Laity

Laity

LAITY MINISTRY COMMISSION: LATIN ARCHDIOCESE
OF TRIVANDRUM

Brief History
The mission of the Church is to transform human history into a proactive experience of the Kingdom of God.What we achieve through Christ-centered proclamation is the very action of divine grace that renews from within history itself. In other words, just like Jesus, we enter into the consciousness of the community of God's people to serve as witnesses to the Kingdom of God. The history of the Archdiocese of Trivandrum begins with the realization of this Christian reality—standing at the forefront in the articulation of the Kingdom of God and its witnessing, and moving forward with mutual care, untiring and unwavering, even when called to embrace trials and martyrdom through a life of faith.

It was on July 1, 1937, that Pope Pius XI, of holy memory, established the Diocese of Trivandrum through the Decree "In Ora Malabarica", carving out the taluks of Chirayinkeezhu, Trivandrum, Nedumangad, and Neyyattinkara from the Diocese of Quilon, which was the first diocese in India.

During the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Diocese in 1987, a renewal began in the diocese with a new vision shifting from "Church for the People" to "Church of the People" for the laity. In 1990, various commissions were appointed to comprehensively evaluate and study the renewal movements taking place in the local church.

In 2004, on the 67th anniversary of the establishment of the diocese, Trivandrum was elevated to a Metropolitan Archdiocese on June 3, and its beloved father was raised to the status of Metropolitan Archbishop. Consequent to the recommendations of the Archdiocesan Synod held from May 20 to May 25, 2012, the Laity Ministry Commission was officially formed in the Archdiocese. The Synod recommended appointing a layperson as its Director, and accordingly, Shri. Arcangelose was appointed as the first Director
of the Commission. Subsequently, Rev. Fr. Tony Hamlet, Rev. Fr. John Bosco, Rev. Fr. Theodecius D'Cruz, and Dr. Michael Thomas served as Directors, and Shri. Nixon Lopez rendered service as Assistant Director. Currently, Rev. Fr. Shijin Manoj Amado serves as the Director. Under the guidance and proper Christ-centered direction of His Grace the Archbishop, Most Rev. Dr. Thomas J. Netto, and His Excellency Auxiliary Bishop Christudas, the ministries are being fruitfully implemented.

As a result of decentralization of authority within the Archdiocese, pastoral activities are coordinated at the Forane and parish levels through the supervision of Forane Clerical Coordinators, combined with the joint activities of Forane Conveners and committees. Forane Animators closely monitor these ministry activities to ensure they achieve successful outcomes.

Vision

To empower and enable the laity to actively participate with hope-filled commitment in the apostolic objectives of the Church, striving towards the building of the Kingdom of God.

Mission

To provide energy and vitality to the lay apostolic activities of the Church by organizing environments that revitalize the functions of various forums, pious associations, and community organizations within the Archdiocese, and to coordinate their overall initiatives.

Objective

To achieve community empowerment through the integration of various community organizations, to ensure active participation in the pastoral initiatives of the church through the coordination of pious associations, and to attain educational and economic progress through employment-oriented forums.

Other Activities of the Lay Apostolate

• Nurturing a reliable lineup of lay leaders who sincerely love the Church and the community through various organizational activities and training processes.
• Actively intervening in issues at the local level and designing programs necessary to find appropriate solutions.
• Coordinating lay organizations, instilling community awareness, and strengthening them.
• Creating opportunities and environments for the integration and collective advancement of community organizations, pious associations, and various forums within the Archdiocese.
• Strengthening pious associations to make them more active participants in parish ministries.
• Forming fellowships for individuals employed across diverse professional sectors to guide community members into the mainstream of society.
• Providing leadership training and conducive environments for the laity to fruitfully fulfill their calling and mission in the Church and society, in compliance with Christian vision and ecclesial teachings.
• Intervening in the vital issues of the general public within the Archdiocese to provide vibrant energy to their liberation movements.
• Organizing training programs, discussions, and dialogues to help emerge public workers, social leaders, and cultural figures from within the community.
• Arranging appropriate celebrations to observe the Feast of St. Devasahayam (Martyr), the patron of the laity, which falls after January 14, as Laity Day, and the first Sunday of December as Community Day.
• Establishing Help Desks in parishes to actively function by informing members about employment opportunities, and ensuring justice and rights reach those community members who are denied them.
• Organizing necessary encouragement and support to successfully establish and strengthen women's fellowships.
• Coordinating various organizations to ensure mutual assistance, cooperation, and the formulation of action plans in feasible sectors during the preparation of annual action plans.
• Educating the laity on Lay Theology (Theology of the Laity) to make them conscious of their calling and mission within the Church and the world.

