Bishop Solis commissions 70 lay ecclesial ministers for local Church
SALT LAKE CITY — Seventy men and women from the Diocese of Salt Lake City were certified as lay ecclesial ministers during an Aug. 17 Mass at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, with Bishop Oscar A. Solis presiding. Of the 70, 13 had completed the four-year LEM program in English and 57 had gone through the Spanish-speaking program, known as Emaús.
Concelebrating the Mass were Msgr. Colin F. Bircumshaw, vicar general; Fr. Martin Diaz, rector of the cathedral; Fr. Kenneth Vialpando, vicar for clergy; Dominican Fr. Wayne Cavalier, director of the Congar Institute for Ministry Development, which provides resources for the diocesan LEM program; Fr. Gustavo Vidal, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish; Fr. Francisco Pires, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish; Fr. Joseph Delka, parochial vicar at the cathedral; and Paulist Fr. Evan Cummings, whose mother was being certified.
Deacon Guillermo Mendez was Deacon of the Mass. Deacon George Reade served as chaplain.
The celebration was a special day of joy and thanksgiving, Bishop Solis said in his homily. He made his comments in English and in Spanish.
God has blessed the diocese with the lay ecclesial ministers, men and women who undertook four years of prayer and study to grow in knowledge and wisdom to prepare themselves to be active in the pastoral structure of the diocese, Bishop Solis said. “They will be sent out as formed pastoral ministers of our local Church.”
The Diocese of Salt Lake City has few priests and vowed religious to serve the roughly 300,000 Catholics who attend the 69 parishes, missions and stations scattered throughout Utah, Bishop Solis said. Despite the limited resources available to carry out the mission of Christ in the state, “the Catholic population is increasing, and there is much work to be done in preaching the Gospel in all corners of our state. But thank God for the gift of the laity in our lay ecclesial ministry program.”
Over the past 12 years, five cohorts of lay ecclesial ministers, three in English and two in Spanish, have been trained as “lay pastoral workers who are committed and equal partners in the mission of evangelization,” the bishop said.
Speaking to those about to be commissioned, Bishop Solis said, “My dear friends, the Holy Spirit is leading you to be beacons of faith, hope and love in our diocese and in the world. Your responsibility as lay ecclesial ministers is to remember that it is not your personal agenda, but it is the mission of Christ. You don’t have to rely solely on your ability and knowledge, because the Holy Spirit is upon you, to be the source of your inspiration and power. I hope this divine plan finds fulfillment in your own life and ministry.”
Encouraging them to carry out their pastoral responsibilities with great conviction, enthusiasm and joy, the bishop cautioned them that “your ministry must be rooted in prayer, anchored in Gospel teachings and guided by the Holy Spirit. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you deeper into a life of service and ministry in Christ’s ways. Yes, you do not have the same gifts and/or abilities, but remember we have one and the same mission: the mission of Christ. Like the disciples, you will experience challenges, setbacks, trials and difficulties. However, do not be afraid. Have faith in God, and confidence in his providence. Always cling to the Lord so that you will never feel that you are alone in your mission. The Holy Spirit will inspire you, always guide you and give you power for the agents of change and the conversion of hearts.”
He added, “My dear friends, the Lord needs today the kind of leaders and ministers that can speak with courage, act with faith and stand up for the truth in moral teachings of the Church.”
As he concluded his homily, the bishop congratulated the new lay ecclesial ministers, wished them joy in their ministry and thanked them for their generosity and their willingness to serve the local Church. “May everything that you do help us fulfill the mission of God entrusted to us, and may God lead you always as you proclaim the Gospel to all people,” he said.
During the Mass, the lay ecclesial minister candidates offered themselves in service to the People of God. After their promise of service, Bishop Solis prayed over them, asking the Holy Spirit to bless and guide them.
After the Mass, the newly certified lay ecclesial ministers expressed joy at their achievement.
Becoming certified was a blessing, said Carmen Coronado, a parishioner at Saint Mary Church in West Heaven.
“I have been serving in my parish for 30 years and this is a huge enrichment,” she said in Spanish. “To be able to keep learning is a continuation of a beautiful mission of serving that, despite the challenges, the rewards are great.”
Her fellow parishioner Gina Medina, who went through the English-speaking program, also has been active in parish ministry for many years. The LEM classes taught her “invaluable information” about many aspects of the Church, she said, and she hopes to use what she has learned to evangelize.
David Cooper, who participates in the Davis County jail ministry and has several ministries at Holy Family Parish in Ogden, said when he received the certificate he looked back on the past four years and “it was amazing … how much I’ve grown. … I’ve grown a lot in my spiritual life,” he said.
With the certification, he will begin working with those inquiring about the faith through his parish’s RCIA program, he said. “Spiritually, I think I can help them understand the Church and help bring them in. The program’s probably taught me to do it in the right manner and a gentle manner and an inviting manner so that everybody is welcome.”
For Eduardo and Elizabeth Perez of St. Andrew Parish in Riverton, the certification as lay ecclesial ministers through the Emaús program filled them with joy.
“This is a great responsibility and commitment; as disciple missionaries we have to work harder and evangelize harder,” Eduardo Perez said.
“It’s a dream come true,” Elizabeth added. “We are committed through God and through our Church, to serve all the People of God.”
The next LEM cohort in English has already been formed and will start classes on Aug. 31. Plans have not yet been made for the next Emaús cohort.
Laura Vallejo contributed to this story.
© Copyright 2024 The Diocese of Salt Lake City. All rights reserved.
Stay Connected With Us