Pastoral Promotion of the Lay Faithful in the Context of Pastoral Care of Families

Abstract

The Second Vatican Council and the post-conciliar teaching of the Church and in particular the Apostolic Exhortation „Cristifideles laici” of Pope John Paul II gave theological grounds for granting the lay people their proper place and role in the salvific mission of the Church. These assumptions, however, require continuous care for their implementation in everyday practice of the Church, in the pastoral ministry. One of the major demands of the new evangelization is therefore ecclesial pastoral promotion of the laity. The first dimension of social and ecclesial commitment of the lay faithful is to support the family. This means participation in the pastoral care of families and activities in the economic, cultural and legislative field, which would promote the family. Participation of the lay people in the pastoral care of families has been established by John Paul II as a church mission. It is, therefore, not only a support for priests but proper apostolic task of the lay faithful. This article is an attempt to show the need for pastoral promotion of the laity as a postulate of the new evangelization. It presents the theological basis of their participation in the apostolic mission of the Church and formulates pastoral proposals.