Catholic Evangelical Ministers

[aquamarine]

Hi, I'm new. I've been lurking for a bit, reading up on the forums, and I hope I put this in the right place...

I recently encountered someone who calls himself a lay minister (not in the sense he helps with communion at Mass) and adopts the kind of approach that's always made me uncomfortable around many fundamental non-Catholic Christians.

My question is who can call themselves a minister, who can 'evangelize' (I suppose we all can and must, but not in the official sense), and what authority do these people have? I'm shamefully not as well versed in the Church's catechism as I should be, so I can't pinpoint any actual contradictory information he's given me. It's really his over-the-top approach that makes me a little wary. He often refers to my 'conversion', which really has me baffled since I'm a baptised and confirmed Catholic.

Am I missing something? Did something happen while I was sleeping one day? I'm really confused about this. :mellow:

[RJS]

Does he say he is a lay Catholic minister? Because to my knowledge there is no such thing. He can be a lay apologest but he can't be a lay person and ordained. If he is some time of Protestant lay minister then that wouldn't surprise me. But if he claims to be Catholic I would be a little bit wary, espcially since as you say you are Catholic and don't need to be converted.

[aquamarine]

He says he's Catholic, and I think he truly is, based on other things he's said and done (he's extremely high on the sacrament of Confession, for example, which is unique to Catholicism, AFAIK), but his jargon and manner remind me of the kind of insistant, almost haranguing technique of fundamentalists. You know - the stuff that makes you almost physically pull back, it's so intense.

He's referred to his 'ministry', and calls himself a 'lay evangalist'. I know the lay persons who help at Mass are often referred to as 'lay ministers', but this was a new experience for me. Weird. Maybe it's just me.

[RJS]

If he is Catholic why is he talking of your conversion then? The closest thing to a lay minister that I know of is a Deacon, but they are still ordained. By no means am I sure about this either. But from what I have seen in my lifetime it doesn't make much sense. And who knows maybe he is doing a good thing because we need more Catholic Apologists trying to bring Protestants home.

Anyways I would be just a little bit weary.

[cmotherofpirl]

He could be a convert, that would account for his style.

[CatholicAndFanatical]

yea when I convert to Catholicism I still had that bad habit of handling snakes

ok, bad joke

:fluffy air extraction:

[phatcatholic]

shooooot, it made me laugh!

[Bruce S]

yea when I convert to Catholicism I still had that bad habit of handling snakes

Catholics just let Mary stand on them...grin.

[Ekilharas]

Aquamarine: (and all)

I am first of all a Catholic!

I am also a convert for whatever that means????

I am also a 'lay minister.'

That category is broader than you may think or realize. It includes Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, and even Altar Servers among many others.

It includes me, a trainedand commissionedPastoral Care Minister.

No, I am not ordained, but my training and commission allows me to serve under the direct supervision and permission of a local Priest as the following:

1. Presider for Communion Services.

2. Grief Ministry Care

3. Helper and counsellor for those who are ill, home bound, and/or terminally ill.

This includes listening to them, bringing them communion, laughing and crying with them, and their families.

4. I also serve as Lector, Eucharistic Minister and occaisionally as Altar Server when needed for Mass.

5. During special times of the year I might even preside at prayer services etc

6. I also help with funeral planning. I do hospital and nursing home visits also.

There are many other functions that I am trained for. Listening to parishioners is the major one. In many areas, the Priest covers as many as five or six different parish communities and so 'lay ministers' like me help to cover the needs.

Please be very clear about this! I am not a Priest, not ordained, I do not say Mass, and do not give absolution for sins. Only a Priest can do that.

Do I share my faith? As often as I can!

I guess I would want to know more about the person you are talking about. Are they trained to do what they do? Or are they just witnessing Jesus to you. Maybe you should ask this person that question. Or, if that is a problem for you, ask your Priest about it.

Blessings and prayers,

Nell

Edited December 24, 2003 by Ekilharas

[ICTHUS]

whoa...

One can speak of "Conversion" within the Catholic faith; for, when one is raised in the faith, oftentimes one does not make the decision to take ones faith seriously and to commit ones life to following Christ, until later in life. In this sense, one can refer to ones "conversion". I certainly can.

[Paladin D]

Catholics just let Mary stand on them...grin.

Your teeth are yellow.

[aquamarine]

Neil,

Thanks! That's what I was looking for. I should check to make sure this person has been trained and is working under some kind of local authority, then? Makes sense.

Oh, I wish there had been snakes, lol! I like snakes.

Thanks for your responses! I hope and pray you all have a wonderful and safe Christmas and New Year's!