Dominicus Humus: The Walk of Retreatants to the Beach

Thursday, January 14, 2010

The Walk of Retreatants to the Beach

LFC's retreat module designed by Fr. Mario for groups staying for 3 days includes an early morning walk to the beach. The second batch of seniors from St. Charles Academy, San Carlos City had this memorable activity this morning, on their second day of their graduation retreat.

At exactly six in the morning, before sunrise, together with Fr. Mario and their teachers, they walked the one-kilometer distance to the Tondaligan Beach from LFC. The long stroll by the beach side usually lasts 30 minutes.

Sunrise

The golden view towards the west...

A few had the thrilling experience of their feet being tossed by waves...

A celebration of life and friendship... seen among friends and heard and felt in the laughters...

The breakfast

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).