Dominicus Humus: Updating-Seminar for LAY MINISTERS (Batch 1)

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Updating-Seminar for LAY MINISTERS (Batch 1)

August 22, 2009 - At the Lay Formation Center, the Family and Life Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, headed by Fr. Winston Estrada, facilitated the seminar for Lay Ministers on the FAMILY.

126 participants from the parishes of Our Lady of Purification (Binmaley), Our Lady of the Rosary (Manaoag), and Holy Family (Sta. Barbara) attended the seminar.

The highlight of the seminar is a conference given by Fr. Winston and the sharing of experiences in the family at the end of the day. The sharing happens for the first time at LFC in the formation given to the Lay Ministers, and the initial experience informs us that it needs more time than the hour alotted.

The Family and Life Apostolate Team

Participants from Sta. Barbara

Participants from Binmaley

Participants from Manaoag

Sharing of Experiences

The F.L.A. Team having an evaluation of the seminar at the end.

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).