Required Formation
The Saint Bridget Liturgy Committee, staff and pastor are committed to doing all that they can to enable those who come to celebrate Mass to have an encounter with the Risen Christ, really present.  One of the steps in realizing that vision is having liturgy ministers who engage in ongoing growth and development.  The word “formation” is the one we are using to describe this growth and development because it includes three elements: intellectual, spiritual and practical. That means it is more than education and it is more than training.  This is an investment in doing as Christ invited us to all do: and that is to put on his mind, to follow his compassionate heart and to know how to make disciples.

Liturgy Ministers are primary mediators of Christ’s Real Presence by virtue of their significant service to the Eucharist.  As such, their formation is essential so that they may be conduits of Christ’s Holy Spirit.  As this initiative begins here in 2011, all liturgy ministers are being required to attend the following initial formation:

1.  A gathering entitled Ministry Matters.  This is to be attended at the beginning of each three-year ministerial cycle.

2. Mass at Saint Bridget during the weekend you attend Ministry Matters so that you can be commissioned for service.

In addition to this initial gathered formation, liturgy ministers are required to complete the following self-directed formation: read their handbooks, review the website, begin to pray for themselves and the effectiveness of the ministry and be certain they know how to access and operate the online scheduling system.

In addition to this initial formation, liturgy ministers will be required to attend to their ongoing formation so as to deepen their intellectual, spiritual and practical development in the ministry.  This ongoing formation has two dimensions: a self-directed learning dimension and a group learning dimension.  Components include such things as:

3.  Completing the self-guided learning offered to you by your ministry heads or by the Pastor.  This will consist of such things as an article that pertains to your ministry, an excerpt from a document that pertains to your ministry, or a video clip/podcast or webinar pertinent to your ministry.

4.  Attending special gatherings for those who serve in your particular ministry.  These special gatherings will likely be held just once, so if you are unable to attend, you will be required to let your Ministry Head know so that supplemental formation can be provided for you.  You are required to attend 2/3 of the gatherings offered in one three-year ministerial cycle (that is two out of three).   Gatherings might examine a spiritual dimension of the ministry, the implications of a segment of the Church’s teaching for your ministry, or specific skill building such as use of a microphone, an AED or how to handle the Sunday collection.