Resources for Ministerial Formation

Online Resources for Ministerial Formation
for Priests, Deacons, and Lay Ecclesial Ministers
compiled by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

Theology and World Religions:

Christian Scripture and Theology:

Catholic Liturgy and Worship:

Spirituality and Prayer:

Liturgy of the Hours: Structure of MP/EP
Liturgy of the Hours: Planning Guide
Liturgy of the Hours Online - http://eBreviary.com
Diurnal Salterio (in Spanish)

Official Documents of the Catholic Church:

Church and Ministry in General:
- Documents of Vatican II (1962-1965) – http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/
  - Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium)
  - Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et Spes)
- Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd edition, 2003. – http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc/
- United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. USCCB, 2006.
Lay Ecclesial Ministers:
- USCCB Documents: – see http://www.usccb.org/about/laity-marriage-family-life-and-youth/lay-ecclesial-ministry/
  - Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord: A Resource for Guiding the Development of Lay Ecclesial Ministry. USCCB, 2005.
  - Lay Ecclesial Ministry: The State of the Questions. USCCB, 1999. – http://old.usccb.org/laity/laymin/layecclesial.shtml
  - Called and Gifted for the Third Millennium. USCCB, 1995. – http://old.usccb.org/laity/calleden.shtml
- Vatican Documents:
  - “The Lay Faithful”; in The Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed. 1997), par. 897-913.
  - Ecclesiae de Mysterio, “Instruction on Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of Priests,” Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and other Vatican dicasteries (1997)
  - Pope John Paul II: Christifideles Laici, “The Vocation and Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World” (1988).
  - Vatican II: Apostolicam Actuositatem, “Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity” (11/18/1965)
Permanent Deacons:
- National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons. Washington, DC: USCCB Publishing, 2005. – 240 pp; $19.95; available online at http://www.usccb.org/deacon/DeaconDirectory.pdf
- Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours. 1 vol. New York: Catholic Book Publishing, 1999. – 2080 pages; $37.00
- Basic Norms for the Formation of Permanent Deacons & Directory for the Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons. Vatican: Congregation for Catholic Education & Congregation for the Clergy.
Priests:
- Vatican II: Decree on Priestly Training, Optatam Totius (10/28/1965)
- Vatican II: Decree on Ministry of Priests, Presbyterorum Ordinis (12/7/1965)