate in this mission (see Lumen Gentium, 33). All Catholics are called to a greater participation in the mission of the Church. All the more reason that we make every effort to provide adequate formation of the laity so that they are better prepared to offer their gifts in the service of the Church.

The three-year Lay Ministry Formation Program offered by the Diocese of Brownville through the San Juan Diego Ministry Institute is designed to prepare individuals for roles of service in their respective parishes and help them enhance and expand their pastoral skills and knowledge of the faith. “The fundamental objective of the formation of the lay faithful is an ever-clearer discovery of one's vocation and the ever-greater willingness to live so as to fulfill one's mission.” (Christifideles Laici, 58).”

The document Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord: A Resource for Guiding the Development of Lay Ecclesial Ministry published in 2005 and revised in 2015 by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops defines what lay ecclesial ministry is.

The term lay ecclesial ministry reflects certain key realities. Lay ecclesial ministry is lay because it is service done by lay persons. The sacramental basis is the sacraments of Initiation, not the sacrament of ordination; ecclesial because it has a place within the community of the Church, whose communion and mission it serves, and because it is submitted to the discernment, authorization, and supervision of the hierarchy; and ministry because it is the work by which Christians participate in the threefold ministry of Christ, who is priest, prophet, and king and continue his mission and ministry in the world. (Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord, 10-11).

Following the Second Vatican Council, more of the laity began to step forward understanding more fully that they are called and gifted for the lay apostolate sharing in Christ’s priesthood through the sacrament of baptism.

As we continue to enhance the calling and acknowledge the presence of laity it will be a matter of nurturing, equipping and integrating their dedication and service into the life of the Church.

May we affirm and recognize our lay ecclesial ministers and give thanks and praise to the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ for the tremendous blessing and gift they are to the Church.