The laity fulfills a critical role

Tom Monaghan writes that the laity is called to fulfill a special role in the Church . . .

Thomas Monaghan

We all know Legatus’ mission — to study, live and spread our faith. Oftentimes when I am summarizing our mission, I simply say it is to help members become better Catholics.

Everything else flows from that because as we become better Catholics — by availing ourselves of the sacraments, reading solid books, attending educational/inspirational talks, etc. — we cannot help but grow, live and spread the faith.

The post-Vatican II era has often been called the age of the laity, and the popes since then have exhorted us, the laity, to take a more active role in the Church as cooperators with the clergy in advancing the mission of the Church. But what does this mean, practically? I certainly think it means sharing our faith with those we come in contact with, but it also means using our God-given talents to serve the Church.

So how can we serve the Church in our lay vocation? I would suggest approaching your pastor. Ask him what you can do to help him and the parish. Chances are he will have more than a couple of projects that he would love to have someone with your expertise help him with. Most pastors are spread thin and are asked to do more than ever before; not only are they called to care for the pastoral needs of the parish, but they need to be administrators and businessmen. There is a role for us here to help them where we can. This is part of what the age of the laity is about. Yes, we need to evangelize, but we also need to put our time and gifts at the service of the Church.

I know many of you are already doing this. You are serving on committees, chairing projects for your parishes, helping to turn around schools in trouble, and more. Legates are able to do this because we take seriously our responsibly to help the Church in whatever areas she needs.

This can also be true of your relationship with your bishop. Many bishops across the country are extremely grateful for the presence of Legatus in their dioceses. So if you have a relationship with your bishop, ask him if there is anything you can do to help him.

Scripture is clear that each of us has been given different gifts for the good of the Church, so let us use our gifts — given to us by Christ — to serve His Church. In doing this, we are fulfilling the mission of Legatus and the call of the laity.

THOMAS MONAGHAN is Legatus’ founder and chairman. He is a member of Legatus’ Naples Chapter.