The Church needs a well formed laity: Bp Fernando

October 18, 2012: “Our ministerial priesthood has meaning only in relation to the Common Priesthood of the faithful, though they differ essentially”, said Julian FERNANDO, Bishop of Badulla, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday at the Synod of Bishops which is presently being held at the Vatican.

“The Church does not lack teaching and structures to involve the Laity in her mission, but often pastors do not seem to recognize the urgency and necessity of entrusting the Lay faithful, with love and confidence, their proper roles in evangelization.” He said. Quoting the Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes he said “the joy and hope, grief and anguish, of men and women of our time, especially of the poor and the afflicted must become ours as pastors and followers of Christ”, in order for there to be a new evangelization.

“The Church today needs a well formed and well informed laity who can renew and sanctify the temporal order. Therefore, formation of the laity should be on our high priority list.” He added.

“Denial of reality, self defense or finding demographic reasons do not augur well to carry out the mission of the Church. We need to trust in Christ the Lord and re commit ourselves to Him, together with our lay faithful, recalling the encouraging words of our Lord who repeatedly implored “do not be afraid” and urged His disciples to put out the nets into the deep.” He said