24/03/2026
RESPONSIBILITIES OF LAY-FAITHFUL AS CO-BUILDERS OF CATHOLIC FAITH.
By
Very Revd Fr. Paul Akintayo Akinyode, Ibadan Provincial and Deputy National Chaplain of the Laity Council.
INTRODUCTION
The pastoral council is the body that advises the Priest on administrative matters. The members serve as advisory board to the Parish Priest. ( cf canon 515,521 and 536).
The laity council with the guidance of the parish priest helps in the pastoral life of the church. The members work to assist in furthering the evangelization work in the parish and diocese. The laity council does not cease even if the priest is transferred unlike the pastoral council if the new priest decides to change the members. There are a good number of works the laity council can do without the priest directly involved except for supervisions.
The laity as co- builders of the catholic faith are resposible for organing the members to :
1. Support parishioners who are bereaved or celebrating by visiting them and offering necessary support.
2. Organizing members to regularly visit sick parishioners both at home and in hospitals.
3. Visit members who have been absent for a while in the church.
4. Take up youth mentoring and organize program for them. The boys, the girls, both together. The teenagers, the young adults etc.
5. The laity council can charge some of their members to see to the education of the parish youths. Those who need guidance, scholarship, admission assistance, guidance in schools, solving issues arising from the education of the parish young people.
6. The laity council could charge some of the members to see to the empowerment of the youths and adults in the parish. Youths who graduated and looking for jobs, acquisition of skills for the youths, the jobless and retired but not tired.
7. The laity council members could volunteer to take up the leadership of small Christian community program.
8. Not all problems are spiritual, the laity council could organize counseling programs for parishioners with the assistance of expert counselors.
9. The laity council members could take care of the church physical cleaning and horticulture work In the parish regularly.
10. The laity council can organize the security outfit in the parish in addition to the employed ones especially during mass and special occasions.
11. The laity council can organize cooperative groups in the parish to meet different needs of the parishioners. Market women, farmers, etc.
12. Laity council could encourage members to volunteer to work as prayer leaders and visit out stations where no one can conduct services.
13. Laity council can suggest to the priest members who have reputation to be extra ordinary ministers of communion.
13. Laity council in the parish could take up the responsibility of welcoming new members in the parish and do a follow up on them.
14. Laity council in the parish can organize a drive at reviving dying pious societies.
15. Laity council is responsible for raising fund in the parish and with the parish priest execute parish projects.
16. Laity council is responsible for the priest welfare in the parish.
17. The laity council should organize members to support those whose faith is dwindling in the community for whatever reasons
18. The laity council should have a family support structure in the parish to see to families going through all kinds of crises and encourage those doing well.
19. The laity council through the members and with the parish priest should look for ways to endow the parish by looking for other legitimate ways the parish can raise money without depending solely on sunday collections.
20. The laity council should organize the church professional. Lawyers, Doctors, Engineers etc in the parish to make use of their expertise.
21. The laity council can organize members to support in teaching catechism class in the parish.
22. The laity council in conjunction with the priest plans revival and ongoing formation programs in the parish.
23. The laity council members are charged with the responsibility of visiting lapsed members and repotting cases to the parish priest.
24. The care of widows and orphans and widowers in the parish is the responsibility of the laity council. Organizing programs and support for them.
25. Conflict management in the parish is a priority for the laity council. Between parishioners and parishioners, priest and parishioners etc. Laity council members are highly discouraged from ganging up against the priests and other church leaders. They are to offer advise to erring priests and organize prayers for such with meaningful dialogue.
26. The laity council should assist in encouraging members of the parish to participate in the active life of the parish and the liturgical life. To encourage people to join choir, lector’s, altar servers, church wardens etc.
27. The laity council is the eye of the church in relation to matters that affect the church and outside world. Land matters, juridical matters, etc.
28. The laity council represents the church and stands for her teaching in the secular world. The council assists in communication outfit both within the church and outside. To defend the stand of the church. Pro life issues, abortion, etc.
29. The laity council assist the parish in offering useful professional assistance in construction and other related works in the parish.
30. The laity council organizes various programs for the catholic singles, newly married and young couples. Couples having various challenges and care of elderly.
CONCLUSION
Having discussed so far the responsibilities of the lay faithful as co builders of the catholic Faith, we cannot but remind ourselves that we all are co responsible for the mission of the church which is the salvation of souls. However, we need to have a keen look and proper solutions to the lukewarm attitude of many of our lay faithful. The issue of quality representation needs to be thoroughly looked at, what quality of persons are those representing the laity from the parish to deanery, diocese, Province and National? It is our belief that these discussions will evoke more discussions and actions.
