Institute of Lay Ministry - Diocese of Winona
The Institute of Lay Ministry calls lay men and women to a deeper living out of their Christian vocation in the world, and prepares them for more faithful and effective lay leadership in the Church. The Institute is open to all women and men with experience in or aptitude for ministry, and seeks to be a resource for parishes and other church institutions in preparing ministerial leaders. The core program of the Institute of Lay Ministry is a three-year process of prayer, reflection, education, and formation designed to better prepare and strengthen lay persons in their faith, understanding, and skills as lay ministers for the Church.
ILM Commissioning ~ June 23rd
The 31 members of the Class of 2013 of the diocesan Institute of Lay Ministry will be recognized and blessed during a Commissioning Service on Sunday, June 23rd, at 4:30 pm, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona. Bishop John Quinn will lead the service, and all are welcome to participate in the service, and in the reception to follow.
For an invitation flyer and map to the Cathedral, click here.
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For an online version of the most recent "ILM Update," click here.
Institute of Lay Ministry Class of 2009
Commissioned by Bishop John Quinn June 7, 2009
Two diocesan formation programs are also organized under the auspices of the Institute of Lay Ministry. They are:
Together in Faith is a one-year program of prayer, study, and reflection on our Catholic faith. It serves as a stand-alone formation program for current and aspiring church ministers, and also precedes entrance to the core three-year Institute of Lay Ministry program or to the four-year Diaconate Formation Program. The program is offered both in English and Spanish through a collaboration of the diocesan Offices of Ministry Formation and Hispanic Ministry. [There will not be a Together in Faith class meeting during the 2012-13 academic year. The information provided in the links below is from the 2009-10 year of the program, and is provided for informational purposes.]
Together in Ministry provides a structured program of continuing formation and renewal for church ministers serving in the Diocese of Winona. As part of our diocesan celebration of the Year of Faith, the 2012-13 Together in Ministry program invites alumni of the diocesan Institute of Lay Ministry and Together in Faith program, and other church ministers, to a year of study and formation on the context and teachings of the Second Vatican Council.
The program consists of four Saturday sessions, from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm, to be held at the Alverna Center in Winona, and will include presentations by program faculty, and time for prayer, study, reflection, and discussion. Topics for the sessions will include: an overview and history of Vatican II; reading the Vatican II documents in context; an examination of the major Council documents; and living the message of the Council today. The instructors for the program are Rose Beal, Ph.D., and Gregory Sobolewski, Ph.D., from the Theology Department of Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.
Click on the links below for program and registration information.
Resources
To view the Keeping the Seasons resource for Pentecost/Summer Feasts, click on the image.
To view The Daily Examen resource, click on the image.
Foundations
The Institute of Lay Ministry arises out of the vision of the Second Vatican Council that every lay believer is called to be "at the same time a witness and a living instrument of the mission of the Church" (Lumen Gentium, No. 33). This call of the laity to discipleship and ministry finds powerful affirmation in the U.S. Catholic Bishops' recent statement, Called and Gifted for the Third Millennium. The bishops write: "Through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and eucharist every Christian is called to participate actively and co-responsibly in the Church's mission of salvation in the world."
Program Description
The Diocese of Winona's Institute of Lay Ministry began in 1998 as a process of education and formation on the Church's teaching, tradition, and ministry. It is designed to challenge and support lay men and women in actively living out their vocations both within the Church and in the world.
Formation Process
The Institute of Lay Ministry's formation process consists of four major components:
- Theological Education (Intellectual Formation). The study of and reflection on the major aspects of Christian faith (e.g., Scripture, church history, liturgy and the sacraments, etc.).
- Human Formation. The exploration and development of the human qualities and personal maturity needed for faithful and effective ministry.
- Spiritual Formation. Discernment, reflection, and prayer experiences relating to Christian discipleship and ministry
- Pastoral Formation. The study of a theology of ministry, and the development of skills relating to lay ministry (e.g., collaboration, communication skills, leading prayer, etc.), including a ministry practicum experience.
Curriculum and Course Topics
Theological Education (Intellectual Formation): The study of and reflection on the major aspects of Christian faith.
- Scriptural Foundations [Fall, Year I] {Click for course syllabus}
- Church History [Spring, Year I] {Click for course syllabus}
- Foundational Theology I (Revelation / Christian Anthropology / Christology and the Trinity) [Fall, Year II] {Click for course syllabus}
- Foundational Theology II (Ecclesiology / Ecumenism / Canon Law / Mariology / Eschatology) [Spring, Year II]
- Sacramental and Liturgical Theology [Fall, Year III]
- Moral Theology and Catholic Social Ethics [Spring, Year III]
Human Formation: The exploration and development of the human qualities and personal maturity needed for faithful and effective ministry.
