Catholic Laity in the Mission of the Church
8 October 2015These notes are a summary of the major ideas discussed and the general conclusions drawn from the discussion of the Book
Russell Shaw, Catholic Laity in the Mission of the Church: Living Out Your Lay Vocation. 2nd expanded ed. Seattle: Chartwell Press/CreateSpace, 2014 [ISBN-13: 978-1494996284].
Our group included Sebastine Bulla, Augostine Edan Ekeno and Mike Trimble. Our discussion was very lively and it was impossible to note every idea expressed. The following is a general summary.
The roles of laity as viewed in the African Church versus the American and European Churches is very different. Europe in particular and America to a lesser extent have a history where monasticism has been influential in defining holiness and in the past has affected the view on the role of the laity. Monasticism has not had an impact on Africa as it is almost a hidden life style in the few places it does exist and it has a much shorter history. A second factor which differentiates Europe/America from Africa is the underlying social philosophies. In Europe and America there is a prevalent underlying relativistic philosophy which poisons society in general. Africa is much more a community oriented society where secular relativism is not a prevalent view. Everyone has a role in the community and is expected to do their part. This difference makes it much easier for the laity to see a collaborative role with the hierarchy in Africa.
In the U.S. many Catholics look up on a role in the Liturgy such as extraordinary Eucharistic minister as a proper role and often alleviates them from feeling that they have a role to play in the world. In Africa such a role for the laity is not seen or rarely seen and with their emphasis on the community a role out in the community is much easier to accept. There is a difference in Africa between these roles depending on whether the pastor is a foreign missionary or an indigenous priest. This tension results from the way the parish is financed and the closeness that develops between the community and the pastor. In America when the laity are sent forth from Mass their involvement in the faith often ends till the following Sunday. In Africa the same community lives the faith in their daily life much as America did when it was a rural society. The American Church unlike the Churches in Africa, in many ways lacks a community life as it once had. This is not to say that it is dead, but it lacks a vibrancy.
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| Gathering after Mass, Harare, Zimbabwe |
The laity in Africa are often quite involved especially in large parishes where the people may not see their pastor except for one or two times a month. Lay catechists often conduct Sunday prayer services and hold catechetical sessions or bible studies between the pastor’s visits.
The ideas in the reading assignment are not commonly considered in Africa, just as in the United States the message of Apostolicam Actuositatem and Christifideles Laici have not been disseminated among the laity and possibly among the clergy.
The role of the catechist as a shared vocation with the hierarchy was discussed and there is much in common between the U.S. and Africa. In the Churches in Africa they have many catechists but often they do not have much formal education or formation for their role. In the American Church we have an educated laity and those who generally volunteer do not have any or minimal formation and often ignore the opportunities for formation. In both Churches it is the unqualified attempting instruct the laity as a general condition although there are exceptions where highly qualified catechists are found working in both Churches. The Pentecostals and Evangelical Protestants are often quite successful on both continents in drawing Catholics out of the Church because they are poorly evangelized.
The concept of discernment especially among the laity was one topic that was discussed. Discernment by the laity is a subject not discussed in Africa or America. In Africa discernment of religious vocations often has a communal character to it. Members of the community often may make suggestions to youths in the community which sets a young person to consider a vocation. The youngest son or daughter is often the one that considers a clerical or religious vocation. The eldest son is encouraged to stay at home and maintain the family. One Issue in Africa that we do not have to contend with in the West is the idea that one who does not follow through to ordination or final vows is considered a failure due to the community’s expectations. These individuals while looked upon as failures by their communities are a potential source of trained catechists as they have had more formation than most.
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| Gathering after Mass, Bellflower, California |
In America, discernment is impossible for many due to the amount of noise from radio, television and the ever present electronic devices. Silence is needed for discernment and few ever spend the time separated from the culture to even attempt a self-examination let alone discernment.
One final view that came out of our discussion is that Russel Shaw’s book should be more widely disseminated among the laity. It is easy to ready and discusses ideas of importance to the laity’s role in the Church and makes these ideas accessible without having to read Vatican II documents or papal letters.
Summary by Mike Trimble
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| Russell Shaw, author of Catholic Laity |
