On Friday, March 28, 2025, in St Muredach’s Cathedral, 64 men and women were conferred with a Certificate in Lay Leadership from The Newman Institute of Education, Ireland, and presented with their parchments by Archbishop Francis Duffy.
The graduates completed a two-year Certificate in Lay Leadership: Theology, Culture and Ministry. 12 modules were studied in the areas of Church History, Faith and Culture, Liturgy, Sacred Music, Sacred Scripture, Pastoral Theology, Safeguarding, Bereavement Care, Synodality, Moral Theology and Catholic Social Teaching, Christology, and Canon Law and the Administration of Parishes.
Course participants completed Pastoral Placements in 6 host parishes throughout the two-year course in areas such as scripture meditation, guided prayer, Advent and Lent reflection evenings, and co-leading funeral rites with their priest.
A key focus of the course was the preparation of Lay Leaders to co-lead with their priests the various rites in the Order of Christian Funerals. Lay Leaders co-lead the prayers in the Wake House or Funeral Home, in the Church for the Rite of Reception, the Prayer of Final Commendation, and the Rite of Committal in the Cemetery. Lay Leaders will be part of a team ministry in parishes with their priests, actively bringing the love and compassion of Christ to their ministry of care for the bereaved.
Speaking at the ceremony, Archbishop Francis Duffy congratulated the graduates for their energy, their faith and their commitment to the importance of their mission:
“This evening, we celebrate not just academic achievement but a deep commitment to service. These men and women have responded to the call of the Gospel, stepping forward to share in the leadership of our parishes.”
The equal dignity we all share in and through our baptism has been the foundation stone upon which the course was designed and delivered. Our Lay Leaders are approaching their ministry with humility and service, putting their gifts at the service of the people of God. They will be commissioned for ministry by Archbishop Francis Duffy during the Mass of Chrism in St Muredach’s Cathedral on Tuesday, April 15th at 6.30pm.