Dominicus Humus: St. Mary, St. Joseph, St. Lorenzo PRAY FOR US!

Saturday, August 29, 2009

St. Mary, St. Joseph, St. Lorenzo PRAY FOR US!

A month from today, the 28th of September 2009, LFC will celebrate its 4th anniversary in serving the laity (and the clergy) in the Archdiocese and around the country. Aside from our patrons and guests, we owe the saints in heaven for helping us succeed in doing the will of God and the Church - Mary, Joseph and Lorenzo Ruiz. These great saints are enshrined in our LFC Chapel.

We also thank the Archbishop, Most Rev. Oscar V. Cruz, LFC's BUILDER, for the trust, support and confidence in our humble capacity to serve!

Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam!

O Mary, help us in all our needs. Pray for all the people of God, especially those who have most need of the divine mercy. Amen.

The patron of LFC is San Lorenzo Ruiz, the Filipino proto-martyr. San Lorenzo - inspire us, intercede for us, help us to imitate your faith and love for God!

St. Joseph, the worker, PRAY FOR US!

Vocation and Mission of LFC

Christifidelis Laici, the 1985 Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of Pope John Paul II on the Vocation and Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World, speaks very eloquently about the formation of the lay faithful. According to this document, the laity should receive a complete and integrated formation, one which bears its fruit in every sphere of their existence and activity.

1) The spiritual formation of the laity – their continual growth in communion with Christ is nourished by the help to holiness offered by the Church.

2) Doctrinal formation – which will enable them to explain to the world the reason for their hope. Systematic catechesis is also necessary.

3) A proper formation of a social conscience, especially in the Church’s social teaching.

4) An integrated program of formation that cultivates the human values and skills necessary for the lay faithful’s apostolic activities.

God is the first formator of the laity. The Church for her part also takes part in forming the lay faithful through the ministry of teaching and celebration of the sacraments. The Lay Formation Center exists for this purpose.

The Lay Formation Center (LFC) was established by Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz and the Clergy of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, Philippines, for the formation "especially of the laity." It opened on the feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, the first Filipino Saint, who is a Filipino and lay person on September 28, 2005. Fr. Mario Dominic C. Sanchez was appointed its first Director. Since then, LFC has housed more than 500 groups from the entire country for retreats, recollections, conferences and seminars. Its location is about 7 kilometers from Dagupan City center (east) and 20 kilometers from the Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag (west). It is only a kilometer away from Bonuan Tondaligan Beach (north).