I was with you until the last sentence. I was mandated Lay minister after extensive study and demonstrating  I had grown beyond kindergarten spirituality, I served in a mission parish in an isolated area, it was OUR church, I never saw myself replacing the priest but I brought the eucharist to people, I led reflections on the scripture, I conducted a funeral... it was answering a need not having a title. We were Alive!!! then directives came from higher up, our bishop retired, J-P then Benedict changed the rules and lay ministers were no longer in favour, even less women ones, now ordained deacons were the way to go. Fine with me. But it did not fill the needs of our isolated mission parish. I don't agree with your description of the ministry, it is masculine yes, but the white priests are the rarity where I live, the ordained are coming from Africa, India, the Philippines in our diocese