Lay Formation Institute

The Lay Formation Institute (LFI) is an initiative of our diocese to provide quality spiritual, intellectual, and human formation to lay people. The inaugural program began in the fall of 2016 following the Church Fully Alive campaign under the direction of Bishop Gregory Parkes. A fourth cohort of the Lay Formation Institute will launch in August 2023 and conclude in April 2025.

Who should apply for the Lay Formation Institute?

Any layperson seeking to make Christ more present in their family, neighborhood, social circles, workplace and local community should consider this opportunity. A good candidate would have a strong desire to build up God’s kingdom in places where official Church ministries often are not able to reach people. A good candidate would also be seeking a more comprehensive understanding of the Church’s perspective on society. Finally, a good candidate would have a great hunger to develop a rich, well-rounded prayer life.

What is the process like?

It is a two-year process combining reflection day and retreat, online formation courses through the Catechetical Institute at the Franciscan University of Steubenville (CI) and virtual workshops with live presenters from both inside and outside our diocese. Participants will focus on deepening their prayer life, sharpening their understanding of Catholic theology in relation to the call of the laity and growing in communion with others in the program. The curriculum is demanding but do-able for those in varying seasons of life, even those with full-time jobs and/or young children at home

What are the costs?

The cost of the workshops, Franciscan at Home Catechetical Institute courses, and other materials comes to a yearly total of $300 per individual.

What are the big goals for participants in the Lay Formation Institute?

The themes of the Lay Formation Institute change from year to year.  The goals of the first year are to clarify participant's understanding of themselves as laypersons in light of church teaching and law and to identify each participant’s unique gifts and charisms.  The laity’s relationship to clergy, their specific mission in the world, their unique spirituality and identifying each participant’s unique gifts and charisms will be the main topics of this year.

The goals of the second year will be to equip the participants with basic strategies for proclaiming the Gospel in the world and to provide participants with a comprehensive vision of how the world’s affairs should be ordered according to the Compendium of Social Doctrine of the Church.

Franciscan at Home Catechetical Institute

• Brochure 
• Application 
• Pastor Recommendation 
• Media Release

2021-23 PARTICIPANTS PAGE FOR LAY FORMATION (PASSWORD PROTECTED)