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Ecclesial Lay Ministry
PRAISED BE JESUS
CHRIST!
(Now and Forever)
Continuing the overview of the Ecclesial Lay Ministry (ELM) program
begun in the Sept. 4 issue of The Catholic Moment, graduates of
the program have been invited to share their impressions of the program
and how it has brought them enrichment.
Mary Burford is the coordinator of RCIA at St. Mary in Muncie. In
speaking about her time in the ELM program she noted, “Most of what I
learned was a reaffirmation of my ministry. The more I learned, the more
I felt recalled to ministry.” Her fondest memory of ELM was meeting and
getting acquainted with other ELM students and ministers. “I drove all
over the diocese for the workshops and there was a core of us who always
seemed to be at the same workshop. We have forged a friendship that will
last the rest of my lifetime.”
Fred Laud of Sorrowful Mother in Wheatfield is chairperson of the
liturgy committee at his parish and a member of the ELM Advisory Board.
He states that his time in ELM was valuable because it gave him an
opportunity to be with other like-minded people who were serious about
their faith.
Phil May is the director of religious education at St. Peter in Winamac.
He feels that the ELM program is top-notch in the areas of academic and
pastoral formation. Phil’s fondest memory of the program was the Old
Testament course taught by Dr. John Nichols and the guest lecturers
during Dr. Anne Roat’s sacraments course.
Louise Renz of St. Cecilia in DeMotte is currently a reader and
extraordinary minister of holy Communion at her parish. Louise advises
others to join the ELM program be-cause, “It is an opportunity of
continuing their own education with the hope of one day giving back to
their Church, spreading the Word, and setting a good example for
others.”
Winnie and Joe Van Schepen were the first husband and wife to graduate
from the ELM program. They are parishioners at St. Cecilia in DeMotte
and part of the Pre-Cana team in Winamac. When asked about his favorite
instructors Joe notes that, “Every instructor taught me a great deal. I
would have to say that Father McFarland was my favorite, with Dr. John
Nichols a close second.” He would urge others to enroll in ELM “because
through ELM they will learn about our faith as adults in classes with
like-minded adults.”
Karen Sward recently retired from ministry at St. Joan of Arc in Kokomo,
but continues to serve as a parish volunteer and member of the ELM
Equivalency Board. She states that, “ELM built on my Catholic foundation
and enhanced my spiritual growth. By participating in ELM, I learned in
greater depth about the Catholic Church and our Catholic faith with its
rich history and tradition. I also gained experience needed to achieve
success in my personal and professional life.”
Ed Clifford was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Carmel when he
enrolled in the ELM program. Although he moved to Oceanside, Calif., and
the San Diego Diocese shortly before graduation, he returned to Indiana
to attend the ceremony. Ed aspires to the permanent diaconate.
Marlene Mattox of St. Lawrence in Lafayette serves as an extraordinary
minister of holy Communion and a member of the board of religious
education at her parish. Marlene was animated when she described her
favorite ELM instructors. “While one instructor shines brightly above
the rest, all of them were good! Each individual instructor brought
their own personal charisma into the classes.”
Mike Witka recently retired from the corporate world of commercial
insurance to work full time for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis as the
director of parish finance. He continues to serve as the pastoral
associate for parish administration at his parish of Our Lady of Grace
in Noblesville. Mike states that, “I would encourage anyone who wants to
deepen their knowledge of their faith and Church structure to enroll in
the ELM classes. You do not have to be an employee of a church or school
to do so. But if you are, this certainly is a way to engage in advanced
learning and to participate with others in your like position in
different parish settings. The discussion sessions at this level are few
and far between and ELM can provide those opportunities.”
Ron Morrow was an RCIA catechist, extraordinary minister of holy
Communion and a reader at St. Patrick in Kokomo when he enrolled in ELM.
Today, he is a candidate for the permanent diaconate, RCIA coordinator,
minister at the Miami Correctional Facility and volunteer chaplain at
St. Joseph Hospital. Ron credits the ELM program with allowing him to
meet and get to know members of other parishes around the diocese. He
felt that the education he received on all levels was excellent.
Joe Rice is a member of St. John the Baptist in Tipton. He recently
accepted the position of director of religious education at the parish
and is a member of the liturgy committee and the RCIA team. Joe is also
a member of the ELM Advisory Board and works with the Hispanic Ministry
Board Committee. During his time in the ELM program, Joe learned that,
“Learning is lifelong, but the spiritual journey is longer.”
Chuck and Anne-Marie Damler are the first father and daughter to
complete the ELM program. Anne-Marie is a member of Our Lady of Grace in
Noblesville and Chuck is a parishioner at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in
Carmel. Since graduating from the program, Chuck has become coordinator
for the Liturgy of the Hours at his parish. He credits the program with
giving him an opportunity to expand the knowledge of his faith and meet
other people of deep faith.
Pat Gallagher is currently a candidate for the permanent diaconate. He
is a pastoral associate at St. Alphonsus in Zionsville. Pat advises
others to enroll in the ELM program to “deepen one’s understanding of
just what the Gospel message is and how we can incorporate it in our
daily lives — also to hear how others are doing it can give us hints on
how to refine our lives to be more Christ-like.”
Kay White of All Saints in Logansport feels she is a stronger Catholic
Christian now than before she started ELM.
When Steve Miller started in the ELM program in 1998, he was the parish
business manager at St. Maria Goretti in Westfield. This month, he will
be ordained a permanent deacon. When asked why he would advise others to
enroll in the ELM program, Steve noted that, “For those seeking to serve
the Church professionally it is a must, and for others who need to be
fed spiritually and catechetically, ELM meets that need.”
Thirty people have graduated to date and there will be 16 more in
October. There is a long way to go before all parish lay leaders have
completed the Ecclesial Lay Ministry program or attained an equivalency.
Nonetheless, the ball is rolling.
Ecclesial lay ministry is a call to serve in the name of the Church. It
requires appropriate formation and is undertaken with both the support
and authorization of competent Church authorities. I am proud of the
fact that through our ELM program this Local Church recognizes the
importance of ecclesial lay ministers and the ever-expanding role they
will play in the Church of the future. For parish personnel who have not
yet taken the step, this is the time. For more information, call Paul
Shireman or Linda Harmon at 800-544-1684 or 888-544-1684. |
