Citing the objective of sharing the Gospel in more effective and meaningful ways while keeping a keen eye toward the call to good stewardship, the diocese has announced changes in the way it will approach lay ministry formation and professional education, moving away from the Institute for Lay Ecclesial Ministry.

In a message sent to ILEM participants June 19, Father Douglas Freer, vicar for Catholic education, announced the decision, stating: “In these days of the New Evangelization, we are called upon to work and think differently in order to share the truth of the Gospel in more effective and meaningful ways. At the same time, the financial challenges of our time require that the Diocese, like our families, our parishes and our schools, has to develop ways to do more with less. These realities underscore the importance of good stewardship, compelling us to use the resources we have in the most prudent way and to offer the greatest good to the ministries we support throughout the diocese.”

Father Freer continued, “After careful consideration, we are restructuring our department in the hopes of using our resources to empower the greatest number of people possible for lay ministry. The contributions that our lay ministers make to the life of the Church are amazing, and I see the fruits of lay ministry every day as I travel throughout the diocese. “ The ILEM program will be replaced by a needs-based scholarship program, Father Freer announced, which will aim to support “lay ministry in a more expansive way, assisting more lay ministers who wish to advance their formation and professional education.”

He added that those currently pursuing degrees through ILEM will continue to receive financial aid, and the program will continue to operate through the Ministry of Catechesis and Evangelization. The diocese will now have a coordinator who will assist those in ministry to attain master degrees in catechesis, parish business administration, or other areas of ministry in selecting programs that meet their needs at a Catholic college or university.

Father Freer expressed appreciation to all who were involved in starting and running the ILEM program, saying that it “has provided many excellent leaders for our diocese since its inception in 2002, and we are profoundly grateful to all who brought this program into being.” He added, “The insights and connections gained through ILEM will continue to serve the Catholic community of the Church of Trenton as we move into this new and broader initiative.”

Details on the new scholarship program are expected to be rolled out within the next few months.