Empowering the Lay Faithful: From a Passive Participation to a Prophetic Mission

Abstract

This paper examines the limited involvement of lay faithful in the Church's prophetic mission, despite their baptismal inclusion and Church teachings advocating for their participation The problem appear to be a lack of awareness among lay faithful regarding their rights and responsibilities. The aim of this study is to analyzes Church documents, discussions, and examples of lay involvement to identify barriers and propose solutions. The methodology includes both qualitative and comparative approaches. The paper suggests that the solution to fix the problem is to give lay faithful’s the tools they need to participate. This means providing them with good training and education about their faith and encouraging Catholic leaders to actively support them in their role of sharing the Church's message. By doing this, the Church can become more energetic and involve everyone in its mission of evangelization.