|
|
|
Home >> Welcome >> Lay Faithful >> Formation and Training
Lay Formation and Training
lan of Formation: Fulfillment of the vocations are to be achieved by an active plan of formation administered by the priest assigned by the General Priest Servant
for spiritual direction and formation in every Region, and by a member of the Association appointed by the respective Servant of the Association and his Council.
The wide guidance and support of the priests on the Ecclesial Teams is sought regarding all the content of this formation. Woven into the fabric of our on- going
formation are the underlying principles of fidelity to participation in Society apostolates and the humble application of the concept of subsidiarity.
In addition to spiritual, vocational and ecclesial team training, the plan should provide for ongoing study of such subjects as: the moral and social teachings of
the Church, world history, cultures, current conditions and the human sciences. The integral formation of the members of the Association should include the
following components:
Human Formation: The human formation of the members of the Society is to be well-rounded and adapted to the natural abilities and circumstances of each participant. It shall bring them to be aware of their true manhood and womanhood and of their human dignity, respect and integrity. It brings about a balance and depth to each personality as the members in Christ, growing in friendship, brotherhood and family spirit to oneness with Our Father and Jesus. The program of human formation will be in need of continual development through the prayerful balancing and spontaneity - of the temporal and the divine.
Faith Formation: This formation stems from the desire of each member to be formed in the interior life of divine wisdom and love. Interior purification frees the person to seek ardently and then respond to the will of a loving Father. Members will learn how to observe, evaluate and do all things in the living light of faith. Being formed as disciples of Jesus and Mary, they measure life by the standard of the Gospels.
Vocational Formation: Christian formation as a continual process of growth is mandated to all believers by Jesus: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-dresser... He who abides in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." (John 15:1, 5). The fundamental objective of the formation of the Lay Faithful is an ever-clearer discovery of one's vocation and the ever-greater willingness to live it so as to fulfill one's mission.
From all eternity, God has though of us and has loved us as unique persons. As the Good Shepherd he has called each of us by name. However, it is in the gradual, day-by-day unfolding of our lives that God's eternal plan is revealed to us. Thus, formation will always involve: a receptive listening to the Word of God and fidelity to the Magisterium of the Church, fervent and constant prayer, recourse to a wise and loving spiritual guide, faithful discernment of the gifts and talents given by God, reading the signs of the times, as well as insight into the diverse social and historic situations in which we live. Formation will also include opportunities for Christian service: to know and do what God wills - especially by living out one's sacraments of baptism, confirmation and matrimony.
Spiritual Formation: Those appointed for formation bring members of the Society to live a Marian Trinitarian spirituality that reaches to profound union with the mystery of the Triune God. Formation is developed through discipleship of Mary, to discipleship of Jesus, to union with the Most Holy Trinity. This formation in relationships and discipleship is central to the life of each member fulfilling the call to holiness. All members will be formed to witness the spirit of the evangelical counsels in accordance with their state in life.
Formation on Ecclesial Teams: Ecclesial team formation trains each member in a deep knowledge and love of each vocation, stressing the distinction and complementarity of ordained life, religious life and lay life, in imitation of Our Lady in all relationships.
Mission Formation:
The gift and outpouring of ourselves and our faith is witnessed in continuing the mission of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The deacons and lay members of the Public Clerical Association of the Faithful sent into mission need preparation and formation according to their state of life, the teachings of Church on mission and the needs of the mission themselves.
New members shall be made familiar with the universal teachings and norms of the Church concerning missionary activity. They shall be led to view themselves as joined to Christ in the mission of Church and the mystery of salvation.
They shall obtain a general knowledge of the culture and religion, past and present, of the groups to whom they reach out. The universality of the Church and the diversity of nations shall be stressed in training. Thus, the laity and deacons will be made ready to serve God's people.
As much as possible, formation will be provided in the lands where the missions are served. This formation will include history, social structures, customs, language, moral values, political systems and general traditions of the people. In addition, this practical knowledge will be supplemented by training in effective methods of pastoral care, specialized ministry, catechetical teaching and evangelization.
The Mission Formators shall see to it that the members in training are given special formation in those works of the apostolate in which they will serve in a diocesan mission under the direction of the local ordinary (cf. C.311).
All persons serving in missions, even temporarily, shall receive proper and continuing formation. Such formation is undertaken for all members by the Ecclesial Team leader, in collaboration with the Ecclesial Team for formation.
For more information, please visit the SOLT Lay Formation Web site.
Formation Centers
Please be in contact with the Priest General Servant for the Laity and his staff regarding questions about Formation Centers.
Top of Page
|
|
