As I Have Done for You:Pastoral Letter on Ministry Cardinal Roger Mahony

Crisis is opportunity. That is the news, the good news of this new pastoral letter. No hand-wringing here! No, this is a summons to see the grace of God in this present moment and get on with our baptismal rights and duties. Far from worrying that the ministry of lay persons leads to some confusion about priestly ordination, As I Have Done for You is a call from the Archbishop and the clergy of the largest diocese in the United States: We’ll know what is distinct about each ministry once we know that all ministry is bound up in this wonderful sacramental church of ours, the body of Christ, Christ’s presence for the world today.

The letter begins with a comparison of parish life in 1955 with that anticipated in 2005, a discussion of baptism as the foundation of ministry, and a look at the ordained priesthood, permanent deacons, lay ecclesial ministry, collaboration and other issues in ministry today. In this pastoral letter, insight and theology lead to practical tools: four sets of discussion exercises for parish-based groups, pastoral councils and other organizations. These exercises will help any group that seeks to find new ways of meeting the ministerial needs of the church of the future. This single, bilingual volume contains the entire text of the pastoral letter in both English and Spanish.  (scroll to bottom for book details)