Enhancing Pastoral Role of Lay Women in the Catholic Church in the Present Day

Abstract

This individual study is a qualitative research project with the following objectives: 1) to study the pastoral role of lay women in the Catholic Church in the present day, and 2) to study how to enhance the pastoral role of lay women in the Catholic Church in the present day, through the qualitative data collection of literature review and focus group of 11 people, divided in 4 groups: 1) Lay women who are member of Catholic commission of women of the Catholic Bishop Conference of Thailand, 2) Clerics who have pastoral working experiences with members of Catholic commission of women, 3) Lay women who have pastoral experiences in the parish and 4) Biblical professor of the Moral Theology studies of Saengtham College, and generate the gathered information in 4 themes namely: 1) Priestly Role, 2) Prophetic Role, 3) Kingly Role and 4) Others
The results of the study are as follows:
1.
Lay Women in the Catholic Church in Present Day could apply their pastoral roles as following: 1) Priestly Role, Lay women are those who strive for holiness, participate in the priesthood of Christ, assist the work of the Church, in the liturgy and all activities of the Catholic organizations, 2) Prophetic Role, Lay women apply this role by being witness with their own lives, proclaim to good news, helping the Church, visiting those in needs, including proclamation of Good news through media, especially social media, 3) Kingly role, Lay women apply this role by being a leader of Catholic group or organization, having dominion over themselves so they can live their lives following example of Christ, and 4) Others, Lay Women are the follower of Christ, render their faith to others, being a consultant who always ready to walk with neighbor, they commit their lives for the society bring others back to God and they are participants in God’s salvific plan, they sacrifice their lives for God’s plan would be done through theirs.
2.
Ways to enhance the pastoral of lay women in the Catholic Church in the present day:
2.1
There should be a proper communication to create perfect understanding between the bishop, priest and religious, and lay women for they should be able to do their pastoral work together effectively.
2.2
There should arrange seminars to educate lay women for they should be able to be informed and understanding the necessary knowledges. So, they would be able to apply their roles perfectly.
2.3
Bishops, priests and religious should invite and give opportunity for lay women to act in the Catholic group or organization, encourage them to express their thought, grants them responsibility regarding the activity of the Church.
2.4
There should alert the lay women, starting with most basic society unit, family, parents should be educated on how to form their children who are going to be the future of the Church.

2.5
There should be training programs for the children and youth for they should be able to grow to be good Christians and respond to their vocation properly.