About 165 persons gathered June 23 at the Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston, for the second annual fundraiser, “Celebrating Lay Ministry: Working in the Vineyard of the Lord.” The event, which benefits the Pastoral Institute Scholarship Fund, honored Bishop Frank Caggiano and Our Lady of Refuge parish, Flatbush.

Bishop Caggiano was recognized as a consistent advocate for lay ministry and lay formation. Director of the Pastoral Institute, Gerald Tortorella, notes that “Bishop Caggiano often speaks of the necessary collaboration of the laity with clergy and religious in the promotion of the new evangelization. It has been through his support that the lay formation programs of the diocese have been able to flourish as a constant source of well-trained lay leaders.”

Our Lady of Refuge parish, under the leadership of its pastor, Father Michael Perry, can boast that it has the most alumni from the Lay Ministry Program with 31 commissioned lay pastoral leaders as well as one current participant. Father Perry has empowered his leaders to act as coordinators or team members for a variety of ministries such as bereavement, sacramental preparation, religious education and pastoral care of the sick.

Also recognized were the members of the Class of 2003 of the Pastoral Institute’s Lay Ministry Program as they celebrated the 10th anniversary of their commissioning as lay pastoral leaders for the parishes of the diocese.

The schedule included evening prayer followed by the awards ceremony. Attendees also participated in an outdoor cocktail reception with dessert served in the dining room.

The Pastoral Institute Scholarship Fund, which is administered by the Catholic Foundation for Brooklyn and Queens, provides support that enables many to take advantage of the programming provided by and through the Pastoral Institute.