“The Clock is Ticking: Lay Ministry in the Church,” a workshop for professional and volunteer lay ministers, will be held Saturday, Oct. 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Anthony Parish, located at 660 Florin Road in Sacramento.

Fred Parrella, an associate professor in the department of religious studies at Santa Clara University, will be the speaker. He is a presenter in the Diocese of San Jose’s Institute for Leadership in Ministry.

Parrella holds a bachelor’s degree in classical languages and a master’s degree and doctorate in systematic theology from Fordham University in New York City. Before his appointment to Santa Clara in 1977, he was a member of the faculty of colleges in New York, Ohio and Kentucky.

He has edited and contributed to three books on the theology of Paul Tillich and served as president of the North American Paul Tillich Society. He is currently editing a book titled “Trent and Vatican II: Change and Renewal.”

The workshop will focus on three areas:

ï Examining the church and its mission today: Where have all the clergy gone? Are lay ministers the answer to the future of the church?

ï A theological and historical sketch of lay ministry from its beginning in the early church to the Second Vatican Council’s new call to the laity.

ï The spirituality and practice of lay ministry, including how to consider new paradigms of lay ministry and relationships with clergy and other members of the parish.

Cost of the workshop is $20 per person and includes lunch. For more information or to obtain registration forms, call St. Anthony Parish at (916) 428-5678.

Copyright © 2004 Diocese of Sacramento - All Rights Reserved