Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   LOCAL FEATURES Friday, August 16, 2002 Lay Ministry Formation program attracting new audience More men and more young Catholics are seeking formation in the Faith By Susan K. Virgalitte Sue Gronow wanted to teach her five children more about their Catholic faith. She decided that in order to do that, she needed a “refresher” course in the faith herself. The Diocese of Youngstown’s Lay Ministry Formation classes were the answer to her need. After attending classes during the 2000-2001 year, Mrs. Gronow feels more knowledgeable and confident about sharing her faith. “I learned a lot of things I just wasn’t aware of,” she said. She also finds herself reading her Bible a lot more these days. “I think it impacted me a lot. My friends see it,” she said. Mrs. Gronow’s excitement about the program was contagious. She inspired her husband, Steve, a Lutheran, to take the Track I course last fall. He attended with two of the couple’s neighbors. The three men were just as excited about the course. “Class would be over at 9:30, and they would get home on time,” Mrs. Gronow said, “but they would sit in one of the driveways for an extra hour discussing the class.” The experience was such a positive one, the Gronows decided to sign up for a Track II class together on marriage and family this fall. In addition, the whole family, including the couple’s five children, will join a F.I.R.E. group in the fall. (F.I.R.E. is an acronym for Family Intergenerational Religious Education, and involves groups of families who study together). Lynn Kondas took Lay Ministry classes to help her with her new job as coordinator of Youth Ministry at Boardman St. Charles Parish. Like many lay people who work in the Church, she started as a volunteer, working with teens on the parish’s “Celebrate” weekend retreats. Then she was asked to take over the coordinator’s job when her predecessor left. “I have so much hands-on experience [with youth],” she said. “I could do the job, but I needed the education.” Mrs. Kondas had been working on her religious education certification by attending workshops, but going back to college for a theology degree was not a practical solution. She completed the Track I program last year and plans to attend the Track II program on youth ministry this fall. “I feel like I am working on my spirituality constantly, but this was a new way to be working on it,” Mrs. Kondas said. “It was the first time I attended anything that long-term. It’s a good program. It made me want to go on and do more.” Mrs. Kondas and the Gronows, all in their 30s, are part of a new trend in the diocese’s Lay Ministry Formation program, according to director Eileen Novotny. She said that when the program first began in 1995, there seemed to be a “pent-up” need among older Catholics for information. Many of the first attendees, she said, were retirees, “people who had experienced very personally the changes of Vatican II.” Now there has been a shift in Lay Ministry course participants. “Last year, it was most noticeable. A lot of people in their 30s and 40s and some in their 20s attended. These individuals have no lived experience or memory of the pre-Vatican II Church. The Church of the third millenium and, most noticeably, the changes in the liturgy, is their experience of the Church.” This new generation of Catholics often do not have a parochial school education and are hungry for knowledge about the Church, Mrs. Novotny said. “They are very faithful people who are seeking more theology and more background. They have a great interest in Scripture and Church history.” She added that today’s Lay Ministry Formation participants usually have a very positive relationship with their parish and pastors, but they “are hungry for some kind of adult formation. There is not enough of that out there for people.” Another new trend is that more and more men and college students are signing up for the classes. Last year the Stark County classes were divided 50-50 between men and women. “Too often people think it is only women who are involved,” Mrs. Novotny said. “This program attracts both men and women. Frequently, married couples take it together.” College students are also signing up for the classes in addition to their college classes. “I really admire them for fitting this in,” Mrs. Novotny said. “They are very focused on their preparation for a career, but very much interested in learning about the Catholic Church.” Last year, the program had representatives from 35 of the diocese’s 116 parishes. There were 73 participants in the Track I program and 83 in the more specialized courses of Track II. “This program has had a great impact on parish life,” Mrs. Novotny said. “Each year, it’s a little larger. I think that reflects peoples’ positive experiences. They go and tell other people. There is a respect for us among people who work in the parishes who refer parishioners to the program.” Mrs. Novotny said that the Church is going to see a big change in those who serve in parish positions, with more and more positions being filled by lay people. “We don’t have enough people coming up to fill those positions,” she said. The diocese is fortunate that Walsh University in North Canton and Ursuline and Notre Dame colleges in Cleveland all have Pastoral Ministry and Theology programs. “We are starting to experience young people who intentionally major in Theology and Pastoral Ministry. That is a new phenomenon in the Church. At the moment, many of our parish ministers are people for whom this is a second career.” Lay people who work in the Church, like those called to the priesthood and religious life, feel called to a vocation as lay ecclesial ministers. “The people who go through the Lay Ministry program live out their faith everyday,” Mrs. Novotny said. “But there is another group that does that, but they also see that they are called to work for the Church as ecclesial ministers. Parishes are coming to an appreciation that, if we want well-educated, prepared people, parishes have to be willing to support these individuals. Almost across the board, where parishes have had the benefit of a committed, theologically prepared, skilled pastoral minister or director of religious education, there is no problem with finances because people support them.” All Lay Ministry Formation classes for this fall are still open; however, some are almost full. Track I classes are held on Mondays at The Ursuline Center, Canfield; on Wednesdays at Louisville St. Louis Parish; and on Thursdays at Ashtabula Mother of Sorrows Parish. All Track I classes will begin the week of Sept. 9. All participants must also attend the opening session 9 a.m.