Dominicus Humus: Lenten Recollection for Liturgical Ministers (Group1)

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Lenten Recollection for Liturgical Ministers (Group1)

Today, the First Saturday of the Lenten Season, we began the RECOLLECTION for all the Liturgical Ministers (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and Lectors/Commentators). The schedule proceeded as usual, with the Rosary preceding the Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Fr. Mario.

Fr. Soc, our Archbishop (as seen in the pictures), gave a very touching talk on the call to holiness. Then, the long conference in the morning was about knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ by Fr. Mario. After lunch, the group of 145 Liturgical Ministers reflected on the Stations of the Cross. Bishop Rene, the Auxiliary Bishop gave the conference on the Year for Priests. The recollection ended with the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance at about 4PM.

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).