Spiritual Formation: Discernment, reflection, and prayer experiencesrelatedto Christian discipleship and ministry.
- Prayer and Spiritual Foundations for Ministry [Spring, Year I] {Click for description}
- Vocation and the Call to Ministry [Spring, Year II]
- The Lay Vocation: Called to Holiness, Called to Service [Spring, Year III]
Pastoral Formation: The study of a theology of ministry, and the development of skills relating to lay ministry (e.g., collaboration, communication skills, leading prayer, etc.), including a ministry practicum experience.
- The Practice of Ministry / Ministry Practicum Experience [Years I-III]
- Relational Skills for Ministry [Fall, Year II] {see above}
- The Art of Pastoral Leadership [Fall, Year III] {see above}
Participation Tracks
There are two participation "tracks" for Institute students:
- Students in the Commissioning Track engage in all four areas of formation, and participate in two full weekend sessions (i.e., Friday evening through Sunday noon) and eight Saturday course sessions each of the three years. Students who successfully complete the requirements of this track will receive formal diocesan Commissioning by the bishop.
- Students in the Education Track engage only in the theological education component of the Institute, and participate in six Saturday course sessions each of the three years. All students who successfully complete the requirements of this track will receive a Certificate of Participation from the diocese.
Entrance Guidelines
Students in the Institute of Lay Ministry...
- have successfully completed the diocesan Together in Faith program (or its equivalent)
- are able to commit fully to completing the requirements of the program.
- have a desire for renewal and growth in their ministry and in their faith lives.
- have the support of their pastor/parish director, parish staff, and other parish leadership (or the leadership of their particular church institution).
- have the support of their spouse, if married, and family.
- are in good physical and emotional health.
- are active participants in the sacramental and ministerial life of the Church.
- have the desire and capacity for serving as lay leaders in the Church.
- are open to people of diverse backgrounds and faith experiences.
- have the ability to communicate and collaborate with other ministers in the Church.
Tuition and Expenses
The tuition for the 2012-13 formation year is $675.00 for students in the Commissioning Track, and $375.00 for students in the Education Track. Tuition covers all program-related expenses -- instructional expenses (e.g., books and course materials), prayer and worship materials, food, and housing (during "formation weekends" for students in the Commissioning track), etc. Students will assume the cost of their travel-related expenses. Sponsoring parishes/institutions are encouraged to assist their students in covering Institute expenses, if this is possible. Tuition assistance is also available from the diocese, and may be applied for at the beginning of each formation year.
Calendar for 2012-13 Formation Year (Year III / Class of 2010-13)
(For a pdf version of this calendar, click here.)
- September 14-16, 2012 ~ Fall Formation Weekend (Alverna Center, Winona)
- September 29, 2012 ~ Fall Course Session I (Sacred Heart Parish, Owatonna)
- October 20, 2012 ~ Fall Course Session II (Sacred Heart Parish, Owatonna)
- November 10, 2012 ~ Fall Course Session III (Sacred Heart Parish, Owatonna)
- December 1, 2012 ~ Fall Formation Session (Saint Edward Parish, Austin)
- February 2, 2013 ~ Spring Formation Session (Saint Edward Parish, Austin)
- February 23, 2013 ~ Spring Course Session I (Saint John the Baptist Parish, Mankato [tentative])
- March 16, 2013 ~ Spring Course Session II (Saint John Vianney Parish, Fairmont)
- April 6, 2013 ~ Spring Course Session III (Saint Catherine Parish, Luverne)
- April 19-21, 2013 ~ Spring Formation Weekend (Alverna Center, Winona)
Schedule of Formation Weekends / Course Sessions
The Institute's formation weekends begin at 7:30 pm on Friday evening and close at 12:00 pm on Sunday. There are two formation weekends held during each of the three years of the Institute -- in mid September and late April. There are also two Saturday formation sessions held during the year (for Commissioning Track students).
The Institute's course sessions begin at 9:00 am and end at 3:30 pm on Saturday. There are six course sessions held during each of the three years of the Institute -- three in the fall, and three in the spring.
Ministry Practicum
During each formation year of the Institute, students will participate in a directed ministry practicum in their local parish/community that includes the following components:
- a self-designed practicum experience which incorporates the student's personal goals and objectives
- background information and skill development relating to the student's specific ministry practicum
- ongoing direction and supervision relating to the ministry practicum
- opportunities to meet and reflect with peers for support during the course of the practicum.
