Dominicus Humus: Lenten Recollection of Lay Ministers

Saturday, March 07, 2009

Lenten Recollection of Lay Ministers

March 7 - today the Annual Lenten Recollection of the Lay Ministers in the Archdiocese begins. The theme is on St. Paul and his Epistles.

The Schedule of the Recollection is as follows:

8:00 - Arrival and Registration
8:30 - Eucharistic Celebration
9:30 - Snacks
10:00 - First Conference: The Life St. Paul and Some Beautiful Themes of His Epistles by Fr. Mario DC Sanchez
11:00 - Short Break
11:10 - Continuation of Conference: The Experience of Suffering in St. Paul
12:00 - Lunch
1:00 - Stations of the Cross
1:45 - Open Forum and Personal Evaluation
2:30 - Second Conference: St. Paul's Conversion: A Pattern for All Christians by Msgr. Mario R. Morales
3:30 - Health Break
3:45 - Penitential Rite and Confessions
4:30 - Departure

To see the pictures of the different groups, click PICTURES of GROUPS.

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).