What can we do to dispel this shared mistrust between these two groups? The Church needs both its wings – clerical and lay to be truly the Church of Christ. It is in this that the unity of the parish will be realised. The Church needs an authentic community to achieve its mission. Genuine cooperation between the two teams will build up the faith and make open the ways by which the Holy Spirit works in souls.
Today, the lay people are often highly qualified in areas involved in the mission of the Church, and, they are anxious to be active in the affairs of their parishes. If they are encouraged to do so, they will find an environment conducive to the development of their faith and commitment to their Church.
The English word laity (adj lay) comes from the Greek laoV (laos) meaning "the people” - that is, the responsible or active members of a particular group. Sacred Scripture speaks repeatedly of the People of God chosen to fulfill his purposes and to prepare for the coming of the Saviour. It was a woman of the People, the Virgin Mary, who was chosen to be the mother of Jesus, and, it was from the laity, the general population at the time, that Jesus called his apostles to carry the Good News to the world. With the apostles, each and every person is called to be a member of the People of God.
The People of God, the Laity, are "here understood to mean all the faithful except those in holy orders and those in a religious state sanctioned by the Church. These faithful are by baptism made one body with Christ and are established among the people of God. They are in their own way made sharers of the priestly, prophetic, and kingly functions of Christ. They carry out their own part in the mission of the whole Christian people with respect to the Church and the world.” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, par 31. Abbott-Gallagher)
At the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism, Chrismation and Holy Eucharist – the laity partake of a singular gift. Thus, it can be said, that all the believers, including priests and monastics, belong to the Laos tou Qeou, the People of God, the Laity. We say this because all have been chosen by God to be his apostles to the world.
In the Holy Mystery of Chrismation (Confirmation), received immediately after Baptism, the lay people are made consecrated and responsible Christians in the Church of God, children of the light and heirs of the Kingdom. Thus, the baptized are granted the right to cooperate in the work of the Church – the planning, decision-making and activities of the various groups over which the Church exercises authority.
The lay people are the strength and the hope of the Church because they are apostles who live in the midst of the world, and, who have a role in the growth of secular life according to the will of God. In considering this, the Second Vatican Council says, "They live in the world, that is, in each and in all of the secular professions and occupations. They live in the ordinary circumstances of family and social life, from which the very web of their existence is woven.” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, par 31)
In asking the lay people to assume various pastoral responsibilities, the parish priest is confirming their mission and participation in the life of the Church. This delegation of tasks to the laity is not an abdication of the priest from his responsibilities, nor is it a gift from him, rather it is the right and duty of the people.
In our Eparchy we have developed a program to encourage the lay people to assume their responsibilities, and, there remains still much work to do. This requires a continuous education equally on the part of both clergy and laity. They should learn to co-operate and to collaborate in taking common initiatives for the benefit of the parish and each of the believers.
Clergy and laity should labour together as one for the building up of the Body of Christ. This demands constant mutual support so as to make the parish as busy as a beehive. As the Apostle Paul says, "We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us …” (Rom 12:6).
The dimensions of parish work are many. Everyone can find a way to work in its growth and progress – amongst other activities, there are, the religious education for children, the ladies’ auxiliary, charitable organisations, the youth, prayer groups, bible study and discussion evenings, stewardship committee, parish council, seniors activities, fund-raising, office work, the parish web, face book, and other responsibilities. Indeed, for the believers there is no rest! They find themselves fully committed to the building up of the house of God! The Apostle Peter writes, "Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people.” (1Peter 2:10) The Believers are they who put their confidence in their Church and who work tirelessly to preserve it. Through their conduct, their manifest the fruits of devotion and piety, peace and goodness. (Col 1:10)
The Apostle Paul urges the believers to take into themselves the mind of Christ (Ph 2:5) No matter how the individual members differ in external form, they each cooperate to nurture the Body of Christ. Let us tank God who calls us and who makes us his collaborators in the building of his Kingdom here on earth.