Introduction
The decree on the apostolate of the laity Apostolicam Actuositatem (AA) of the Second Vatican Council states the mind of the church about the role of the laity in the life of the church. The Council makes us aware that the laity has an indispensable role in the mission of the church. The Church can’t think without the lay apostolate. The modern conditions demand that the laity must and should be getting involved in the church. The scarcity of the priests and the hostile environment against the priests and the religious, the expertise of the laity in the field such as social communication, politics, finance, education demand that it is urgent and pressing need that the laity must realize their role in the mission of the church and the priests should welcome them in their ministry as it happened in the early Christian communities. (Cfr. Acts 11:19-21; 18:26; Rom. 16:1-16; Phil. 4:3)
In the light of the Second Vatican Council, the Church began its revision of Code of Canon law 1917. The Latin code implemented what was said in the council. At the beginning of the revision, the consulters formulated 10 guiding principles for the revision of the Code of Canon law. One of the principles was to safeguard the rights of the persons. The consulters knew the council teaching on the laity. It said, “The laity derive the right and duty to the apostolate from their union with Christ the head; incorporated into Christ’s Mystical Body through Baptism and strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit through Confirmation, they are assigned to the apostolate by the Lord Himself.” (AA, no. 3).
We have today the revised code of Canon law and several documents that guide us on the lay participation in the mission of the church. We can’t study them in detail but at least let us become aware of these structures.
Positive Image of priests-laity collaboration in the definition of “Parish Priest”:
The code explains the office of the parish priest in a very positive frame of mind in Canon 519 (CIC 1983). It states, “The parish priest is the proper pastor of the parish entrusted to him. He exercises pastoral care of the community entrusted to him under the authority of the diocesan Bishop, whose ministry of Christ he is called to share, so that for this community he may carry out the offices of teaching, sanctifying and ruling with the cooperation of other priests or deacons and with the assistance of lay members of Christ’s faithful, in accordance with the law”. The parish priests need to work in collaboration with the other priests, deacons and the laity. The parish priest can’t work arbitrary, in isolation but he is asked to work in collaboration with others. The Code articulates the mind of the Second Vatican Council. If the Code (Can 519) states that the Parish Priest needs to collaborate with the others, in particular, the laity then what are the structures available for the laity to exercise their role in the mission of the church. Let us briefly look at them.
Parish Pastoral Council (Can. 536)
The bishop can make the constitution of parish pastoral council (PPC) obligatory after consulting the council of priests. It is one of t he best expression of communion, participation and co-responsibility between the priests and the laity. It is a representative body of the faithful working in close collaboration with the parish priest. The parish priest is the president. He is not an autocratic leader but the one who animates and facilitates the activities. PPC’s role is to help the parish priest identify the pastoral needs in the parish. It helps him to plan pastoral programs. It evaluates the pastoral programs. The composition of the council is adapted to the local settings. The members of the council must know that they have serious responsibilities in helping the parish priest so that he may make the right decision for their parish community. It should not become a place where we show our grievance and fight with the parish priest.
Parish Finance Council (Can. 537)
Parish Finance Council is an obligatory body that helps the parish priests in the administration of the goods of the parish. It functions according to the norms laid by the universal law as well as the diocesan bishop. It is comprised of the members who are experts in the field of civil law, finance, etc. They need to be honest and devoted to the church and its mission. The council assists the parish priest. In the recent past, the rules and regulation in the field of finance have drastically changed. The priests need help to follow them, those who have knowledge in the finances must voluntarily reach out to the parish priests in helping them to make the decision in administering the goods of the church. It is the parish priest who administers of the parish finance and representative of the parish in the legal matters.
The Diocesan Synod (Can. 463)
The 1917 code of Canon law (Can. 358) restricted the membership of the diocesan synod to the clerics. The 1983 Code of Canon law made it mandatory that there should be lay participation in the diocesan synod. The diocesan bishop is responsible to have wider participation and representation of the faithful from different sectors of the diocese. He may choose them from the diocesan pastoral council and in the manner that is decided the organizing committee. The faithful must participate wholeheartedly in this activity without any reservation. They need to participate in the synod with prudence and integrity.
The Diocesan Finance Council (Can. 492-494)
The Diocesan Finance Council is also an obligatory organ. It assists the diocesan bishop in his administration of the diocese. Every diocese should have it. They is no alternative to this organ. The laypeople who are experts in the field of finance, civil law can make a great contribution. Their expertise helps the diocesan bishop in effective functioning and administration of the temporal goods of the diocese. The council has greater power because the diocesan bishop can not take any decision on his own. He has to take counsel on certain matters or he needs to the consent. It is mandatory to follow the directives mentioned in the canon law otherwise the acts are invalid or illicit. This council continues to function even when the Episcopal see is vacant or impeded.
The Diocesan Pastoral Council (Can. 511-514)
The diocesan Pastoral Council is a gift of the second Vatican Council. It was founded on the basis of communion, participation and collaboration in the mission of the church. This council is formed at the diocesan level. It is composed and functions by the particular law which is enacted by the diocesan bishop. It helps the diocesan bishop on a regular basis. The diocesan synod rarely takes place with the initiatives of the bishop but the diocesan pastoral council is a regular feature. The bishop can make use of this structure to know and study the matters that concern his diocese. The laypeople can make big contribution though this council by helping the bishop with their experience.
The Regional and National Council (Can. 443 §4)
In the recent past, the regional and national level consultation with the laity is gaining momentum. At every regional level in our country, the consultation is takin place under the directives of the Holy See. We had a consultation on the topics of family, youth etc at the Western Region. The laypeople who are involved in these apostolates share their experience and concerns with the bishops who take proper decision for their faithful at the diocesan or regional level. They lay people should not limit themselves to the parish and the diocese but must co-operate Episcopal Conferences at the regional, national and international level. This kind of participation fosters communion and unity in the church.
Conclusion:
There is a general grievance among the lay faithful that the above-mentioned structures in the church administration are only in consultative in nature. It does not have the power to make the decision in the mission of the church. We say that the Church is not democratic. Our country is democratic but how many of us know that everybody does not make the decision but our representatives who are elected at the state and national level take the decision for us. The clerics who are representatives of Christ’s faithful take decisions for us. Their principle aim is salus animarum which means the salvation of our souls. We need to realise that it is our responsibility to participate in these participatory structures of the church to help our priests, bishops to make proper decisions for us. Therefore, let us promote participatory structures and communion within the church. Let this structure help to build dialogue between the clergy and the laity. The 1983 Code has enhanced the role of the laity with the innovation of some of these structures. We should not renounce these structures or passively participate in these councils but need to have proper understanding and openness in walking along with the priests and bishops with the help of these participatory structures of the church. This is the future of the Church.
