Lay Leadership Training in the Archdiocese of Kingston has a long and vibrant history, beginning in 1975 when in response to the request of particularly rural Catholics at Archdiocesan Synods in the late 1960’s Archbishop Carter mandated a team of persons – the Rural Lay Leadership Team – to begin a programme of laity training in Portland in September 1975.

This team chose as its mandate an excerpt from Vatican Council II’s Document, Ad Gentes #21:
“The Church has not been truly established, and is not yet fully alive, nor is it a perfect sign of Christ among men [and women],  unless there exists a laity worthy of the name working along with the hierarchy.  For the gospel cannot be deeply imprinted  on the talents, life and work of any people   without the active presence of laymen [and women].  Therefore in the very founding of a Church, the greatest attention is to be paid to raising up a mature Christian laity.”
 
What does it mean: ‘a laity worthy of the name’ and ‘a mature Christian laity’?
It means:

• a laity who are themselves truly evangelized and who have a personal relationship with Jesus;
• a laity who are truly committed to their faith and ‘baptismal promises’
• a laity who are  truly competent in the knowledge of their faith and able to share it and to live it;
• a laity who are truly confident in their dignity as children of God and aware of the Gifts which the Spirit has given them and willing to use their gifts in the building up of the Body, the Church, so that the Church can effectively fulfill its mission.

 
Lumen Gentium #30 also says:
“ The pastors, indeed, know well how much the laity contribute to the welfare of the whole Church.  For they know that they themselves were not established by Christ to undertake alone  the whole salvific mission of the church to the world, but that it is their exalted office so to be shepherds of the faithful and also recognize the latter’s contribution and charisms that everyone in     his own way will, with one mind, cooperate in the common task. For all must “practice the truth in love, and so grow up in all things in him who is the head, Christ.”
 
In 1983, while part of the ORET Team, Sr. Perla Macapinlac and Sr. Theresa Jackson had been asked by the then Rector of St. Michael’s Seminary, Msgr. Charles DuFour, to plan and organize a programme of Lay Leadership training which came to be known as the Lay Leadership Training Programme.  This programme which began in 1984, was designed as a two-year programme where Theology – Ecclesiology and Christology, Scripture and Liturgy formed the main components along with practical training in a variety of pastoral skills.  Recognizing that we were training adults, a participative approach was used in all our presentations and a variety of presenters and integrators formed the staff. 
 
The current programme of laity training at St. Michael’s Theological College began in 1985 and came to be called CAREP – Continuing Adult Religious Education Programme.
In keeping with all that has been said above, the Goal of CAREP is that participants:
Through opportunities for learning, faith sharing and community-building be informed about the Scriptures and about their faith and thus  be enabled to participate as mature Christians in  personal, social and ecclesial renewal and transformation.
 
To this end a number of courses have been offered over the years and the methodology used, being tailored for adults, is dialogic and participative.  These courses over the years have included:

• a 2 Year Programme [4 semesters of 15 x 2hr. sessions] covering Scripture, Old and New Testaments in the first year and Theology & Liturgy in the second year which is still offered;
• a 1 semester course in Group Leadership Skills[no longer offered as such];
• a 1 Semester course [January to April] – Formation for Ministry for Parish Worship – Input and practical skills in training EMHC, Lectors, Ushers, Sacristans, etc. [still offered]
• Summer Workshops for Parish Advisory Council Members – “The Role of P A C’s in Parish Renewal”; training for RCIA Catechists; training for Bible Study groups –“Exploring the Synoptic Gospels”; “Exploring the Gospel of John”;
• A variety of Modules, e.g., “Christian Living According to St. Paul”; “Impact of Vatican II on the Church”.
• In collaboration with the Archdiocesan Youth Commission, - “Basic & Advanced Skills in Youth Ministry” for Adult Youth Advisors.