Institute of Lay Ministry
The Institute of Lay Ministry calls lay women and men 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.
Background information on the Institute...
Much of the information provided on this page is also available in "pdf" format. Click on one of the links below to access the information in this format.
Coming Up...
- August 5th ~ ILM regional gathering I @ St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Rochester
- August 7th ~ ILM regional gathering II @ St. John the Baptist Parish, Mankato
- August 11th ~ ILM regional gathering III @ St. Edward Parish, Austin
- August 13th ~ ILM regional gathering IV @ St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Rochester
The Institute
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.
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.
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.
Formation Process
The Institute of Lay Ministry's formation process consists of four major components:
- Theological Education. 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 and 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: The study of and reflection on the major aspects of Christian faith.
- Scriptural Foundations [Fall, 2006]
{Click for course syllabus}
- Church History [Spring, 2007]
- Foundational Theology I (Revelation / Christian Anthropology / Christology and the Trinity) [Fall, 2007]
- Foundational Theology II (Spiritual Theology and Mariology / Canon Law / Ecclesiology and Ecumenism) [Spring, 2008]
- Moral Theology and Catholic Social Ethics
[Fall, 2008]
- Sacramental and Liturgical Theology [Spring, 2009]
Human Formation: The exploration and development of the human qualities and personal maturity needed for faithful and effective ministry.
- Personal Development of the Minister [Winter, 2007]
/ Relational Skills for Ministry [Spring, 2007] {Click for description}
Spiritual Formation: Discernment, reflection, and prayer experiencesrelatedto Christian discipleship and ministry.
- The Call to Christian Discipleship [Fall, 2006]
{Click for description}
- Vocation and the Call to Ministry [Fall, 2007]
- Faith Development and Spiritual Growth [Winter, 2008]
- Theological Reflection and Spiritual Direction [Spring, 2008]
- Prayer and Spiritual Foundations for Ministry [Fall, 2008]
Pastoral Formation: The study and development of skills relating to lay ministry.
- Introduction to Pastoral Ministry I/II/III [Spring, 2007-09]
- Pastoral Praxis I/II/III (Evangelization / Faith Formation / Initiation Ministry / Stewardship / Pastoral Care / Youth & Family Ministries / Pastoral Planning / Multicultural Ministry) [Spring, 2007-09]
- Ethics and Practice of Ministry I/II/III [Spring, 2007-09]
- The Art of Pastoral Leadership [Winter, 2009]
- The Call to Mission and Ministry [Spring, 2009]
- Ministry Practicum Experience [2008-09 Year]
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 three full weekend sessions (i.e., Friday evening through Sunday noon) and six 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...
- 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 2006-07 formation year is $750.00 for students in the Commissioning Track, and $350.00 for students in the Education Track. Tuition covers all program-related expenses -- e.g., instructional expenses (e.g., books and course materials), prayer and worship materials, food, and housing (during "formation weekends" for students in the Commissioning track). 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 2007-08 Formation Year (Year I / Class of 2006-09)
{Click for 2007-08 calendar in "pdf" format}
August 9/11/13/15, 2007 ~ Kick-off Sessions for students (at four regional sites)
September 14-16, 2007 ~ Fall Formation Weekend (Gainey Conference Center, Owatonna)
October 6, 2007 ~ Fall Course Session I (Ss. Peter & Paul Parish, Mankato)
October 27, 2007 ~ Fall Course Session II (St. Edward Parish, Austin)
November 17, 2007 ~ Fall Course Session III (St. Pius X Parish, Rochester)
December 1, 2007 ~ Advent Morning of Reflection / Fall Course Session make-up date [ if necessary] (St. John the Evangelist Parish, Rochester)
January 25-27, 2008 ~ Winter Formation Weekend (Gainey Conference Center, Owatonna)
February 16, 2008 ~ Spring Course Session I (Resurrection Parish, Rochester)
March 8, 2008 ~ Spring Course Session II (St. Edward Parish, Austin)
March 29, 2008 ~ Spring Course Session III (St. John the Baptist Parish, Mankato)
April 18-20, 2008 ~ Spring Formation Weekend (Gainey Conference Center, Owatonna)
May 3, 2008 ~ Spring Course Session make-up date [ if necessary] (Site TBA).
{Click for calendar for 2006-09}
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 three formation weekends held during each of the three years of the Institute -- in September, January, and April.
The Institute's course sessions begin at 8:30 am and end at 4:00 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
In their third year in 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.
 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.
{Click for more detailed description}
Academic Credit
Institute students may earn undergraduate and/or graduate academic credit in theology through Saint Mary's University of Minnesota for their work in the program.
{Click for more detailed description}
Relation to Diaconate Formation
Those men seeking to enter into diaconate formation for the Diocese of Winona must first successfully complete the requirements of the Education Track of the Institute of Lay Ministry. [This requirement may be waived, in part, for men who have received significant theological/ministerial formation.]
{Click for link to diocesan Office of the Diaconate web page}
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 Ministry Formation ~ P.O. Box 588 ~ Winona, MN 55987-0588 / Phone: (507) 454-4643, ext. 270 / Fax: (507) 454-8106 / E-mail: tgraff@dow.org |
