Dominicus Humus: Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Happy New Year!

LFC 2011 Calendar features from top, counter-clockwise: Archbishop Socrates Villegas and the LFC Staff, Fr. Ernie and the Catechists of the Diocese of Balanga, the Chapel at Night during the Retreat of ALD Catholic School Teachers, a retreatant in front of the LFC building, Union or Prayer for Vocations orgainized by the Rogationist Fathers, Fr. Mario with the new statue of San Lorenzo Ruiz in the middle of the LFC Park, Grade School pupils of St. Charles Academy, Graduating High School Students from St. John's Cathedral School, Biggest group at LFC Facebook account - the second year students of St. Columban's College and High School Students from St. John.

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).