YOUNGSTOWN — Fifteen men and women from around the Diocese of Youngstown have been commissioned as lay leaders of prayer.

The commissioning took place during evening prayer Wednesday at Immaculate Conception Church in Ravenna with the Rev. Michael D. Balash, diocesan director of the Office of Worship and vicar for Clergy and Religious Services, as the presider.

Diocesan officials said lay leaders of prayer are commissioned to lead the faithful in acts of worship that in the past were most often led by the ordained clergy but may also be led by lay people. Among these services are morning and evening prayer, liturgy of the word with or without the distribution of Holy Communion, devotions, the vigil service and rite of committal from the order of Christian funerals, and in an emergency, Sunday celebrations in the absence of a priest.

Leaders of prayer are commissioned not only to lead currently scheduled acts of worship in the parish in the absence of a priest but also to expand the opportunities for communal prayer. They are commissioned for a period of three years for service in their parish under the direction of the pastor.

The eight-week series was conducted by Balash, and Ralph Holtzhauser, diocesan director of music and St. Columba Cathedral musician.

The new lay leaders of prayer of the Diocese of Youngstown include:

•Ashtabula County :

Corpus Christi Parish, Conneaut: Benjamin Garriga.

•Columbiana County:

St. Patrick Parish, Leetonia: Terry George.

St. Paul Parish, Salem: David Bedell and Patrick Morrissey.

• Mahoning County:

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Austintown: Mona Pocatko and Angela Smith.

St. Paul Parish, New Middletown: R. Thomas Penwel.

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