Jocelyn Franklin’s many friends farewelled her, a pioneer of lay ministry, earlier this month in Auckland. She was 93 years old. When she was 20 she became a Catholic at a time when a new vision of Church was emerging which found impetus with Vatican Council II. Jocelyn was right at the heart of all this and it became her life’s work.

As a young woman she’d confided to Bishop Delargey that she hadn’t yet found her vocation. His response at the time resonated through her life: “Your vocation may be never to know your vocation. God may give you only one day at a time. Take the one day and fill it with the Gospel."

She worked full-time and in voluntary ministry in the Church through her long life — the Catholic Youth Movement, Catholic Overseas Aid, Commissions for Evangelisation, Justice and Development and Catholic Overseas Volunteer Service. In 1976 she founded and ran the Catholic Lay Training Centre (CLTC) in Auckland until 1988. Jocelyn was a good choice for the position as she was enthusiastic, well educated in Vatican II, reflective and experienced. She was committed to the philosphy of the Belgian Cardinal Joseph Cardijn, founder of the Christian Workers Movement, and used his “See, Judge, Act” method at the Centre which awakened young Catholic people to be active in social justice in society.

The Centre aimed to "form leaders within the lay community who were both contemplative and apostolic; provide a place where lay people could train themselves for an effective apostolate in the world through sharing their skills and insights while being in a place where the challenge of the Gospel could be taken seriously; and to respond to the laity’s own recognition for formation particularly in areas of peace, social justice, development and evangelisation.” People from many walks of life — teenagers to people in their 60s, professionals and tradespeople, single people, married couples — were influenced by the teaching, formation and example of lay people living the Gospel critically for the common good.

Jocelyn appreciated the support of the bishops and some priests over the years saying: “I think it is only in these years that we can appreciate the radical move whereby the laity were given the chance to bring to birth the new opportunities waiting to be given in the lay apostolate.” The Centre’s “graduates” continued in their professions or trades with a renewed understanding of their role as lay people. Jocelyn saw that some of those who took part in the Centre’s programmes discovered hitherto unknown ability, others gained confidence to undertake tertiary education and more developed their talents further. Today many are, or have been, in leadership roles in their local areas, in politics and in national organisations.

At her funeral Eucharist Michael McVerry described Jocelyn who had had such an influence on a generation of Catholics. “Jocelyn was not just saintly but joyfully saintly. She loved fast cars and had a flash Porsche that popped up on the opening page of her computer. At the same time, she opted not to own a car or a house. All the bishops of Auckland backed her with resources for the wonderful work she did in the diocese. She loved music, she loved going to expensive restaurants, but she chose to live poverty and face the insecurity of reliance on others putting her trust in the hands of God. She loved getting behind the microphone and yet was not the most coherent of speakers and many were slightly confused and unable to follow her logic. It was her spontaneity, her deep convictions, her spark and spunk that lifted and inspired. But most of all Jocelyn loved the Church. She loved it in the good times, and she loved it in the bad times. Like the faithful lover she knew in the words of St John of the Cross that 'love and sadness go hand in hand, but the greatest sadness is not to have loved'".

When Jocelyn was 83 historian Nicholas Reid asked her in an interview how she was now that she was retired. “Oh, I am not retired!” she replied, “God doesn’t retire anyone! I don’t think you ever stop being an apostle.”

It is especially at this time that the Church needs leaders like Jocelyn — a visionary, an innovator and a champion of the laity.

Tui Motu Magazine. Issue 243 November 2019: 3