BLOOMFIELD – For 26 men and women, May 7 was a special night, as Archbishop Henry J. Mansell presented certificates of commission to new lay ministers. But for the family of one man who died before he could complete the formation program, the ceremonies at the Archdiocesan Center at St. Thomas Seminary were bittersweet.
Francis Revay, a parishioner at St. Catherine Parish in Broad Brook, died on Holy Thursday, April 1, at age 78. His children, Kathleen Hart, Michelle Simmons and John Revay, received their father’s certificate of commission from Archbishop Mansell, who whispered words of condolence to each of them.
A former prominent banker in Broad Brook (East Windsor), Mr. Revay co-founded Revay’s Gardens, a local family business that contributed floral arrangements to St. Catherine’s and other parishes.
He also supported Catholic ministries and prayer groups throughout northern Connecticut. He was an extraordinary minister of holy Communion at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center. He was also active in civic activities in his community. His lay ministry would have focused on the sick and the elderly.
The religious education office sponsors the 18-month lay ministry program for women and men wishing to deepen their faith, train for various parish ministries, become more effective leaders, broaden their theological knowledge and improve their ministerial and helping skills. Lay ministry candidates must be recommended by their pastors and by a fellow parishioner.
Kim Green, a member of St. Peter Claver Parish in West Hartford, chose to minister to the sick and elderly. She said it’s a way of giving back, because she has received similar kindnesses during her own battles with cancer and heart disease.
Three weeks after beginning the lay ministry formation program, Mrs. Green, a breast cancer survivor, had open heart surgery. Upon her recovery, she put together her own ministry program called HEAL, which stands for Help, Encouragement and Love. The ministry reaches out to people with chronic illnesses who might not think of turning to the Church for help in doing chores. HEAL has 17 volunteers who lend a hand to about 30 people on a regular basis.
"It’s still in its infancy," she said. "I can see a ton of potential growth. It’s good stuff. I sometimes feel I’m the beneficiary. I’m probably devoting 10 to 20 hours a week, depending on how many people I’m seeing."
Martin and Kathleen McKay, a husband and wife team from St. Joseph Parish in Canaan, chose separate ministries. Martin said he chose baptismal preparation as a way of relieving some of the burden from his pastor, Father Brian E. Jeffries.
Martin said he contacts parishioners who have scheduled a baptism and presents them with a packet explaining what they need to know and what is expected of them.
"We meet with them, show a short video and answer questions," he said. "We ask them to fill out paperwork and help them with it if needed."
He said he is trying to encourage baptisms during Mass on Sundays, rather than private ceremonies outside of Mass. Baptisms during Mass nurture the spirit of communal welcoming of the new member of the Church, he said.
Kathleen chose stewardship in order to get parishioners more involved in parish work. "I drew up a book of different stewardships in both parishes, such as the liturgy committee, lectors, servers and the Immaculate Conception’s men’s club," she said. "It gets people a little more involved. I’m very active in things down at the church and I wish more were involved. A lot of people don’t want to step in and get involved because they think others somehow own a particular stewardship."
Ann Eden, of St. Ann Parish in Milford, wasn’t certain what ministry to take on and so she invented one.
"I’m doing wedding preparation," she said. "I’m sort of like the wedding planner."
When her pastor, Father Brian Shaw, hinted that he needed help with weddings, "it was like the Holy Spirit was hitting me over the head," she said. "This is a ministry that is unique to our parish, and I think it’s unique to the Archdiocese."
She makes certain that couples understand the process, fill out the proper forms and choose appropriate readings and prayers for the liturgy. She is present at rehearsals and on the day of the wedding. She also anticipates potential problems.
Archbishop Mansell praised the men and women for the hard work and commitment they have shown during the formation process. "You bring an understanding. You bring a grounding in the Church, a grounding in the Lord," he said.
