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The qualities that candidates are most characteristic of candidates at the conclusion of their lay ministry formation programs are a commitment to the person of Jesus Christ, the desire to serve others, and a sense of mission/discipleship.
How much do candidates have these qualities
when they complete your program?
Percent responding:
"Very Much" or
"Somewhat""Very Much"
OnlyDesire to serve others
100%
84% Sense of mission/discipleship
100%
81% Commitment to the person of Jesus Christ
99%
85% Sense of personal call
99%
79% Sense of community
99%
79% Commitment to the Catholic Church
99%
77% Openness to life-long faith formation
99%
77% Openness to ongoing conversion
99%
73% Ability to articulate personal faith experiences
99%
75% Sensitivity to diverse expressions of faith
99%
65% Appreciation of diverse models of the Church
99%
60% Commitment to prayer
99%
59% Openness to transforming grace of ministry
98%
69% Healthy sense of self
98%
57% Ability to invite others to a life of faith
98%
53% Ability to integrate ministry within the multiple roles in
one's life
98%
51% Commitment to social justice
98%
47% Ability to reflect theologically
97%
63% Willingness to serve diverse populations
97%
42% Ability to engage in discernment
92%
45%
According to almost all program directors, candidates have each of these qualities at least "somewhat" when they complete their lay ministry formation programs. Fairly large percentages believe candidates have these qualities "very much" depending on the particular quality in question.
More than three-fourths of the respondents say that candidates have a commitment to the person of Jesus Christ, a desire to serve others, a sense of mission/discipleship, a sense of personal call, a sense of community, a commitment to the Catholic Church, and an openness to life-long faith formation "very much" at the conclusion of their programs.
Slightly smaller percentages of respondents, between two-thirds and three-fourth, say candidates have these qualities "very much" upon completion of their programs: an ability to articulate personal faith experiences, an openness to ongoing conversion, and an openness to the transforming grace of ministry.
Type of Program
Overall, CPE program directors tend to rate their candidates more highly on each of these qualities, but there are relatively few other differences among the types of formation programs in their evaluation of the qualities their candidates possess when they complete the program.
How much do candidates have these qualities when they complete your program?
Percent responding "very much"
| Diocesan | College | Seminary | CPE | Independent | |
| Commitment to the person of Jesus Christ | 90% | 79% | 90% | 70% | 91% |
| Commitment to the Catholic Church | 87% | 65% | 71% | 67% | 82% |
| Sense of community | 86% | 71% | 62% | 80% | 91% |
| Desire to serve others | 84% | 79% | 91% | 90% | 82% |
| Sense of personal call | 83% | 75% | 67% | 91% | 73% |
| Sense of mission/discipleship | 81% | 80% | 76% | 70% | 100% |
| Openness to life-long faith formation | 78% | 78% | 76% | 80% | 55% |
| Openness to ongoing conversion | 77% | 72% | 67% | 70% | 55% |
| Ability to articulate personal faith experiences | 71% | 77% | 81% | 82% | 73% |
| Openness to transforming grace of ministry | 69% | 70% | 57% | 90% | 55% |
| Commitment to prayer | 67% | 43% | 65% | 50% | 73% |
| Appreciation of diverse models of the Church | 64% | 66% | 35% | 70% | 27% |
| Sensitivity to diverse expressions of faith | 64% | 62% | 62% | 100% | 46% |
| Healthy sense of self | 58% | 47% | 55% | 90% | 70% |
| Ability to invite others to a life of faith | 56% | 48% | 43% | 60% | 64% |
| Ability to reflect theologically | 49% | 75% | 71% | 100% | 30% |
| Commitment to social justice | 49% | 50% | 33% | 50% | 55% |
| Ability to integrate ministry within the multiple roles in one's life | 48% | 52% | 43% | 70% | 55% |
| Willingness to serve diverse populations | 39% | 43% | 33% | 73% | 45% |
| Ability to engage in discernment | 38% | 55% | 30% | 82% | 27% |
The table below compares the "before" and "after" responses.
The greatest differences in the two sets of responses are in ability to articulate faith experiences, sense of community, sense of mission and discipleship, sensitivity to diverse expressions of faith, and ability to reflect theologically. There is a 60 percent or more difference in the "very much" responses before and after the program on each of these qualities.
Comparison of Candidate Qualities at the Beginning and End of the Program
Percent responding "very much"
| Before | After | |
| Desire to serve others | 62% | 84% |
| Commitment to the person of Jesus Christ | 54% | 85% |
| Commitment to the Catholic Church | 46% | 77% |
| Sense of personal call | 39% | 79% |
| Openness to life-long faith formation | 25% | 77% |
| Commitment to prayer | 23% | 59% |
| Sense of mission/discipleship | 20% | 81% |
| Openness to ongoing conversion | 20% | 73% |
| Sense of community | 14% | 79% |
| Healthy sense of self | 14% | 57% |
| Openness to transforming grace of ministry | 13% | 69% |
| Willingness to serve diverse populations | 9% | 42% |
| Ability to articulate personal faith experiences | 6% | 75% |
| Ability to integrate ministry within the multiple roles in one's life | 6% | 51% |
| Sensitivity to diverse expressions of faith | 5% | 65% |
| Ability to invite others to a life of faith | 5% | 53% |
| Appreciation of diverse models of the Church | 4% | 60% |
| Commitment to social justice | 3% | 47% |
| Ability to reflect theologically | 2% | 63% |
| Ability to engage in discernment | 2% | 45% |
- Other qualities that show at least a 50 percent difference in the "very much" responses before and after the program include an openness to the transforming grace of ministry, appreciation of diverse models of the Church, openness to ongoing conversion, and openness to life-long faith formation.
- The least change in candidates seems to be in their desire to serve others, a quality that was already "very much" in evidence among nearly two-thirds at the beginning of their formation program.
These findings suggest that those who enroll in lay ministry formation programs come into these programs with a desire to serve others and fairly strong sense of commitment to the Catholic Church and to the person of Jesus Christ. Other qualities that are desirable in a lay ecclesial minister are present to some degree but are less well developed. By the time candidates leave the program, however, these qualities are stronger and more fully developed. In addition, many of the skills and abilities that are desirable in a lay ecclesial minister are instilled in the course of lay ministry formation.
Comparison of Candidate Qualities at Beginning and End of Program Chart