{Click for more detailed description}
Diocesan Commissioning
Students who successfull complete the requirements of the Commissioning Track are commissioned by the bishop for "leadership in ministry to the people of God" in the parishes and institutions of the Diocese of Winona. This commissioning is a recognition of the student's work in the Institute and an affirmation of the knowledge and skills for ministry that they have received through their participation in the Institute. It expresses the diocese's expectation that they will use the fruits of this formation process for active leadership as lay ministers serving in the parishes and Catholic institutions of the diocese.{Click for more detailed description}
Ministry Certification
The Minnesota Catholic Education Association (MCEA) and the bishops of Minnesota recognize the challenge and importance of creating ways for lay people in the Church to receive appropriate training that leads to faith-filled and effective ministry. Ministry certification is a process which seeks: 1) to ensure a high quality of ministry for the people of our parishes and faith communities; 2) to recognize and affirm people serving in ministry; 3) to promote ongoing formation as a necessary component for sustaining effective ministry; and 4) to enhance the quality of the minister's work. Students in the Institute may seek certification through the MCEA for their work in the program.
Academic Credit / "Certificate in Pastoral Studies"
Students in the Institute of Lay Ministry may apply to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota to earn academic credit for their coursework in the Institute. Students who register for and successfully complete 18 hours of undergraduate academic credit in conjunction with their studies and participation in the Institute of Lay Ministry will be awarded a Certificate in Pastoral Studies by Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. {Click for more detailed description}
Relation to Diaconate Formation
In the past, participation in the Institute of Lay Ministry has served as a prerequisite for entrance into diaconate formation for the Diocese of Winona. Presently, the diocesan Diaconate Formation Program is on hold and under review, so this requirement may or may not be true in the future. Men seeking to discern a call to the diaconate are, however, welcome to participate in the Institute as part of the discernment of their call to ministry.
Parish/Institution Sponsorship
Lay ministry is carried out within the context and with the support of a faith community. In light of this, applicants are asked to seek the formal support and sponsorship of a parish/church institution. The sponsoring parish/institution is asked to...
- arrange for the pastor/director to meet with the prospective student to discuss his/her participation in the Institute before submitting an application.
- provide formal approval and an accompanying letter of recommendation, from the pastor/director, in support of the prospective student's application.
- arrange for the pastor/director, or another designated staff person, to meet with the student on a regular basis to provide support and guidance, and to discuss the student's work in the Institute in relation to the ministry of the parish/institution.
- provide direction and supervision for the student during his/her ministry practicum, which takes place during the third year in the Institute.
- assist in the payment of the student's tuition and/or other expenses related to his/her participation in the Institute (if this is possible).
Student Participation and Commitment
Institute of Lay Ministry students are expected to ...
- participate actively and constructively in all of the formation sessions and activities held each year. [If serious reasons preclude a student from being able to do so, then he or she may be excused with the consent of the director. Reading and writing assignments will still need to be completed. Students not completing their work and/or missing a number of scheduled sessions will not be commissioned, or receive a Certificate of Participation.]
- complete the reading and writing assignments relating to Institute courses. [Reading assignments will average about 150-200 pages of reading per formation weekend/course session. Students also need to turn in a written assignment for each course addressing questions relating to the content of their assigned reading and to how the reading relates to their faith lives and ministry.]
- meet with their pastor/director -- or another designated staff person -- on a regular basis while participating in the Institute to seek support and guidance, and to discuss their work in the Institute in relation to the ministry of the parish/institution.
- participate actively in the prayer and liturgical life of the Institute.
- assist in building up a spirit of Christian support and community among all Institute participants.
If a student is not fulfilling these responsibilities, the Director of Ministry Formation (after careful consideration and after discussing the concerns with the student) may request that he or she discontinue their participation in the Institute.
Program Outcomes
Institute of Lay Ministry students ...
- receive a solid, introductory education in the study of theology and a strong background in the Church's history, teaching, and tradition.
- are provided with opportunities to develop and enhance their knowledge and skills as lay ministers in the Church.
- are provided with opportunities to pray and reflect on, and to grow in, their personal faith lives, and to deepen the spiritual foundations that nurture and animate their call to lay ministry.
- learn together and build relationships with other women and men committed to growth in their faith lives and in their ministry.
- become part of a supportive, prayerful, living community of faith together with their fellow Institute students and Institute alumni.
For Additional Information...
Contact: Todd Graff, Director ~ Office of Lay Formation ~ P.O. Box 588 ~ Winona, MN 55987-0588 / Phone: (507) 858-1270 / Fax: (507) 454-8106 / E-mail: tgraff@dow.org