Dominicus Humus: Recollection of Lay Ministers (March 21-22)

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Recollection of Lay Ministers (March 21-22)

During the annual recollection of the Lay Ministers in the Archdiocese, we have always encouraged the participants to make a personal evaluation regarding their service to their parishes. As servants of the altar, they are also called "to be witnesses of the word to the world."

This year, we are asking them to indicate how many years they have been serving as "Lay Ministers." I was inspired when I saw one lector (Mrs. Juliana Bravo of Our Lady of Purification Parish, Binmaley) computing the years from 1965 to the present year. That's 44 years!!!

Thanks to all the Lay Ministers! Some of them have been serving the Church even before we (priests serving their parishes) were born.

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).