Finding hope in the call to co-responsibility
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As members of the Body of Christ, each of us receives a unique mission from God — a special calling that shapes how we live — and all the charisms necessary to fulfill our mission.
Thus, it is the responsibility of the clergy (bishops, priests, and deacons) to promote the engagement of the laity in the life and mission of their parish communities, even though we all have different roles and responsibilities in the Church.
Co-responsibility starts with a mutual respect and appreciation for the gifts, talents, sacramental charisms and offices the Holy Spirit has given us. These gifts are meant to be used for the sake of the Church’s mission to witness Jesus Christ to all in our community.
However, we are not meant to be “lone rangers” in how we exercise our charisms. That is why our Lord gave us the gifts of bishops and priests, who by acting in the person of Christ, the head and shepherd of the Church, lead the religious and lay faithful in the harmonious and efficacious carrying-out of our work together in the vineyard of the Lord.
Seeing the lay charisms alive and thriving in our Church today fills me with immense joy and hope!
Because of our mutual recognition that everyone has something to bring to the table, our parishes have pastoral councils, finance councils, school councils and stewardship councils.
Though primarily advisory in nature to assist the pastor in his responsibilities and obligations for the Church’s mission, these structures are never merely advisory when they function well. They are concrete expressions of lay participation in the governance of the parish and diocese, helping to ensure that pastors fulfill their responsibilities wisely and effectively.
The richness of this shared mission is also visible in every Mass we celebrate. The lector proclaims the Word, the cantor lifts our voices in song, and the faithful actively participate in prayer and worship, as the priest presides over the sacred mysteries with the deacons as his assistants, each with their own roles marked out in the rubrics.
This liturgical expression of the Church’s diverse charisms reflects the “co-responsible” harmony in which she is meant to function in all aspects of her mission.
The Church is neither solely the clergy nor solely the laity — it is the whole People of God, working and worshiping together as one.
Understanding co-responsibility also means recognizing that not every initiative must originate from the bishop, priest or deacon. Through Baptism and Confirmation, the laity are empowered — and indeed obligated — to seek new ways to draw others closer to God. However, whatever new initiatives the laity take on, they must always be exercised in communion with the Church.
Some may mistakenly interpret co-responsibility as a form of democratization. But a better way to understand it is an invitation to deeper engagement, where the wisdom and experience of the laity enrich the Church’s governance and mission.
Co-responsibility does not dilute the apostolic authority of the clergy but strengthens it, ensuring that no priest or bishop carries the weight of leadership alone.
As we strive to embody this vision of co-responsibility, I encourage every member of the Church to recognize and embrace his or her own gifts, talents, charisms and responsibilities within the Church with greater joy, zeal and commitment.
I call on the laity not to hesitate to offer your gifts for the good of the Church, perhaps in new ways.
I call on our priests and deacons to recognize and welcome these gifts of the laity with gratitude and to shepherd them into active participation with encouragement.
By doing so, the parishes of the Diocese of Jefferson City will more fully realize the Church’s mission as a living, vibrant communion of faith.