-to 3 p.m. Sept. 7 at The Ursuline Center. Track II courses, which are specialized ministry courses, are held the same evenings and places as Track I courses; however, they sometimes begin later in the fall and they do not meet every evening that Track I courses meet. Priority is given to those who have completed Track I. Track II courses being offered this fall are as follows: —Three courses will be offered Mondays at the Ursuline Center, Canfield: “Ministering to/with Adults—Formation and Catechesis,” “Moral Living for Today’s Catholic,” and “Youth Ministry Leadership Formation.” —Two courses will be offered Wednesdays at Louisville St. Louis Parish: “Skills for Effective Leadership” and “Enriching Married and Family Life.” —One course will be offered Thursdays at Ashtabula Mother of Sorrows Parish: “New Testament Themes for 21st Century Disciples.” —In addition, Warren Blessed Sacrament Parish will be the site of an additional Track II course in Church History on Thursday nights starting Sept. 12, “The Church in America: A New Venture in Catholicism.” Interested parties should contact Mrs. Novotny at the Diocese of Youngstown Office of Lay Ministry Formation and ask for a registration packet at 330-744-8451 ext. 272; or e-mail the office at enovotny@youngstowndiocese.org.   Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   Other Articles of 2002   Christmas letter from El Salvador missions thanks diocesan Catholics   Bishop shares views, discussion with Central students   ETC slates Christmas specials throughout the season   My Favorite Christmas Memories   Guidelines on religious ed homeschooling are issued   Local Catholic radio station targets Feb. 1 date   HMs end 98-years of service to Salem St. Paul Parish   Learn ‘language’ of young, youth meet speaker urges   Bishop Tobin: Meeting in D.C. on norms was ‘anxious, tense, difficult’   Priests must ask one another the tough questions, speaker says   Catholic death and funeral rites   Deacons mark 25th with Mass, dinner, memories   Diocesan Ministry Convocation Speaker: Global solidarity, not globalization, should be aim   Jusseaume inaugurated as sixth Walsh president   Diaconate marks 25th anniversary with Oct. 27 fete   New norms sent to priests, deacons on Communion under both kinds   Ashtabula parishes are ‘one Catholic community’   Jusseaume to become Walsh’s sixth president   Charismatic speaker: ‘Church being tested in faithfulness’   Lutheran/Catholic covenant event draws 140 to Walsh   Canton St. Joseph Parish observes centennial celebration   HMHP CEO Michael Rowan   Stewardship speaker: It’s about gratitude and thanking God first   Imagination is key to resolving crisis, priests told   War with Iraq? Expo readers opposed by 81-19%   Newspaper columns didn’t give complete story, official says   Diocesan Ministry Convocation set Oct. 26 at YSU’s Kilcawley   New year brings new faculty, changes at diocesan high schools   Mont St. Michel, Avignon’s papal palace are treasures   Preparing for the priesthood   Entering well-earned retirement, Sr. Marcella’s not slowing down   Warren St. Mary observes 100th year for church building   Lay Ministry Formation program attracting new audience   The cathedrals of France: Monuments of faith in stone   Executive summary of the ad hoc commission on athletics in diocesan high schools   ‘No widespread abuse’ found   Milburn leaving pro-life post to pursue grad studies   Return to France yields history, memories, surprises   Two new members appointed for Diocesan Finance Council   Former SS. C&M school razed, but memories remain   Pastor, 80, keeps busy with ‘lots of interests’   Ravenna IC boasts 5 high school valedictorians for ‘02   Humility Sister Sandy Pedone to profess perpetual vows July 21   NRLC convention filled with good news   ‘Capture the Romance’ is theme for NFP Week   Question of moral evil discussed at Walsh symposium   Notre Dame Sisters will celebrate jubilees July 14   ‘A great lady’ retires   Statement of Bishop Tobin on the meeting of the U. S. Conference   Haladej, Celuch ordained to priesthood, diaconate in Slovakia   Bishop plans implementation of norms on sexual abuse   Kevin McCaffrey, Robert Miller are newest priests   Theologian: ‘Behave toward others as though God were there’   Fr. Bonnot: Use good judgment for TV, movie viewing   MOMS: ‘A place to claim yourself’   Storm ‘changed lives forever’ for Jackson Twp. family   Bishop will ordain Miller, McCaffrey at May 25 ceremony   Update on child abuse   Vicar general addresses issue of not giving priest names to media   New Middletown St. Paul youth — called to be ‘witnesses’ for Christ   New Ursuline Sisters leadership team elected to 6-year term   Two receive first pastorates; two pastors change parishes   Abuse coverage   Walsh University dedicates new ‘David’ campus center   Sisters’ HIV/AIDS ministry critical, heartbreaking   Bishop visits St. Peter’s as rebuilding process begins   Chrism Mass theme: Priests can’t afford discouragement   Bishop’s Appeal stresses meeting needs, funding ministries   Diocese OKs closing Conneaut St. Frances Cabrini K-8; preschool stays   St. Stan’s marks 100th year   Canton St. Joseph choir enjoys ‘incredible trip’   New schools superintendent   Four journeys of faith among hundreds marked here   DPC considers direction, importance of youth ministry   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Pro-life dinner heralds new beginning in Stark County   Kids at church   Religious day studies resurrection amid culture of violence   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Keynoter: Eucharist should change us   Speaker: ‘Truth’ key concept in Gospel of John   Parishes offer Lenten missions for spiritual enrichment   Parishes offer Lenten missions, speakers series   Working in Medjugorje   TV anchorman finds faith not incompatible with journalism   Action alert on cloning set in diocese for Feb. 2-3   Austintown parishioner finds fulfillment in El Salvador   ‘Where Faith and Knowledge Meet’   Resisting TEMPTATION: It’s worth the effort, teens say   4th annual Diocesan Pro-life Mass set Jan. 26   Catholic/Lutheran dialogue, death of Walsh president top news   Diocese helping Afghanistan relief   Past Articles From 2001