3 October 2025
friday Blues 1-010
MEMBERS OF THE LAITY COUNCIL AND PASTORAL COUNCIL
AS CRITICAL PILLARS IN UPHOLDING THE MANDATES OF THE CLERGY
by Noble Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje (KSJI)
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OPENING
The Catholic Church, in her divine
mission, is entrusted with proclaiming the Gospel, sanctifying the faithful,
and shepherding the flock of Christ. While this mission is primarily exercised
through the clergy, the participation of the laity has always been essential.
In the post–Vatican II era, structures such as the Laity Council and the
Pastoral Council have emerged as vital platforms through which lay members
collaborate with the clergy. Far from being peripheral, these councils have
become critical pillars in upholding and advancing the mandates of priests and
bishops in the life of the Church.
THE ECCLESIAL MANDATE OF THE CLERGY
The clergy—bishops, priests, and deacons—are charged with teaching,
sanctifying, and governing the people of God (cf. Lumen Gentium, 28). They
carry the responsibility of proclaiming the Word, administering the sacraments,
and shepherding the faithful. Yet, as Vatican II affirms, the mission of the
Church “is not only for the pastors but also for the laity” (Apostolicam
Actuositatem, 1). The mandates of the clergy can only be fully realized when
the laity, through organized structures, share in the burdens and joys of
ecclesial life.
THE ROLE OF THE LAITY COUNCIL
The Laity Council represents the collective voice of lay faithful within the
Church. Its purpose is to foster unity, participation, and action among
laypeople, ensuring that they play their rightful role in evangelization and
service. Members of the Laity Council help translate the vision of the clergy
into concrete programs that touch families, parishes, and communities. By
mobilizing parishioners for catechesis, charity, and social responsibility,
they amplify the pastoral mission entrusted to priests and bishops.
The Laity Council also functions as
a training ground for leadership. It empowers men and women to take
responsibility for the Church’s growth, reminding them that baptism confers a
missionary mandate. As St. Paul reminds us: “To each is given the manifestation
of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). In this way, the Laity
Council becomes a critical pillar for upholding the clergy’s mandate by
ensuring that the work of evangelization is not left solely to the ordained.
THE ROLE OF THE PASTORAL COUNCIL
The Pastoral Council, at both parish and diocesan levels, is a consultative
body that assists the clergy in discerning and implementing pastoral
priorities. According to Canon 536 of the Code of Canon Law, it “investigates,
considers, and proposes practical conclusions about those things which pertain
to pastoral works.” Members of the Pastoral Council provide insights,
expertise, and grassroots knowledge that enrich pastoral decision-making.
By engaging lay members in dialogue, the clergy ensure that pastoral strategies
are realistic, inclusive, and contextually relevant. For example, councils may
advise on youth ministry, family apostolate, liturgical life, or responses to
social challenges such as poverty and violence. This collaboration enables the
clergy to shepherd more effectively, while the laity take ownership of the
Church’s mission. As Evangelii Gaudium (EG 31) teaches, “pastoral ministry in a
missionary key seeks to abandon the complacent attitude” and instead fosters
co-responsibility in the Church.
COMPLEMENTARY COLLABORATION
The synergy between the clergy, Laity Council, and Pastoral Council embodies
the Church as the People of God working together. Priests and bishops provide
vision, teaching, and sacramental leadership, while the councils help actualize
these in daily parish life. The laity bring their diverse gifts—professional
skills, cultural experiences, and spiritual insights—which complement the
sacramental role of the clergy. This collaboration reflects St. Paul’s image of
the Church as one body with many parts (Romans 12:4–5).
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
While these councils are critical, they also face challenges such as apathy,
poor formation, or dominance by a few individuals. At times, tension arises
when laity overstep or clergy underutilize the councils. Yet, with humility,
dialogue, and ongoing formation, these challenges can become opportunities for
deeper communion. Pope John Paul II in Christifideles Laici (CL 25) urged
laypeople to be “co-responsible for the Church’s being and action,” and this
spirit should animate all council members.
CONCLUSION
The mandates of the clergy—to teach, sanctify, and govern—cannot flourish
without the active partnership of the laity. Members of the Laity Council and
Pastoral Council serve as critical pillars, ensuring that pastoral vision is
translated into lived reality. They embody the principle of co-responsibility,
reminding the Church that all the baptized share in Christ’s mission. By
standing beside the clergy in service, they strengthen the unity and vitality
of the Church, ensuring that the Body of Christ grows ever stronger in faith,
love, and mission.
Noble Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje is a distinguished and multidimensional
communicator whose work as a writer, columnist, blogger, reviewer, editor, and
author bridges the intersections of global health, sustainable development,
human rights, climate justice, and governance. He is the Chief of Protocols of
the Abuja Grand Commandery of the Ancient and Noble Order of the Knights of St.
John International, and has attained the Noble degree of the Order. He holds a
number of chieftaincy titles including ‘High Chief Ugwumba I of Amaruru clan’,
and ‘Ahaejiejemba Ndigbo Lagos State’.
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