Lay Leader Formation / Workshops

Lay Leader of Prayer Formation Opportunies

Click here for Initial
Click here for Ongoing
2025 lAY lEADER OF PRAYER Initial Formation
Two required Friday/Saturday sessions:
Session One August 22-23, 2025

Session Two October 17-18, 2025

St. Mary Church Church, Tomahawk, WI

Both Fridays begin with Registration at 6:30 p.m. and end 9:15 p.m.
Both Saturdays begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m.
*Prospective attendees must complete both the registration form and the
application form for this training.

REGISTRATION (PDF) APPLICATION (PDF)
Application includes recommendation and signature of Pastoral Leader.
REGISTRATION:
- Print out the registration flyer (see above), one for each participant. (Word Doc)
- Fill-out the required portions of the flyer.
- Detach filled out portions and mail to the chancery (or scan and e-mail [email protected]) by August 9, 2025, along with the $80.00 fee. If obtaining a check will delay registration, you will be billed at a later date. Payments will not be accepted onsite!
APPLICATION:
- Print out the application form (see above), one for each participant.
- Fill-out the portions of the form required for each applicant.
- Bring the form to your pastor, parish life coordinator or parish director and have them:
  Fill out the brief recommendation section.
  Sign and Date the form.
- Bring your completed application form with you to the first session.
If you are having trouble printing the required forms, please contact Carol Grund at [email protected] for assistance.

Please make checks payable to the Office of Worship. Submit payment to: Diocese of Superior, Office of Worship, P.O. Box 969, Superior, WI 54880
Additional Information:
Two Required Friday/Saturday Sessions:
- Both Fridays begin with Registration at 6:30 p.m. and end 9:15 p.m.
- Both Saturdays begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m.
Presenters:
Sr. Roselyn Heil FSPA, Pat Pintens and Paul Birch

The registration fee is $80.00 per person and covers the cost of meals, refreshments and handouts. Each participant is asked to cover the cost of overnight accommodations should they be needed.

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Why do I have to be certified by the diocese in order to function as a lay leader of prayer?
- Though it is not unheard of that people assist in this way at their parishes without diocesan certification, ideally the appointment of such ministers is made by the Bishop for a definite time. Those without diocesan certification lack this specific connection with Bishop Powers and his oversight regarding their period of certification.
Besides attendance at the required initial formation sessions, what else do I need to do in order to become certified?
- A completed application form, signed by your pastor, parish life coordinator or parish director—indicating that you’ve been chosen by your parish for this training.
- Successful completion of two assignments:
  - A video recording of the applicant functioning as a lay leader of prayer in a mock Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest in their parish church.
  - An essay relating your experience functioning in this way for the video recording.
Why do I have to be specifically chosen by my pastoral leader in order to become a lay leader of prayer?
Lay leaders of prayer are to be chosen in view of their consistency of their way of life with the Gospel and in the expectation of their being acceptable to the community of the faithful.
Your pastoral leader also is the one designated to re-authorize your certification at four-year intervals, and assigns/approves all ongoing formation.

Once I become certified, how long does my period of certification last?
Four years.

What is involved in the re-certification process?
Your pastoral leader is sent a letter which asks:
- Does the individual lay leader of prayer benefit from functioning as such in their parish?
- Does the parish benefit from the individual functioning in that way?
- Has the individual been diligent in participating in two ongoing formation opportunities per year aimed at helping them improve in their ministry?
If the answer is yes to all three questions and the pastoral leader wants the individual to be recertified, they indicate this on the letter and return it to the chancery. The individual is then recertified for another four years.

If I will not often function as a lay leader of prayer on a Sunday, why does the assignment require this format for my video recording?
- For uniformity in training, it would be best for all attendees to use the same format for the recording.
- Because without warning you may at some time be required to function on a Sunday, it would be good for you to be familiar with that rite.
- All the skills required for leading a Sunday Celebration would be very useful to you as a lay leader of prayer.
2025 Ongoing Formation Opportunity
Friday, May 23, 2025
St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hayward, WI
Or
Saturday, May 24, 2025
St. Mary Catholic Church, Tomahawk, WI

Please select one date

8:30am – 2:45pm
Lunch is provided
REGISTRATION (PDF)
REGISTRATION:
- Print out the registration flyer (see above), one for each participant. (Word Doc)
- Fill-out the required portions of the flyer.
- Detach filled out portions and mail to the chancery by May 16, 2025, along with the $40.00 fee.
Both sessions begin with Registration at 8:30 a.m.

Presenters:
Sr. Roselyn Heil, FSPA
Pat Pintens
Paul Birch

If you are having trouble printing the required form, please contact Paul Birch [email protected] for assistance.

**Payments may not be accepted on site. Please make checks payable to the Office of Worship. Submit payment to: Diocese of Superior, Office of Worship, P.O. Box 969, Superior, WI 54880