“AUTHENTIC MINISTRY” is one of the topics which Most Rev. Teodoro C. Bacani, Jr., D.D., discussed in his book “Christ’s Priests for God’s Priestly People.
According to Bishop Bacani “Authentic Ministry is an antidote to routine ministry” “Authentic Minitry” he said “is not only true but truthful, not only external but internal, not only from the lips but from the heart – Mula sa puso, hindi lang sa nguso”.
While this antidote was meant for priests to help them overcome a sense of routine and loss of enthusiasm for the works of the priestly ministry, I have been considering it as something that could just as well be applied to lay ministers.
Church ministry is administered not only by the priests but also by the lay faithful. Today we see lay persons serving in different ministries, such as, catechists, extraordinary ministers of communion, lectors, commentators, acolytes, gift ministers, usherettes, altar decorators and choir members. Various religious organizations and renewal movements have also been organized by lay persons. Hence, the problem of serving in a routinary way is also a problem of the lay ministers.
In order to have an Authentic Ministry Bishop Bacani offers the following recommendations, namely: that one should be:
1. In love with God and with the people.
2. Know what he is doing.
3. Cultivate a life of prayer.
4. Act wholeheartedly.
Paraphrasing the recommendations of Bishop Bacani, one who
serves must:
1. Serve with love. Love of God and love of one’s fellowmen must be the real motive for serving.
2. Have an adequate working knowledge of the task entrusted to him. He should, therefore, undergo some training or attend seminar workshops in preparation for the responsibilities to be done.
3. Have a “Quiet Time” daily with the Lord. This is of prime importance in order to develop a personal relationship with God, who provides all the graces needed for any ministry to be fruitful.
4. Focus on his ministry with his whole mind, his whole heart, his whole soul, and with all his strength. In other words, he has to give all he has got in serving the Lord.
As a lay minister, these recommendations of Bishop Bacani are
valuable basic guiding principles in order that I may render a truly Authentic Ministry to assist in the Building of the Body of Christ, the Church.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
September 4, 2010
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