Priest numbers decline, laypeople step up roles

Laypeople are taking up roles in the Roman Catholic Church that the priests can no longer… Laypeople are taking up roles in the Roman Catholic Church that the priests can no longer satisfy by themselves, entering into territory that some parishioners feel should be the exclusive domain of the clergy.

“Prior to the Vatican II Council, laypeople were expected to follow three rules: pray, pay and obey,” said the Rev. John Rushofsky, director of clergy personnel for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. “But the Council realized that laypeople are called to a much broader participation and also leadership in the church, recognizing that there are only three things a priest has to do that no one else can do: celebrate Mass, hear confessions and anoint the sick.”

According to the Diocese of Pittsburgh, the number of Catholic priests in the diocese — representing six southwestern Pennsylvania counties — has declined nearly 43 percent. In fact, only one man will be ordained into the priesthood in 2006.

The U.S. Census Bureau figures the population of Pittsburgh alone has declined by half since 1950. Yet, the number of Catholic laity — common church members — in the diocese rose by 1.2 percent to 815,719 in 2004, according to the diocese.

The Vatican II Council of 1965 expanded the congregation’s role in the Catholic Church, and laypeople have participated in and out of Mass ever since.

Members of the congregation can read from the scriptures, give out the Eucharist and sing in Mass.

“Laymen make up the vast majority of the church, so in a way everything the church does is for our benefit,” said Jason Gwaldo, who reads scriptures from the pulpit for Mass at the Ryan Newman Catholic Center in Oakland. “I see the lay status as an important and rather exciting element of the church as a whole.”

Mary Ann Lecci is a jack-of-all-trades as a member of St. Anne’s Church in Castle Shannon. She teaches adult religious education for Catholic converts, participates in the youth group services and is one of 135 lay Eucharistic ministers at the church. Nine ministers are needed for Sunday Mass to complement the one priest who gives out the host.

Some people go beyond those roles on the altar and perform tasks outside of Mass. The job of Eucharistic minister can extend beyond the altar, too.

Lecci and St. Anne’s Eucharistic ministers have taken the Eucharist to homebound people since 1971.

“It makes me feel like I’m helping out the church,” she said. “A few of us go to homebound people who are sitting at home and never come in contact with other people. And they give so much to us. That makes me feel good. I’m making a difference in someone’s life.”

However, there are two sides to every coin. Some Catholics think laypeople should not be such a strong presence in the Mass.

One incident in particular reminded Lecci that everyone doesn’t share the pride she feels as a Eucharistic minister.

“I know of people who won’t take the Eucharist from us ministers, who pass over into the next line for the priest,” she said. “Not a whole lot of people do that, but some do. They just can’t see a normal person passing out the host.”

One Catholic who prefers taking the Eucharist from a priest offered her opinion.

“I’m uncomfortable with the idea of Eucharistic ministers because that’s the body and blood of Christ,” said Christine Winschel, a congregation member at the Newman Center. “They’re less qualified to hand out the host.”

Even though he helps out during Mass, Gwaldo agrees with Winschel and doesn’t think laypeople should be found in every facet of the Catholic Church.

“I have no problem with having laymen read, but when laymen try to do other things like performing liturgical acts, I have a problem with that,” he said. “Eucharistic ministers are OK when needed, but only when needed. In a Mass of 100 people, there’s no real need.”

The Church’s official stance on lay Eucharistic ministers was documented in the Fidei Custos of 1969.

Laypeople are called upon to help distribute the Eucharist to meet the needs of the community through the Catholic Church and at hospitals.

Whether or not lay Eucharistic ministers are used has something to do with the number of people at Mass, but not always. If Mass would be excessively prolonged by the number of people wishing to receive communion, the priest should call upon laypeople to give out the Eucharist, according to Fidei Custos.

Sister Margaret Hannan, president of the Pittsburgh Sisters of Mercy, and a nun for 46 years, remembers when laypeople were just starting to participate in Mass.

“Laypeople were hesitant to assume the responsibility at first,” she said, “but over time I saw a shift in responsibility that normally occurs in a family. It’s like a Thanksgiving family tradition. Your grandma makes the dinner for years, but when she gets older, the rest of the family takes over the responsibilities of cooking the meal.”

In order to teach the message of Catholicism to grade school students, laypeople have stepped up to the chalkboard when a majority of teachers used to be nuns and priests. Ralph Gigliotti is an eighth grade religious education teacher at Our Lady of Loreto Church in Brookline.

“I knew the church needed help with teachers,” he said. “And since I’m a secondary education major at Duquesne, I thought this would be a good way to get experience. Plus, it would help me serve my church to my fullest potential.”

Hannan, a former teacher herself, concurred with Gigliotti.

“Evolution has benefited the church, she said. “Laypeople bring a good perspective to teaching. They provide a stable and good influence on our young people.”

With some priests working at two parishes, and others perpetually moving from hospital to church, busy priests have appreciated help from laypeople.

“People are taking ownership and responsibility,” the Rev. John Bachkay — of the Incarnation of the Lord, and Risen Lord churches — said. “There are things that we can’t do, but other people are taking these responsibilities very seriously. Priests can’t be everywhere at the same time. Their service is real and genuine.”

Bachkay and Miller agree that the laity does enough at Mass, but could help out more with charity, evangelization, managerial, financial and administrative work. The financial work — especially — is the skill that many priests do not have.

“I think it would be a good idea to get the laity more involved financially,” Winschel said, “because the Catholic Church doesn’t have a great sense of community. Me, personally, I would know nothing about financial work. When I’m in a position to, I’d like to help out with educational programs.”

“It’s a great idea that people show we’re all the church together,” Miller said. “The church is not just the priests. The church is all the baptized.” Editor’s note: Ralph Gigliotti, a source in this story, is of no relation to the article’s author, John Gigliotti.