The Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin is inviting 30 people ‘with the courage’ to step forward and answer what it describes as ‘an important call to service’.
The Lay Pastoral Ministers programme, which is a two-year Level 7 Diploma course, prepares people to undertake significant roles within their parishes and pastoral areas.
The part-time lessons will be held over six weekends a year in Mount St Anne’s in Killenard, Co. Laois.
And while the course is free, successful candidates will be expected to volunteer for up to four years within the diocese, which includes Carlow and parts of Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Kilkenny, Wicklow and Wexford.
Those interested in applying are required to be fluent in English and be devout Catholics. Bishop Denis Nulty said: ‘We are committed to empowering lay leaders within our diocese.’
‘This training will provide the necessary tools and knowledge for lay pastoral ministers to contribute meaningfully to our parish communities.’
‘The role of laypeople in our Church is crucial to ensure we invigorate faith in our communities. This is an exciting and important opportunity for people who want to explore their faith on a deeper level and be part of the future of our Church,’ he said.
‘I keep meeting people who tell me “I’d love to be more involved in my parish, I don’t know what to do”.’
‘This is a unique opportunity to deepen your faith and make a tangible impact within your parish community.’
‘Even if you are unsure of what to expect, we welcome everybody to come along and we will be happy to engage and answer questions,’ he said.
The programme’s organisers are particularly interested in attracting people who would like to take on administration or financial roles within the diocese which they say are very much in demand.
The programme has been developed in partnership with St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth, and Mount Saint Anne’s Conference and Retreat Centre.
Patrick Roche, director of parish development, told the Irish Daily Mail that a pastoral role is everything in a parish that a priest doesn’t do.
‘We have far fewer priests and an ageing priest population so it’s not practical for them to carry out every task within their parish.’
Offering lay pastoral roles also allows people to engage in their Church at a level beyond turning up to Mass every Sunday. ‘We’ve talked about lay roles for decades but it’s never been underpinned with anything like support or training.’
Despite concerns about falling numbers of priests in Ireland, a rising number of men are joining the priesthood, with a ‘heartening’ 21 new seminarians stepping forward to help boost the previously dwindling ranks of clergy.