Collaboration: A Missionary Vision For Ministry in The Parish
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Date
2003
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
In the Catholic Church, the Parish is a unit of the local Church (Diocese) in a particular
area. It is the community of Christ's faithful, a communion of God's family under the leadership
of the priest who is a representative of the diocesan bishop (the Chief Shepherd). This unit
comprises the ordained ministers (clergy) and the laity (the faithful). Both the ordained ministers
and the laity are called to ministry in the Church which is service in the manner of Jesus Christ.
It is working together in a collaborative manner. Both clergy and laity are called to actively
participate in the Church. Ideally there is no one group that is meant to give service while the
others are passive recipients. In many parishes, however, the priests are controlling every aspect
of church life. They do not appreciate lay involvement. This situation makes the laity to be objects
of service, and the priests subjects of service. The parish, as community of Christ's faithful,
should be a sign of unity and communion where service is given and received by all. Both laity and
clergy are called to be the subjects and objects of service and since both form the Church, which
is a community of service, they are all called to contribute to the building of the whole community
as parts of the same body, with Jesus Christ as its head. This calls for collaboration on the part
of the Christian community if it is to respond faithfully to the missionary mandate of Jesus.
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Collaboration