Dominicus Humus: LFC is 1-Year Old

Friday, September 22, 2006

LFC is 1-Year Old

Good News! LFC will be one year old (in operation) this coming week. On the feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz (September 28) last year, Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz and the Clergy of Lingayen-Dagupan formally inaugurated the Archdiocesan Center in a very simple and solemn blessing.

On the same feastday, September 28 (Thursday), this year, we are inviting all our lay cooperators to join us celebrate in a joyful and meaningful manner. We shall have the mass at 3PM, and then we shall bless the "Our Lady of Manaoag Session Hall".

As perhaps some have already learned, we have installed three new units of airconditioners at the west end of our building. This hall, we shall dedicate to Our Lady of Manaoag.

We are very grateful to the Dominican Fathers for gifting us with a beautiful image of our Lady from her Shrine. Mabuhay po kayo!

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).