Lay Ecclesial Ministry
The Master of Divinity program at the University of Notre Dame includes students who are preparing for service to the Roman Catholic Church as lay ecclesial ministers, as well as students who are preparing to serve the Church as ordained priests. In keeping with the spirit of collaborative leadership which is the model for ministry in the contemporary Church, the vast majority of academic and pastoral experiences in the three-year program will be shared in common among the two groups of students on their respective vocational paths. However, the dimension of spiritual formation, which is one of the three keystones of the program, takes somewhat different forms for the two groups.
For those pursuing the lay ecclesial ministry, spiritual formation is from within the program’s Lay Ministry Formation Program.
Lay Ministry Formation Program
The Lay Ministry Formation Program (LMFP) consists of men and women preparing for a career in lay ministry in the Catholic Church. Through various opportunities for spiritual and professional development, the LMFP serves to provide a formation program that is consistent with and reflective of the emerging theology of the “lay ecclesial minister.” The term denotes theologically prepared men and women, including vowed religious, who seek to serve the People of God in public roles of pastoral responsibility and leadership. These members of the laity have responded to the baptismal call to ministry and to the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, who enables them to blend their ministries with those of the ordained into a unity of service and mission in the Church.
The LMFP seeks to integrate theological study, ministerial experience and pastoral skills development into the spiritual formation of the student. Integrated human and spiritual development is a key component of the student's emerging identity as a public minister. To pursue these goals, the LMFP has established four areas of competency that provide directive and evaluative assessment parameters for the student and the formation director. The four standards—personal qualities, spirituality and prayer, ministerial identity and vocation, and minister as person in relationship—provide a comprehensive outline for the preparation of lay ecclesial ministers. Adapted to individual needs and to the particular developmental needs of each year of study, these four areas provide the categories that will be addressed within the varying strategies of the formation program.
At the center of the LMFP is the commitment to collaboration with those preparing for ordained ministry. The LMFP is dedicated to a vision of ministry that promotes complementary and collaborative relationships within the structure of the Church. To that end, the LMFP is deeply involved in the transformation of the Church and the world as this new movement of the Holy Spirit stirs many to recognize their baptismal call to serve the People of God in a wide variety of ways.
The LMFP provides a supportive environment for integration of all dimensions of the Master of Divinity Program. This integration occurs within the context of the students lived experience, present values and future goals. The program also fosters a sense of community among the students through a variety of activities.
ALUMNA PROFILE:
Lisa Michele Orchen, BA 1988, M.Div. 1994
“Since I graduated from the M.Div. program ten years ago, I have completed a Clinical Pastoral Education Residency in a hospital setting and become certified as a Chaplain with the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC); served as a Director of Campus Ministry at a catholic college; and served for eight years as a Pastoral Associate at a parish. While at the parish I was responsible for liturgical planning, R.C.I.A., High School Confirmation, forming a Youth Program, introducing the Generations of Faith model to our Faith Development Ministries, general administration and pastoral care. I have lived and served in ministry in Connecticut for the past ten years. I got married at the end of 2001, welcomed my first child at the end of 2003 and am expecting my second in the spring of 2005. I also serve on the Advisory Council for the Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame.
“I loved the M.Div. program at Notre Dame.While I lived and studied on campus, I felt so lucky to be there, to have such outstanding teachers and to prepare for ministry in such a wonderful environment. I am particularly grateful for all the ways Notre Dame seeks to serve the wider church in America by helping prepare people for full time ecclesial lay ministry. I finished the M.Div. program very well equipped to serve in liturgical leadership, form people in faith and provide pastoral care. I always knew where to find resources when I needed to learn something new or start a new ministry. I have felt supported and encouraged by the faculty and staff of the M.Div. program since I graduated and always feel that I can call or e-mail with a question or for a pep-talk. Most importantly, I left with a sense of personal authority as a minister in the Roman Catholic Church and have served in leadership positions with confidence because of the fine education I received at Notre Dame.”
