How It Came to Pass

I have been asked to introduce the concept behind the Lay Pastor Society.  

Where does one begin to share a dream come true. If I accomplish nothing else in my life, seeing the Lay Pastor Society actually come to life makes me feel as if I had a purpose,... a goal,-- and with the help of God, I reached it.

The idea for the Society began over 12 years ago. I recognized, as many have, the fact that our parishes had become so large that the clergy were no longer able to effectively reach the majority of their members. The parishes seemed to focus their limited time and energies on the more dramatic or obvious needs.

It occurred to me that many "typical" Catholics (by 'typical' I mean the vast majority of the parishioners) were more likely to keep their problems and needs to themselves. Possibly saying things like, "I’d sure like to talk with someone, but Father has much more important things to do... there are certainly people in much more need of his help than me."

I have always believed that it is the churches' responsibility to reach out to her members, not to just sit and wait for the members to come to her. Scripture tells us of the shepherd who leaves his flock to find one lost sheep. In today's churches with the overwhelming number of parishioners and the dwindling number of clergy, it is very possible that the shepherd would not only not know where to look but would have no idea that one of his flock was missing.

In frustration many have chosen to leave the Church as a way of helping themselves. I’ve always believed that we are on this earth to help each other and that leaving the Church would be an easy but selfish way to deal with the problem. I believe that God wants all of us to use our gifts and talents to their fullest. Walking away, when I felt I had identified a problem, would be doing a disservice to all those left behind.

Recently I read an interview that had been done years ago with a fellow who grew up with Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens.) They referred to this schoolmate of Twain’s as the "old timer". They asked him what he thought of Twain’s success. The "old timer" said, "Well, I know as many stories as Sam does - I just didn’t bother to write them down."

I feel that this sums up most of us. There were many who saw the problems of starvation and disease in Calcutta but it took Mother Theresa to do something about it, to "write it down" if you will.

There are many who see, acknowledge and talk about the ills of the world. There are few who respond and actually do something about them. To give of one's self means sacrifice. Accepting a call means sacrifice. If we are ever going to change things we must be willing to sacrifice.

We must make changes within our Church to address the needs of her family. We must put into place a system which allows each parish to personally and regularly reach out to its parishioners and offer the Love and Hope guaranteed and promised by the death of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I have no desire or intention to either take-over or usurp the role or control of our clergy. I merely want to offer a program which will assist them in their outreach efforts.

The Lay Pastor Society, which responds to John 21:16, "Do you Love Me ... Tend My Sheep." merely wants to be used as an extension of the loving arms of the Church. Perhaps as a "weapon" used to combat fellow Catholics' loneliness, fear, despair, etc. and leave in its wake Love and Hope: a reason to continue.

We have a responsibility to be truthful to our convictions. I’ve accepted what I believe is a call from God to establish an organization of lay Catholics who will work with their parish and reach out, on a monthly basis, to all Catholics.

When a person, such as those 11 at Queen of Angels, accepts the call to become a Lay Pastor, they are saying I not only see the problem,... I not only identify a need,... I am willing to do something about it. I’m willing to "write it down."

I was on a plane a few weeks ago and sat next to a woman who identified herself as a nurse. I told her all about the Lay Pastor Society. She asked if I really felt it would make a difference. I said I hoped so. She then told me of a woman who was a patient of hers in the Oncology ward of a local hospital. The woman one day began to cry. She cried in the morning through the afternoon and evening. She literally cried herself to sleep every night - for ten nights. The nurse told me that one afternoon the woman suddenly stopped crying and that she ran in to see if her patient was all right, only to find that she had died.

I asked the nurse if she ever asked the woman why she was crying. The nurse told me that she had,... that the woman had told her that she had been born and raised Catholic, had been very active in her church, had been a member of the P.T.A., had baked bread for church fund-raisers and had cooked casseroles for church socials. And now she was dying and not one person has come to see her. After giving the majority of her 56 years to others she was going to have to die alone.

If you want a simple reason for the establishment of the Lay Pastor Society it’s to make sure that this type of thing never happens again.... That no member of our Christian Family ever has to feel that they are alone or forgotten especially at those times of severest need.

Twelve years ago when I first presented the concept I was asked, "Who do you think you are? What right do you have to try to change things?" I didn’t have an answer at the time. I do now. I am a child of God and as such have a responsibility; A Christian responsibility that says when you see a need you must address it; A Christian responsibility to recognize Jesus in every person; A Christian responsibility to stop talking about the problems... and verbalizing the solutions,... and to do something about them.  A Christian responsibility...

... "to write it down."

May God bless you always for your

Love, Prayers and Support.

Respectfully in Christ,

Mark Price