Parish Missionary Disciple trainings return for the fall — laity invited to participate in workshops

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

This Autumn, trainings return as fruits of the Diocese of Covington’s With One Heart planning process and resulting pastoral plan. From a core group of around 200 parishioners across the diocese who attended training in 2024, more “Parish Missionary Disciple” (PMD) trainings have been held — with more to come at St. Timothy, Union, and St. Agnes, Ft. Wright this October and November.

Organized and led primarily by laity, for laity, previous trainings were held at Mother of God Parish, Covington and St. Mary Parish, Alexandria. These trainings, described as “interactive workshops”, developed from a program and framework set and presented by the Catholic Leadership Institute.

Deacon Kevin Cranley, who is helping to organize the training at St. Timothy Parish, said that the design of the trainings is to “give people the confidence and the knowledge to be able to discuss their faith.”

“We all get into situations where someone might ask us a question and we’re not confident enough to answer,” said Deacon Cranley, “or someone may challenge our faith. This program is designed to help give us the ability to talk openly.”

Deacon Cranley continued, saying that “we (as people of the Church) are called to build our Church and bring people to Christ — so it’s something we should all learn to do.”

With registration still open for both parish’s trainings, Deacon Cranley encourages laity to participate, even if they can only attend one or two of the available sessions.

Registration information for either session can be found online on the parishes’ websites.