Lay ministries: The Church counts on you
We are all called. We can all serve.
The mission of the Church is not only for priests. Every baptized faithful has a unique place in the history of salvation. Through their faith, dedication, and commitment, the laity participate in Christ’s mission: priestly, prophetic, and kingly, each according to their gifts and circumstances.
The heart of the lay vocation
Being a layperson does not mean being a spectator. It means taking the faith and living it in daily life. The laity are called to act as light in the world, transforming, from the spirit of Christ,
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politics
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the economy
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culture
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science
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education
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the media
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Above all, family and professional life.
The more lay people permeated with the evangelical spirit there are, the more the world will open itself to the Kingdom of God.
Liturgical ministries and substitutes
Laypeople can participate directly in the life of the Church in many ways. It is not necessary to be a priest to contribute to the liturgy or to pastoral care, always under the guidance of the shepherds.
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Give catechesis
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Preside over liturgical prayers
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Proclaim the Word of God at the Eucharist
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Give Holy Communion when the ministers cannot
These tasks, though important, do not make the layperson a priest. Their legitimacy comes from pastoral authority and their sacramental root is Baptism and Confirmation, not ordination.
Lay ministries: saints in the everyday
Each reader, minister of Communion, catechist, or participant in any lay ministry not only fulfills a function, but is called to be holy in their service.
The true effectiveness of their work does not depend solely on technique or formal compliance, but on a life offered and coherent with the faith. Being a reader or a catechist means preparing the heart, cultivating prayer, and living the Gospel so that every word, every gesture, and every encounter may convey the presence of Christ.
Lay ministry thus becomes a path of personal sanctification: it is not enough to transmit knowledge, distribute the Eucharist, or guide in catechesis if one does not first live one’s own faith with authenticity.
The holiness of the layperson transforms their ministry, making it a light for others and true support for priests. Every act of service, however small it may seem, is a living testimony of God’s love and an example that inspires the whole community.
To be a layperson who serves is to be holy in the ordinary, reflecting the Gospel not only in the function, but in the whole of life.