85 commissioned as lay ecclesial ministers

Friday, Aug. 15, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — In a day of celebration that began with a solemn Mass and ended with a dance, the Diocese of Salt Lake City honored 85 men and women who spent the last four years studying to become lay leaders.

“I can’t begin to say how grateful we all are to you for responding to this call of Christ Jesus to be leaders in our community,” the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, told those gathered in the Cathedral of the Madeleine for the Aug. 9 Mass at which the new lay ecclesial ministers (LEMs) were commissioned. 

The Mass was concelebrated by Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw, vicar general; Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, vicar general emeritus; Father Martin Diaz, pastor of the Cathedral of the Madeleine; other priests of the diocese; and Dominican Father Wayne Cavalier and Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate Father Ray John Marek, both from the Congar Institute in Texas, which develops Catholic lay leaders.

Lectors at the Mass were Thomas Cummings of the University of Notre Dame, which provided much of the study material for the diocesan lay ecclesial ministry program; and Joseph Boland of the Catholic Church Extension Society, which provided a grant for the Spanish-speaking LEM program, called Emmaus. There were 22 people in the English LEM program and 63 in the Spanish equivalent. Each group studied Scripture, Catholic social teaching, morality, spirituality and leadership skills to prepare them to take different roles in their parishes and the diocese. 

In his homily, Bishop Wester congratulated those who were to be commissioned, thanking them for their hard work and sacrifices.

“Now, having built you up, may I be the first to pull the rug out from under you, and say that we’re not celebrating you per se, we are celebrating the Church,” he added, to laughter from the congregation. “We are celebrating Christ’s call in your lives and your generous response, which was made possible by Christ. The focus is on Jesus, who does the calling. It is his incredible love that prepares your heart to say ‘yes.’”

As lay ecclesial ministers, they will be recognized as leaders, the bishop said, but “this recognition doesn’t set you apart but rather it draws you in more closely to the people of God, to the Church, to the Body of Christ, so that you can be even more united to those you are called to serve.”

Bishop Wester also encouraged them to pray constantly, center themselves on Christ, join in the life of their parish and participate in the sacraments “so that you can make an acceptable sacrifice to the Lord and be true servants to your sisters and brothers. Remember that this is not ultimately about you and me, it is about Christ, and unless we remain in him and he in us, our ministries will not be effective and may become only self-serving.”

Several hours after the Mass, each of the LEMs was presented with an Yves Congar Award at a gala at Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. 

“As I look into your faces it’s very clear to me that our Lord is smiling broadly, and that he is saying ‘I am here. I am with you,’” Bishop Wester told those gathered for the celebration.

Fr. Cavalier also congratulated the newly commissioned LEMs, lauding them for their hard work, commitment and courage to respond to God’s call. “I believe [courage] is borne of faith; faith in the God of mercy, faith in a God who can best be described as love,” he said. “And it is faith married to courage that shines forth as the quintessential Christian virtue that we have to offer to the world today: the virtue of hope.”

Applications are being accepted for the next lay ecclesial ministry formation program. Call the Office of Religious Education or the Office of Hispanic Ministry at 801-328-8641.