Lay Leaders Commissioned   April 2025

Archbishop Francis Duffy has commissioned 62 Lay Leaders, women and men, and two priests, in a ceremony in Saint Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina, in the Diocese of Killala. 

Their commissioning comes after a period of two years and three months of study, following which they each received a Certificate in Lay Leadership from the Newman Institute in Ballina.

One principal focus of the course was to prepare the Lay Leaders to co-lead with their priests in the various rites contained in the Order of Christian Funerals. Lay Leaders will co-lead prayers in the Wake House or Funeral Home, in the Church for the Rite of Reception, the Prayer of Final Commendation, and the Rite of Committal at the burial. 

The Lay Leader course director was Fr. Michael Gilroy from the parishs of Templeboy, Skreen and Dromard.

Participants also completed pastoral placements in six parishes as part of training, in Killala diocese.

The participants studied subjects such as Theology, Culture and Ministry, Sacred Scripture, Pastoral Theology, Liturgy, Sacred Music, the Administration of Parishes, Bereavement Care, Catholic Social Teaching, Safeguarding, Moral Theology, Christology, Synodality, church History, Faith and Culture and Canon Law.

Killala is not the only diocese to introduce lay leaders.