The Real World
The statistics at the side of this article only tell part of the story.
If you are reading this article, you are already well aware of the real world of lay ecclesial ministry. (And no, it is not a show of several youth ministers locked in a room with teens for months on end with cameras filming every minute.) Look in the mirror. It is the real world of working long hours serving the Lord in all the ministries of your life: family, youth ministry, spiritual and/or professional formation. It is doing what you are doing because God called you to serve some of the most wonderful people in the world: young people. It is trying to balance the passion for your ministry with the realities of the real world.
Where Does this Ministry Leave You?
Often times jubilant and fulfilled, but sometimes frustrated, and discouraged.
Statistics from Co-workers in the Vineyard
- 30,632 lay ecclesial ministers work at least twenty hours per week in paid positions in parishes
- An additional 2,163 volunteers work at least twenty hours per week in parishes
- The number of paid lay parish ministers has increased by 53 percent since 1990, while the percentage of parishes with salaried lay ecclesial ministers has increased from 54 to 66 percent.
- In 2005, the percentage of lay women is 64 percent; laymen 20 percent; and religious women 16 percent. Religious educators (41.5%) and general pastoral ministers (25%) account for two thirds of all parish ministers
Statistics from Catholic Ministry Formation Directory
• 289 formation programs in 143 dioceses and 46 states
Statistics from 1990 Study by the National Pastoral Life (as included in article “Who Are These People Called ‘Lay Ecclesial Ministers?’” by Sr. Amy Hoey, RSM)
• 1990—21,569 lay ministers
• 2005—30,632 lay ministers (increase of approximately 30%)
Statistics from U.S. Treasury Department on Teenage Unemployment
• In June 1999, teenage population estimated to be 1,331,100
In today’s real world of shrinking budgets, more expectations and perhaps too few volunteers, how can a document like Co-workers in the Vineyard of the Lord help make our lives easier?
Simple. It gives us permission to think of ourselves as professionals. Whether we are paid or volunteer, part-time or full-time, we ARE professionals. When I first started in this ministry six years ago, my dear friend and mentor Angie Poat told me: God does not call the qualified, God qualifies the called. That did not mean that God struck me with lightening and suddenly I knew what comprehensive youth ministry was and how to make it happen at my parish. But it did help take away me feelings of inadequacy and replaced them with hope that I would find the help that I needed.
Forming Ourselves for Ministry
For me, help came in the form of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries Certification Program. They offered many training classes designed to help people learn about youth, comprehensive youth ministry, and spiritual development (for myself and youth). Additional help came from mentoring with Angie Poat, who has 20+ years in the youth ministry field, and networking with other youth ministers in my diocese. I also had more help in the form of a supportive parish staff who encouraged me to take classes, paid for them out of the youth ministry parish budget, and allowed me to count my hours of learning as part of my normal work hours. The end result: in May 2005 I received my youth ministry certification from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
Unfortunately this reality does not match everyones. Many parishes are on tight budgets. Any monies youth ministers are fortunate to have are most likely spent on the parish youth. But it truly is important to spend some of that money on yourself as you grow in your knowledge of youth ministry. Whether you have been in the field 20+ years or 20+ days, there is always something new to learn.
There are many different programs available to help with training. In addition to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Certification Program, you can find learning opportunities through the Ministry Training Source, Center for Ministry Development, University of Dayton, and University of Notre Dame STEP Program, who all offer online classes to help us grow not only ourselves but by extension, our ministry. NACYML is currently offering an online course as a benefit of our membership.
It is time we face the real world of lay ecclesial ministry: we are as important as the youth we minister to. If we do not take the time to grow ourselves, we risk missing out on more than just information. We risk not making our ministry as rich and beautiful as it could be. And in today’s real world, I am not sure it is a risk we can afford to take.
Email NACYML News at nacyml@nfcymoffice.org