1. The Role of the Laity
Session 3

2. Who are the laity?
Those who are not ordained, yet take on roles in the parish to assist the ordained in helping the parish community.
Pope Pius XII wrote in his discourse:
“Lay believers are in the front line of Church life; for them the Church is the animating principle of human society. Therefore, they in particular ought to have an ever-clearer consciousness not only of belonging to the Church, but of being the Church.”

3. How do the laity serve their parish?
When we are baptized, we are anointed as Prophet, Priest and King.
As prophets, laypeople speak the word of God and witness to the life, teachings, and saving actions of Christ.
As priests, laypeople offer worship to God, especially by participating in the Eucharistic liturgy.
As kings, laypeople profit from the authority and power of God to continue Christ’s ministry of service and love to all people.

4. Prophet Teach others how to Pray Participate in the sacraments
Celebrate feast days
Teach the faith
Teach about the saints
Begin with your family and then spread the word to others
Be an example to others of what it means to be Catholic

5. Priest Pray for others Pray for those whom it may be hard to pray for
Make sacrifices in your life to make others’ lives better
Pray together as a family
Be forgiving of others
Ask for forgiveness

6. King Be a leader in words and deeds Lead others to a life of virtue
Lead others to a life of service
Lead others to God
Lead others to be humble

7. Reflection
Click here to answer this week’s question.

8. References
Slide 2 boundaries-between-the-ordained-and-the-laity/ Slide 3 priestly-and-kingly-duties-of-baptism/ Slide 4 Slide 5 Slide 6 Slide 7 Google Forms image order-of-melchizedek/