The Diocesan Laity Council
Post Office Box 450
Sunyani
Ghana
Tel: 035202 27
COMPOSITION AND MEMBERSHIP OF THE DIOCESAN LAITY COUNCIL
Baptism accords all the Christian faithful a fundamental equality through which they share in the three-fold mission of Jesus: namely his royal, priestly and prophetic mission (cf. cc. 204 §1, 208). Besides this fundamental equality in dignity however, there exists a functional inequality among the baptized in terms of the ministry they exercise. The Church is therefore made up of two basic groups: sacred ministers (i.e. Bishops and priests) and the lay Christian faithful (cf. c. 207 §1; LG 33). Since the work of evangelization is entrusted to the whole church by Jesus, both the laity and the sacred ministers have their respective roles to perform in order to fulfill Jesus’ command of bringing the good news to the whole world by means of evangelization; roles that are collaborative and complementary, and unique to each person’s state and condition in the church.
The Councils shall be composed of and made up mainly of practicing Catholics. The Secretaries to the recognized societies and associations at the diocesan, parish, quasi-parishes and local levels shall constitute the membership of the Councils in addition to those who shall be nominated. In the event of a lack of adequate membership due to the limited number of such practicing Catholics, the Bishop shall be consulted immediately by the Deans and Parish Priests (where applicable) and the Bishop’s directives shall be followed.
The Diocesan Bishop, the Deans, the Parish Priests, and the Priests-in-Charge shall be the Presidents at the respective levels of the Laity Council. Presidency shall mean and be understood in accordance with church law that such church personnel represent the respective levels of church administration and that it is under their authority that the Laity Council operates (cf. cc. 393, 523).
OUR ACTIVITIES
The activity of the Diocesan Laity Council shall consist principally in drawing up an annual programme of action for the formation of the laity. The details of such programmes shall be worked out by the Diocesan Executives subject to the approval of the Bishop or his representative. These programmes shall include:
a. The organization of an annual Diocesan Easter Formation and Leadership training seminars.
b. The supervision of the celebration of the Annual National Laity Week Programme in all parishes in the Diocese.
c. The organization of seminars, lectures and other formation programmes at the deanery level throughout the diocese in consultation with the Deans and the parish priests/priests-in-charge in the deaneries.
d. Keeping in constant touch with all Parish Laity Councils by making regular supervisory visits.
e. Organizing at least two (2) diocesan plenary assemblies each year by bringing the Parish Laity Councils together to share ideas and evaluate parish progress reports.
f. Ensuring that the various levels of the Laity Councils in the Diocese send active lay leaders to participate in Deanery, Diocesan and National leadership seminars, congresses and all other programmes designed for the laity.