How often we pray these beautiful words: “Oh Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine!” As God’s people, that is what we most want—that our hearts will be more like the Sacred Heart of Jesus, filled with his love, his mercy, his joy, his peace and his goodness. It was to this end that the “Lay Formation Program” was initiated at Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Saint Helena of the True Cross of Jesus parishes in 2003.
While the program is no longer in use, the fruits of that labor are still a blessing in the lives of many individuals, families and parishes in the Diocese of Corpus Christi and beyond. I have personally witnessed miracles emanating from the guidance it provided; a deeper conversion, richer prayer lives, greater charity and service—many hearts becoming more like the heart of Jesus.
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen once said, “Not 100 people in the United States hate the Roman Catholic Church, but millions hate what they mistakenly think the Roman Catholic Church is.” Realizing that many Catholics and non-Catholics alike do not fully know or understand the teachings of the Catholic Church and are unable to fully cherish and live out the gift of the faith, defend it or to share it with others presents an opportunity to develop a program for lay formation.
The now inactive “Lay Formation Program” affords a model for such formation. It offered an extensive three-year formation program based on the “Catechism of the Catholic Church.”
In the first year, the program covered part one of the Catechism or fundamental theology—the Creed. In year two, it reviewed part two of the Catechism or sacramental theology—the sacraments. In the third and final year, students learned moral theologies, including the 10 Commandments and the beatitudes, which are found in part three of the Catechism.
Part four of the Catechism—Christian prayer—was addressed in three annual retreats, one each year of the program. These retreats were devoted to learning about the nature and importance of prayer and expanding and deepening each person’s prayer life, both personal and collective.
When I reflect on the passionate love of God and neighbor, the hard work, the incredible number of hours in class and out of class on the part of priests, religious and laity who helped administer the “Lay Formation Program”—as well as those attending the program—I am deeply touched by the outpouring of God’s grace in our midst.
Through such a program, catechists can help form the whole person. Criteria for such a program should include that each participant in the program must be a baptized Catholic in good standing with the Church and that they make a serious commitment to the program. The program could encompass formation in four areas: spiritual, human, intellectual and pastoral. Each participant, in order to be accepted into the program, would have to make a serious commitment to a life of prayer. Formation advisors would consist of priests, deacons, religious and formation directors.
More than 1,000 people went through the “Lay Formation Program” from 2003 to 2013. There are no words that can adequately describe the fervor and the impact such a program can have, but what I can say is that I believe it would glorify God and bless many people.