Friday, 3 October 2025

MEMBERS OF THE LAITY COUNCIL AND PASTORAL COUNCIL AS CRITICAL PILLARS IN UPHOLDING THE MANDATES OF THE CLERGY [friday Blues 1-010]

 

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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