Fields of Activity for Community Organizations

• Actively intervening in the socio-political issues of the parish. (KLCA / KLCWA / DCMS)
• Finding qualified candidates from the community to position them in upcoming local self-government, legislative assembly, and parliamentary elections. (KLCA / KLCWA / DCMS)
• Conducting precise observation and intervention regarding ward de-limitation. (KLCA)
• Identifying capable women candidates in women-reserved wards/constituencies. (KLCWA)
• Organizing forums to understand and address the prominent leaders (e.g., Anti-Christian sentiment) within the community. (KLCA / KLCWA)
• Organizing training seminars at the parish level capable of imparting knowledge on church administration and social awareness. (KLCA / DCMS)
• Circulating community-oriented publications such as 'Jeevanum Velichavum' and the Archdiocesan monthly magazine 'Jeevam'. (KLCA / KLCWA)

Fields of Activity for Pious Associations

• Providing assistance and support to orphans.
• Identifying the root causes of hardships faced by the destitute and formulating plans to eradicate them.
• Visiting orphans individually to spend time with them.
• Conducting home visits to families.
• Visiting the sick and the elderly.
• Promoting family prayer devotions within households.
• Propagating Catholic literature.
• Enrolling new members into pious associations through exemplary personal witness in life.
• Celebrating annual feasts in a meaningful manner, avoiding extravagant and wasteful practices.
• Working collectively with the Parish Priest and Parish Council members for the comprehensive growth and
• development of the parish.
• Encouraging spiritual formation, Bible study, and leadership training.
• Promoting the active participation of the laity in the Holy Liturgy.

Fields of Activity for Forums

• Actively engaging in healthcare ministry by intervening in lifestyle diseases and infectious epidemics.(Doctors / Nurses Forum)
• Providing supervision and coordination for infrastructure construction activities. (Engineers Forum)
• Forming legal aid cells to supervise and guide legal activities. (Advocates Forum)
• Imparting awareness regarding government employment opportunities. (Employees Forum)
• Designing and implementing action plans to create awareness about benefits available to communitymembers and facilitating their acquisition. (Employees Forum)
• Collaborating with the Education Ministry Commission for the educational progress of students within the parish.
• Assisting unemployed youth in identifying public and private sector employment opportunities. (Employees Forum)
• Striving to launch employment ventures at the parish level.
• Preparing projects to safeguard and maintain the community's traditional, artistic, and cultural values.
• Supporting and working together for the welfare of individuals engaged in the same profession, helping each other to achieve professional growth.
• Preparing other projects based on local requirements alongside these initiatives.
• Organizing training programs, discussions, and dialogues to help emerge public workers, social leaders, and cultural figures from within the community.
• Establishing Help Desks in parishes to actively function by informing members about employment opportunities, and ensuring justice and rights reach those community members who are denied them.

Structure of the Commission at Archdiocesan / Forane / Parish Levels

Parish Level: This committee is formed under the joint leadership of the Spiritual Director (Parish Priest), BCC Unit Representatives, elected representatives from the wards, and presidents of various community organizations, pious associations, and forums. It consists of a Convener, Joint Convener/Treasurer, Secretary, and Joint Secretary, along with executive members. This team is responsible for leading the activities at the parish level.

The Laity Ministry Commission shall convene a meeting at least once a month with the knowledge and direction of the Parish Priest. Special meetings and action programs may be arranged as per local requirements. The Convener holds the responsibility to call meetings under the instruction of the Parish Priest. In the absence of the Convener, the Joint Convener shall take charge, and in the absence of the Joint Convener, the Treasurer of the committee shall assume the responsibility. The same organizational structure is implemented and put into operation at the Forane level as well.

Laity Ministry Commission – Archdiocesan Level

The Archdiocesan Laity Ministry Commission comprises the Director appointed by the Archbishop along with the executive committee members from each Forane. The Archdiocesan Executive Committee must be selected from this body.

Archdiocesan Executive Committee (Diocesan Executives)

1. Director
2. Convener
3. Joint Convener
4. Secretary
5. Joint Secretary
6. 2 Members elected from the Archdiocesan Laity Commission Advisory Council
7. Archdiocesan Presidents of Community Organizations
8. Archdiocesan Presidents of Pious Associations
9. Archdiocesan Presidents of Forums

The above-mentioned officials shall constitute the Executive Committee members of the Archdiocesan Laity Ministry Commission.

Components / Forums of the Laity Ministry

Doctors Forum, Engineers Forum, Advocates Forum, Teachers Forum, Employees Forum, and Non-Resident (NRK) Fora.

Social / Community Organizations

Kerala Latin Catholic Association (KLCA), Kerala Latin Catholic Women's Association (KLCWA), Dalit Christian Mahajana Sabha (DCMS).

Major Lay Associations / Pious Associations

• Confraternity Association (Konnfriria Sabha)
• Legion of Mary
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul
• Lay Franciscan Third Order
• Lay Carmelite Third Order

Active Participation in the Political Affairs Committee

The Political Affairs Committee functions at the Archdiocesan level to take decisions and implement measures regarding socio-political issues affecting the community, in compliance with the guidelines of the K.R.L.C.C. and subject to the approval of the Archbishop. The Laity Ministry Commission operates with accountability and deep dedication alongside the Political Affairs Committee, which takes decisions and initiates actions that clearly reflect the interests and stances of the community.